Get hooked on surveying fish by joining in the Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC)! Every July, divers and snorkelers from all over the world participate in this monthlong initiative to learn about marine fish identification and conducting REEF surveys. Individuals and groups can organize their own surveying or fish ID events, and some even add to the fun by incorporating raffles, cookouts, and more! If that sounds like a fun way to spend a summer day this July, check out the GAFC calendar to find an event near you.
REEF online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what's coming up this month:
Fishinar: Fun Fishes to Look For in Roatan
Monday, June 19, 8pm EDT
Click here to register.
Roatan is home to some lesser-seen fish species, if you know where to look! Learn how to locate and identify some of the interesting species that can be found there.
We are excited to welcome our Summer 2023 Marine Conservation Interns to REEF! They will assist with education, outreach, events, and daily operations around the REEF Campus in Key Largo, Florida. Pictured from left to right are Carolyn Corley, Shalini Thinakaran, and Brian Chansky. Here's a bit more about them:
Meet our June Fish of the Month, the Tiger Rockfish, Sebastes nigrocinctus!
Survey Regions: Tiger Rockfish are found on the Pacific Coast of the USA and Canada, from Alaska to British Columbia and south to central California. Click here to see a sightings report for the Tiger Rockfish in the REEF database.
Size: They can grow to be about 2 feet in length.
REEF Ocean Explorers Education Programs engage and inspire learners of all ages to protect and conserve our oceans. Our programs topics include biology, ecology, citizen science, and invasive species, and are designed to help participate understand the importance of marine conservation and how they can make a difference. To reach new audiences and connect even more people with ocean conservation, we're also highlighting connections between arts, humanities, and science.
REEF online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what's coming up this month:
Fishinar: Red Sea Fishes, Part 3
Wednesday, May 10, 8pm EDT
Click here to register.
The Red Sea is full of fascinating fishes. In this session, we'll teach you how to recognize some of the species you may see there. For even more Red Sea fishes, check out Parts 1 and 2 in our Fishinar Archives.
We're gearing up for summer, and that means Lionfish Derby season is here! We're excited to share that registration is now open for the 2023 REEF Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival on Sept. 7-10. The event includes two full days of lionfish hunting, followed by a lionfish festival at Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina in Islamorada, Florida. The family-friendly festival takes place on Sunday, Sept. 10 and includes lionfish scoring, tastings, educational demos, games, crafts, raffles, and activity booths from arts and conservation vendors.
We are encouraging Tropical Western Atlantic REEF surveyors to be on the lookout for a skin condition that is affecting reef fish in the Caribbean. Black Spot Syndrome (BSS) affects many reef fish but can easily be observed on Ocean Surgeonfish, especially when they are pale in color. The black spots are usually on the fins and skin of the affected fish. In many cases, Black Spot Syndrome is caused by a trematode parasite, Scaphanocephalus spp., which moves from marine snails to reef fish and ultimately into osprey, which consume the infected fish.
If you've dreamed of diving the Red Sea, this summer is the perfect time to plan a trip! There are just a few spaces left on our Red Sea Field Survey Trip happening on July 6-16, 2023. This ten-day liveaboard trip offers the chance to explore the shipwrecks, reefs, and pinnacles of the Egyptian Red Sea. REEF Trips are a great way to meet fellow marine life lovers and learn more about the fish you see on your dives. Trips are open to all surveyor experience levels, from beginner to expert! Here are even more reasons to sign up today:
REEF members are the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. A diverse community of divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts support our mission to conserve marine environments worldwide.