REEF by the Sea Celebration - La Jolla, CA

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 6 - 8, 2026


    Please join the REEF Staff and Board of Trustees in beautiful La Jolla, California, for a weekend of special presentations, celebrations, and fun by the beach. This invitation-only event features a great line-up of engaging speakers and sunset parties. REEF staff will provide updates on our important marine conservation programs. There will also be opportunities to explore the beautiful areas along La Jolla cove reserve, including tidepooling, kayaking, and diving. We hope to see you there!

RSVP for REEF by the Sea

Planned Program

Thursday, March 5

Happy Hour - For those who are in town Thursday night, we invite you to join us for happy hour at a local restaurant in La Jolla/Pacific Beach. We'll post details of the location and timing closer to the event.

Friday, March 6

There are many activities you can do on Friday before joining us for backyard tacos for dinner, and in the mornings on Saturday and Sunday. See the Seaside Activities section below for more information. We will be organizing a tour on the Scripps Oceanography campus for those who are interested. Details to be posted soon.

5:00 - 8:00pm - San Diego Social - REEF by the Sea attendees are invited to join the REEF directors and board for a casual evening of tacos and fun. Location will be sent to attendees.

 

Saturday, March 7 -- 12:00 - 6:00pm, Scripps Oceanography Campus, La Jolla, CA

12:00 - 4:00 pm - REEF Making a Difference: Overview of our recent conservation successes

4:00 - 6:00 pm - Keynote Presentation, followed by Sunset Socializing

6:30pm Dinner - Optional: Location TBD - We will pick a restaurant for dinner that can accommodate a larger group.

Silent Auction throughout the day.

 

Sunday, March 8 -- 1:00 - 5:30 pm -- Scripps Oceanography Campus, La Jolla, CA

1:00 - 5:30 pm - Ocean Stories and Social. Stunning slideshows and stories by renowned underwater photographers, ocean story tellers, and noted scientists, followed by a Sunset Social Hour.

Silent Auction closes at 5pm.

2026 REEF by the Sea Speakers

Saturday evening - "Dear Sloane"
As the ocean’s most magnificent ecosystems slip away and we publish their obituaries in scientific journals, we’re left to ask what we might have done differently, and whether the tide can still be turned. Our efforts to restore what’s been lost echo far beyond our careers; they shape the legacy we leave. This talk is Dr. Gittings' personal reflection after a long career in marine science, looking both backward and forward.

Dr. Steve Gittings recently retired from a 40-year career with NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary System. He has a broad range of experience in conservation science, characterizing and monitoring marine ecosystems, assessing damage and recovery following ship groundings and oil spills, and applying science to management.

Sunday - "The Shark Distribution Puzzle: understanding their populations and movements"

Dr. Dovi Kacev is an assistant teaching professor at Scripps Oceanography. His research interests include a special focus on understanding the ecology of migratory shark species such as Mako and Thresher.

Sunday - "Wonders of the Underwater World"

Steve and Marie will present an around the world whirlwind, including colorful reefs, amazingly camouflaged critters, whales and sharks and crazy denizens of the dark from our latest obsession, blackwater photography. 

Steve Eilenberg & Marie Tartar have been creating travel, street, nature, underwater, abstract and manipulated photographic art for many years. Their sojourns include far flung destinations, as well as the ground under their feet. They delight in the ocean’s abundance and endeavor to share its bounty and vulnerability with others through their photography. Their work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the La Jolla Athenaeum, the Stephen Birch Aquarium, the San Diego Natural History Museum and the Oceanside Museum of Art.

Sunday - "Moving beyond movement – how insights from fish movements can inform effective conservation planning and fisheries management"

In this talk I will discuss how fish movement studies across spatial scales can inform conservation and management efforts. I will draw examples primarily from decades of study at the remote Palmyra atoll, in the Central Pacific using integrative methods including telemetry, biologging, surveys, molecular tools, and simulation modelling.

