We're gearing up for another great year of marine conservation, and we hope you can join us to celebrate at a REEF event this year.
REEF by the Sea - March 3-4, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida: REEF Sustainers receive an invitation to this exclusive event, held each spring in either California or Florida. The weekend features guest speakers including noted scientists and photographers, plus socials and REEF updates. For more information about donor recognition levels, visit this page.
REEF online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what's coming up this month:
Into the Blue Book Club Meeting
Thursday, January 19, 8pm EST
Click here to register.
At our first Into the Blue Book Club meeting of 2023, we'll discuss our latest book selection, The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans by Cynthia Barnett. Cynthia will be joining the meeting for a Q&A! All are invited to join, whether you have read the book or not.
We're excited to announce our speaker lineup for 2023 REEF Fish & Friends! Each month features an engaging ocean-themed presentations from a guest speaker. Presentations are free to attend, and are hosted at the REEF Campus in Key Largo. If you're not able to join us in person, the seminars are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. Upcoming Fish & Friends presentations include:
We're starting off 2023 with our January Fish of the Month, the Sargassum Triggerfish, Xanthichthys ringens!
Survey Regions: Sargassum Triggerfish are found throughout the Tropical Western Atlantic survey region. Click here to see a sightings report for this species in the REEF database.
Size: They grow to about 10 inches.
Size matters – especially when it comes to fisheries management. REEF is excited to be part of a new, collaborative project called SMILE (Size Matters: Innovative Length Estimate), which is now underway in the Florida Keys to help collect information about fish lengths. These data are critical for fisheries stock assessments, which are used to manage ecologically and economically important marine species.
We are excited to welcome our Spring 2023 Marine Conservation Interns to REEF! They will assist with education, outreach, events, and daily operations around the REEF Campus. Joining us this semester are:
Welcome to Citizen Science Corner, our quarterly feature to celebrate those who recently reached a milestone in our Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Here are achievements from October, November, and December 2022:
Golden Hamlet Award
The Golden Hamlet Club award is for those who have conducted 1000+ REEF surveys. Congratulations to Claude Nichols and Jonathan Lavan, who both recently joined the Golden Hamlet Club! Read more about their achievement in the November 2022 e-News.
This winter, you can share holiday cheer and hope for the oceans by supporting marine conservation! When you donate to REEF, you give a gift that impacts our future and our planet. With the support and dedication of people like you, REEF is using science, education, and research to protect the oceans, and inspiring countless individuals to take action for ocean conservation. We're so thankful to all who have given generously this season. If you have not yet made a gift, please consider donating to REEF today. Your year-end contribution will help us start the new year on a strong note.
Education and engagement are essential for marine conservation success, and REEF Ocean Explorers Education Programs bring oceans to life through online and in-person learning. Our programs include hands-on lessons and activities to teach participants of all ages and backgrounds about citizen science, ocean life, marine ecology and habitats, and most importantly, how each of us can make a difference! We're proud to share some stats from the Ocean Explorers Education Program in 2022.
Want to make a difference on your next dive trip? Join a REEF Field Survey Trip to participate in meaningful conservation work, learn about marine life, and have fun with friends. We have a year-round schedule of trips to fantastic dive locations all over the world. Several 2023 trips are already sold out, but we still have limited space remaining on a few REEF Field Survey Trips next year. Below are some upcoming trips with availability.
