We hope you can join us in Key Largo for REEF Fest 2019 sponsored by Capital Bank Foundation, on Oct. 17-20! REEF Fest is an annual four-day celebration to acknowledge the success of marine conservation and education initiatives in the Florida Keys. Events include educational ocean-themed seminars, social gatherings, diving, and eco-adventures alongside some of the most prestigious names in diving and marine conservation. All REEF Fest events are open to the public, but pre-registration is requested.
We are excited to welcome our Summer 2022 Marine Conservation Interns to REEF! As a part of our team, they will assist with Ocean Explorers Education programs, outreach events, and daily operations around the REEF Campus. They are:
It's that time again: our biggest REEF Lionfish Derby of the year, the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival, is taking place next weekend, on Sept. 9-12. This is our 12th annual REEF Lionfish Derby hosted in the Florida Keys. With two full days of lionfish hunting and more than $6,000 in cash prizes up for grabs, plus a family-friendly festival, this is a great way for everyone to take a bite out of lionfish!
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.
In April 2018, two non-native marine fish species were live-captured from South Florida waters, including an Orangespine Unicornfish (Naso lituratus) in Key Largo and a Lagoon Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) in Fort Lauderdale. Both fishes, native to a wide range in the tropical west Pacific, were collected separately through a collaborative effort between REEF, Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, and the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Unfortunately, REEF’s Winter Lionfish Derby Event at Sharkey’s Pub and Galley for April 4, 2020 has been cancelled. We have exhausted the options of hosting a remote competition where teams can just drop off their fish, but at this time we are going adhere to the recommendations worldwide and encourage social distancing.
We will try to reschedule the Lionfish Derby competition in some capacity if possible in the upcoming months.
Have you marked your calendar for REEF Fest? REEF Fest 2019 sponsored by Capital Bank Foundation is coming up on Oct. 17-20 in Key Largo, Florida! This annual four-day celebration includes educational ocean-themed seminars, social gatherings, diving, and eco-adventures alongside some of the most prestigious names in diving and marine conservation. All REEF Fest events are open to the public, but pre-registration is requested.
Join REEF's annual trip to Cozumel for a wonderful week of camaraderie, diving and citizen science! Enjoy some fabulous drift diving in waters that have been protected as a marine park for nearly 20 years. Cozumel is known for its many unique fish finds, from the endemic Splendid Toadfish, found only in this area, to the high abundances of interesting species like Cherubfish, Blackcap Basslet, and Sargassum Triggerfish.