Attention REEF surveyors: keep an eye out for the non-native Regal Demoiselle while surveying in the Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA) region. The Regal Demoiselle, Neopomacentrus cyanomos, is a damselfish native to a wide area of the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea. First reported as an exotic species in the Gulf of Mexico in 2016, recent reports show that the Regal Demoiselle has expanded its non-native range to southeast Florida.
Let's take a bite out of invasive lionfish! Please save the date and plan to join us for our 2022 Lionfish Derby Series in the Florida Keys:
Earth Day Lionfish Derby: April 22-24 at Sharkey’s Sharkbite Grill in Key Largo
This event is our 9th annual "Keys locals" derby; fishing is allowed in Monroe County waters only. Derby team registration is now open - register your team today! Click here for more info and registration.
You’re invited to join in the third annual REEF Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K on June 6-12, 2022. You can get moving any way you like - run, walk, hike, bike, swim, or even paddle! You can complete the 5K (3.1 miles) in one day or throughout the week. It's a great way to celebrate World Oceans Day and make a difference for yourself, others, and the marine environment.
We are excited to share the 2023 REEF Field Survey Trips schedule! REEF Trips are led by marine life experts, and include diving, fish ID classes, and fun with friends. Divers, snorkelers, and families are welcome on REEF Trips. To find out more or book your space, email trips@REEF.org. We'll send you an invoice to submit a deposit to secure your space. For individual trip details and more info, please visit the links below.
The brightly colored and feisty Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) is our March Fish of the Month!
REEF's online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what is coming up in the next several weeks:
Tropical Pacific Damselfishes Pt. 2
Monday, April 4, 8pm EDT
Click here to register.
Join us for part 2 as Christy Semmens teaches us how to ID even more Tropical Pacific Damselfish, Dascyllus, and Demoiselles! You can also view the recording of Part 1 here.
Join in a REEF Field Survey Trip to experience an unforgettable fish watching adventure - and complete this month's featured Conservation Challenge! Divers, snorkelers, and surveyors of all experience levels are welcome on these educational citizen science trips, led by REEF fish ID experts. Check out the full trip schedule at www.REEF.org/trips, including our newly released 2023 (and beyond) trip schedule! You are eligible to receive this sticker if you have attended any REEF Field Survey Trip in the past, or you're registered for an upcoming trip.
If one of your resolutions for this year was to read more books, be sure to check out REEF Into the Blue Book Club, which brings together readers who are passionate about the ocean and conservation. This book club is completely virtual, so you can participate from the comfort of home. Here's how it works: each quarter, we select a book about the ocean, marine science, environmental conservation, or diving. Over the next several months, members read the book and may share their thoughts on the Into the Blue Facebook group.