REEF programs use citizen science to engage and inspire the public, while improving our understanding of ocean creatures and habitats. Members like you are a critical part of this work, and we are so thankful for the generosity of all who have made a donation to REEF this winter. Your financial support helped us to start this year off strongly. If you have not yet contributed, will you consider making a donation now to support our ocean conservation work? You can visit www.REEF.org/donate to contribute securely online.
This year is off to an exciting (and jetsetting) start for the REEF team, as two of our staff recently traveled to Tasmania, the southernmost state in Australia, to present at various scientific conferences. First, REEF Co-Executive Director Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Ph.D., attended the International Temperate Reefs Symposium. Christy and her husband Dr. Brice Semmens, a frequent REEF scientific collaborator, both gave presentations at the conference, which hosted scientists from around the world who study kelp forests and rocky reefs.
You can still sign up for a REEF Field Survey Trip this year! Limited space is available on upcoming 2023 trips. Visit the links below to learn more about each trip, and when you're ready to book, email trips@REEF.org. When you join a REEF Trip, you'll learn about marine life, collect important citizen science data to help study and protect the oceans, and meet others who are interested in conservation. Spaces are filling up fast, so we suggest booking as soon as possible!
The Conservation Challenge is a fun way to earn collectible stickers while participating in marine conservation and citizen science. There are a variety of stickers to collect, and this month, we're highlighting two challenges: the Fishinars Challenge and the 30 for 30 Challenge! All you have to do to earn the Fishinars sticker is attend a REEF online program, or watch an archived session. Visit www.REEF.org/fishinars to see all upcoming programs as well as our archive of more than 200 sessions.
REEF online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what's coming up this month:
Fishinar: Bring on the Blennies!
Tuesday, February 21, 8pm EST
Click here to register.
Do those small, tube-dwelling, goggle-eyed blennies boggle your brain? Learn how to tell the differences between some of the most common blennies in the Tropical Western Atlantic region, and where to find them.
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.
Introducing our February Fish of the Month, the Longhorn Sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus
Survey Regions: They are found from Virginia to Newfoundland, in REEF's Northeast US and Canada (NE) region. Click here to see a distribution report for this species.
Size: They can grow to about 18 inches (46 cm) in length but are generally 10-14 inches.
This past week marked the 21st year of the Grouper Moon Project, a highly successful conservation science collaboration between REEF and the Cayman Islands Department of Environment (DOE) to study one of the largest and last known spawning aggregations of endangered Nassau Grouper in the Caribbean.
We're headed to Cayman Brac Beach Resort on May 20-27 for a REEF Field Survey Trip! Cayman Brac is an excellent destination for divers, snorkelers, and both beginner and experienced fish surveyors. The dive sites include walls, reefs, swim-throughs, plus two wrecks to explore, and the island is known for having little to no current and great visibility. The trip package includes three dives each day, which means plenty of time in the water! REEF Trips are a great way to learn more about marine life while spending time with others who are interested in conservation.
We're excited to announce the REEF Educator in the Field Fellowship, a new professional development opportunity for formal and informal educators to gain hands-on experience with ocean citizen science! The Fellowship will enable a qualified educator to participate in a REEF Field Survey Trip. They will join other citizen scientist volunteers to learn about marine life and conduct fish surveys while scuba diving or snorkeling as part of the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project.