Introducing our June 2021 Fish of the Month, the Greater Soapfish, Rypticus saponaceus!
REEF's online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what is coming up over the next several weeks:
Into the Blue Book Club Meeting
Thursday, June 10 at 8pm EDT
Into the Blue Book Club brings together readers who love the ocean. At this meeting, we will be discussing our June book selection, Into the Planet by legendary cave diver Jill Heinerth. Jill is also attending the meeting for a Q&A!
Register here.
We recently welcomed our Summer 2021 Marine Conservation Interns to REEF. They will support the REEF team by assisting with events, education and outreach programs, and daily operations around the REEF Campus. This semester’s interns bring a unique set of skills and interests to REEF. They include:
This article highlights some of the ways that the Upper Keys community has adressed the invasive lionfish, including REEF's 8th Annual Earth Day "Locals" Lionfish Derby held on April 23-25, 2021 in Key Largo.
Join us in Key Largo, Florida for REEF Fest 2021!
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 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. Click here for full REEF Fest details.
There's still time to register for the second annual Fish Out of Water Virutal 5K, coming up on June 7-13, 2021. If you haven't registered yet, click here to do so now. Be sure to sign up soon - early bird registration rates end on May 10! When you sign up, you will choose to join one of five Fish Teams. Each fish is a popular species found in REEF's Volunteer Fish Survey Project regions.
Last Friday, April 30, was REEF's first Give BIG for the Oceans event. On this day, the REEF community came together to show support for marine conservation. As a result, our members set a REEF record for most funds raised in a single day. More than 100 people donated during Give BIG for the Oceans, allowing us to exceed our fundraising goal! We are so grateful to our members for their incredibly generous support. Thank you for helping to make our first ever Give BIG for the a Oceans a BIG success!
Fourteen teams of divers persevered through windy conditions to bring in 494 invasive lionfish during the 2021 REEF Earth Day “Locals” Lionfish Derby. Teams were permitted to fish in Monroe County waters from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, April 24. More than $2,500 in cash and prizes was awarded to teams who brought in the most, largest, and smallest lionfish.
REEF's online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what is coming up over the next several weeks:
Fishy Hour: Tropical Western Atlantic Fish Jeopardy
Tuesday, May 18 at 8pm EDT
Hang out with your fellow fish geeks as we play a Jeopardy-style trivia game about Tropical Western Atlantic fishes, hosted by the always entertaining Christy and Brice Semmens.
Register here.