In honor of the upcoming Summer Lionfish Derby Series, we are spotlighting several Conservation Partners who go above and beyond in their support of our lionfish work. Thank you to Forever Young Charter Company, Juliet Sailing and Diving, Sea Experience, ZooKeeper, and Johnny Leuthold for sponsoring our 2019 Lionfish Derby Series as REEF Conservation Partners!
Immerse your child into an ocean of learning and fun this summer! Open to campers ages 8-13, each week-long session of Ocean Explorers Camp includes coral reef snorkeling trips, kayak ventures through winding mangrove trails, a glass bottom boat ride, arts and crafts, hands-on marine science lessons, and a dolphin interaction and touch tank program! Camp is hosted Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Island Dolphin Care, both located in Key Largo, FL. 2019 Ocean Explorers Summer Camp dates include June 24-28, July 15-19, and July 29-Aug. 2.
We’re excited to introduce our Summer 2019 Marine Conservation Interns. These individuals will support the REEF team in mission-oriented tasks and daily office operations at REEF Headquarters, as well as play an integral role in our Lionfish Derby Series, Ocean Explorers Summer Camp, and other education and outreach events taking place this summer. They will also have opportunities to scuba dive, conduct fish surveys, and volunteer with environmental organizations in South Florida and the Florida Keys. This semester’s interns bring a unique set of skills and interests to REEF.
REEF Fishinars are fun, live, interactive webinars, open to anyone who wants to learn about ocean life. Our next Fishinar, Gobies and Blennies of the Sea of Cortez, is coming up on Wednesday, June 19 at 8pm EST. This session is perfect for surveyors heading to the Sea of Cortez on the upcoming REEF Field Survey Trip, as well as anyone who wants to learn more about the smaller species found in Baja California!
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.
Although the Volunteer Fish Survey Project operates worldwide, REEF Headquarters is based in Key Largo, Florida, and we organize plenty of public programs and events that are held at our Interpretive Center. Earlier this year, we launched Citizen Science Saturday, a new monthly program created to engage Florida Keys residents and visitors in diverse, hands-on citizen science projects while providing a way for the public to connect with nature. Each Citizen Science Saturday event starts with a presentation from a guest speaker.
Each year, REEF volunteer citizen scientists embark on dive trips all over the world to conduct fish surveys as part of the Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Two places we are particularly excited about visiting this year are Little Corn Island, Nicaragua, and Uepi Island in the Solomon Islands. Despite being on opposite sides of the world, these two locations are both tropical paradises known for excellent diving. Both areas are very remote, but the incredible marine life is worth the travel! It's not too late to join us on one (or both!) of these fantastic trips.
On April 23, we welcomed nearly 200 guests to REEF Headquarters for our first Susainability Fair, held in honor of Earth Day. Many local nonprofits and environmentally-minded businesses set up booths along our Native Plants Trail, and engaged attendees with a variety of fun activities. Guests learned about ways to be more sustainable in their everyday lives, and what they can do to make a positive difference for the environment.
Since 2010, more than 45,000 invasive lionfish have been removed through REEF Lionfish Derbies. We are excited to announce that the following dates and locations have been set for REEF’s 2019 Summer Lionfish Derby Series:
• June 28 – 30: 8th Annual Fort Lauderdale Lionfish Derby at 15th Street Fisheries
• July 12 – 14: 6th Annual Sarasota Lionfish Derby at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
• Sept.13 – 15: 10th Annual Upper Keys Lionfish Derby and Festival at Postcard Inn Resort and Marina