Dr. Jenn Caselle is a research professor at UC Santa Barbara. She works in both coral reef and kelp forest ecosystems studying community dynamics, recruitment, and larval dispersal and movement patterns of fishes.  She also manages an MPA monitoring program of California kelp forests to assess long-term changes due to climate and anthropogenic impacts. She was awarded the Bleeker Award for career contributions in Indo-Pacific Reef fish ecology. She also is a member of the expeditions teams for National Geographic Pristine Seas, contributing to community based conservation of our oceans.
Sunday - "Brown Pelicans; unlocking the mysteries of these charismatic species through the first successful tagging program"

 

In this talk I will provide an overview on what we know about Brown Pelicans, including their life history, adaptations, and historic and current impacts from human activities. It will also include an overview to our Brown Pelican tagging project, the first of its kind, where we are learning about migration and foraging patterns through new technologies and collaborations. 

Dr. Tammy Russell is a marine ornithologist and postdoctoral researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Her research focuses on understanding the habitat use and foraging ecology of marine birds to inform conservation and evaluate ecological impacts from climate change. Her research has taken her on many research cruises, including the U.S. West Coast and across the southern South Atlantic, to seabird colonies along California and Antarctica. 

Seaside Activities

The Scripps Oceanography campus, as well as La Jolla Shores beach, cove, and tidepools offer many oportunities for you to explore and learn. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings are open for attendees to explore La Jolla and the wider San Diego region to enjoy the area's rich ocean ecosystem. Below are a few suggestions. Contact us with any questions about planning your free time.

Nature Walk at a Coastal Wetland - Visit the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve and explore coastal maritime sage at this diverse southern San Diego park, home to important bird and butterfly habitat. 

Sea Kayaking -- Go on a kayak tour of the beautiful La Jolla Sea Caves with Everyday California, visit their website at http://adventure.everydaycalifornia.com or call to book your space, 415-439-9510 (there's often Groupon and Living Social deals online)

Visit Ellen Browning Scripps Park in La Jolla -- A wonderful oceanside park will offer views of sea lions, seals, and many types of seabirds. 133 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037 https://www.californiabeaches.com/map/ellen-browning-scripps-park-la-jolla/

Check out the Birch Aquarium -- Located just above the SIO campus, it's a great place to learn more about the local marine life. 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037 https://aquarium.ucsd.edu

Cabrillo National Monument - A beautiful area west of the airport, with a nice visitors center, historic lighthouse, and amazing tide pools. https://www.nps.gov/cabr/index.htm

Tidepooling -- There are several places to tidepool in the area. The Scripps Reserve tidepools can be accessed by walking north along the beach from Scripps Pier. There's also tidepooling at Shell Beach. 

Balboa Park -- An amazing park near downtown San Diego, with 17 museums and gardens and historic buildings. https://www.balboapark.org

Travel Logistics

Events will be held on and around the campus of Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), located in La Jolla, CA, 14 miles from San Diego International Airport (SAN).

There are many hotels and Airbnb in the area. A few hotels we recommend in the area include:

Hotel La Jolla and La Jolla Shores Hotel - Both of these hotels are approximately one mile from the event.

The Grande Colonial and The Empress - Both of these hotels are in the village of La Jolla across the cove from the event, a short drive to the event.

The Shoal in La Jolla and Sands of La Jolla - Both are recently renovated motel-style property in La Jolla/Bird Rock.

Having a rental car will facilitate getting around the area to sightsee in the mornings and participating in the events on Friday. Parking around the events on Saturday and Sunday afternoons is limited. We recommend taking Lyft/Uber. Most hotels also offer free shuttle service to the Scripps campus. 

Please contact us at events@REEF.org if you need travel logistics details or assistance.

Other Event Details

Silent Auction - We are excited to share a few special items for auction, including artwork, trips, and more.

Weather and Suggested Attire - Suggested attire is festive casual. Average daytime temperature in La Jolla in March is in the mid-60's. The ocean breeze can be cool as the sun sets, so an outer layer is recommended.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography Pier at Sunset.