Introducing our May Fish of the Month, the Flying Gurnard, Dactylopterus volitans!
Our online programs are free and open to all! Check out what's coming up, and view the entire schedule of Fishinars and other online programs, as well as 200+ recorded Fishinars here.
Fishinar: Fishes of Micronesia Part 2
Tuesday, May 6, 8pm ET
Click here to register.
REEF staff member Amy Lee will highlight some of the amazing species found in Micronesia, part of the Central Indo-Pacific (CIP) survey region.
We want to hear from members like YOU! Help us improve exciting REEF research by taking a quick (10-15 minute), voluntary online survey to share your insights on citizen science and your motivations for potentially participating in a marine conservation project that utilizes handheld cameras to obtain fish lengths underwater. No particular experience is necessary to complete this survey and provide valuable information.
The REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project is widely regarded as one of the most impactful ocean citizen science programs. Since 1993, almost 18,000 REEF volunteers have generated one of the largest marine life databases in the world. What makes it such a success? Since the beginning, the data have been made available to everyone. Anyone can query the database and generate summary reports on the REEF website.
We are excited to welcome Rose Kelly to the REEF team as an Education Coordinator! Rose is based at the REEF Campus in Key Largo, FL. She grew up in Bethesda, MD, and traveled to Florida every spring for family vacations. She has a deep love for snorkeling, beach walks, and exploring the coast. Rose graduated from Providence College with a B.S. in environmental biology. During her time at Providence, Rose served on Student Congress, worked as a school event planner, and traveled to Cairns, Australia, to pursue research on animals in the tropics.
Mark your calendars! The 16th Annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival is coming up this month, on April 24-27, 2025. This event blends ocean conservation, art, science, and community fun, and it's free and open to the public! Join us for a weekend of lionfish hunting, eco-art, ocean education, and family-friendly festivities. The Lionfish Derby engages divers in a thrilling competition to remove as many invasive lionfish as possible, helping protect native marine ecosystems.
Join us on June 7-8, 2025, as we celebrate World Ocean Day and the grand opening of the Ocean Exploration Center at the REEF Campus in Key Largo, Florida! This exciting milestone marks a new chapter for marine conservation and education in the Florida Keys and beyond.
We just released our 2026 Field Survey Trip schedule, so be sure to take a look at all of the new exciting destinations we have in store! Click here to see our new 2026 trips.
If you are looking to take a trip this year, we have a few spaces still available, including a male shared space on the Nevis trip and a female shared space in Yap, with additional openings on our Canary Islands and Curacao trips. See links for these trips and more below.
Welcome to the Citizen Science Corner, our quarterly feature to celebrate those who recently reached a milestone in our Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Here are achievements from January, February and March 2025.
Juvenile Hamlet Award
The Juvenile Hamlet Award is for individuals who have conducted 500+ REEF surveys. Congratulations to our latest Juvenile Hamlet Club members:
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to experience a REEF Ocean Explorers Education Program? Students, travel programs, or other groups can join us at the REEF Campus in Key Largo to learn all about the ocean, marine life, conservation, and how to make a difference! Read on to see what a day with REEF might be like for a 16-year old student visiting the Florida Keys to participate in a REEF Ocean Explorers Education Program: