So far in 2026, 10,657 surveys have been submitted to the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project by 780 volunteers from thousands of sites around the world. Every single survey makes a difference! The ongoing nature of the VFSP and its broad geographic coverage have helped make it one of the most impactful ocean citizen science programs in the world.
Every fish survey counts! Data collected by REEF volunteer divers are helping scientists better understand rockfish populations along the West Coast of the United States, with the potential to inform important fisheries management decisions.
Every REEF survey tells part of the story of our ocean, and together, more than three decades of volunteer observations have created an extraordinary record of marine biodiversity. Just as important as collecting those data is making sure they remain accurate, accessible, and useful well into the future. REEF Co-Executive Director Dr.
Did you know that REEF has the largest marine biodiversity database in the world? You can access a variety of reports to bring this data into your classroom or programs. Incorporating REEF data into lessons allows students to graph and synthesize real-world information, analyze trends, and pose their own questions. Using the REEF database, you can generate different types of reports to show all of the fish species documented in a given area, or dive deeper by examining the distribution of a specific species or family.
Each winter, thousands of endangered Nassau Grouper gather at a special location in the waters of Little Cayman to spawn after the full moon. REEF has developed Grouper Moon educator resources to engage students with this amazing natural phenomenon, and help them understand the ecological, and cultural importance of Nassau Grouper as a top predator on Caribbean coral reefs.
We are now accepting applications for the 2024 REEF Educator in the Field Fellowship! This exciting professional development opportunity offers formal and informal educators the chance to gain experience with ocean citizen science. The Fellowship, awarded annually, is generously supported by CEDAM International. This year's Educator in the Field Fellowship recipient will join the REEF Field Survey Trip to Bonaire on July 20-27, 2024, to learn about marine life and citizen science, and conduct fish surveys while scuba diving or snorkeling as part of the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project.
You and your students are invited to dive into science and research by tuning in to a live-from-the-field webchat with scientists studying the Nassau Grouper aggregations in the Cayman Islands!
Grouper Moon education resources are available for all grades. Lessons are easily integrated into existing curricula, or can be taught as an immersive unit with scaffolded lessons. Resources include games like Guess Who, Grouper Moon-O, Race to Survival, and Human Food Web.