Ready, set, register... to join in the 4th annual REEF Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K! From June 5-11, REEF members and ocean enthusiast worldwide are getting active to support of ocean conservation. You can participate from anywhere, and choose your favorite activity - run, walk, hike, bike, or even swim! You can complete the 5K in one go, or break it up throughout the week. When you register for the Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K, you'll also choose to join one of five Fish Teams, including Emperor Angelfish, Clownfish, Hammerhead Shark, Spotted Eagle Ray, or Tiger Rockfish.
Did you know that the data collected by REEF surveyors are separated into two categories based on Experience Level: Novice and Expert? Once you reach Level 4 or 5 in a given survey region, you're considered an Expert surveyor for that region. You can even earn a special Expert Level surveyor Conservation Challenge sticker! Check out www.REEF.org/conservationchallenge for details.
April is Citizen Science Month, and we're gearing up for one of our biggest citizen science iniatives of the year - the Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC)! Held each July, the GAFC is an initiative to encourage divers and snorkelers to participate in the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project. This is a great way for anyone to get involved in citizen science and learn more about marine life by joining in ID classes and group dives.
REEF online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what's coming up this month:
Introducing our April Fish of the Month, the Giant Hawkfish, Cirrhitus rivulatus!
Survey Regions: Giant Hawkfish are found throughout REEF's Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) survey region. Click here to see REEF database reports for this species in each region: TEP.
Size: As the largest members of the hawkfish family, they can grow up to 2 feet long!
If you have ever wanted to participate in a meaningful ocean conservation project, now is your chance! Limited space is available on several of our upcoming REEF Field Survey Trips. REEF Trips are eco-vacations led by marine life experts. Each trip features daily fish ID classes suitable for beginners and experienced surveyors, plus a full schedule of diving. If you're not a diver, snorkelers are also welcome! When you travel with REEF, you make a difference in the health of our oceans by participating in marine research.
This year, we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project (VFSP). Since its launch in the Florida Keys in 1993, this citizen science program has grown into a worldwide effort, generating one of the largest ocean databases in the world through marine life surveys. REEF surveys have been conducted at more than 15,000 sites throughout the world’s oceans, by over 16,000 volunteer divers and snorkelers worldwide.
You're invited to join us next Thursday, March 16, for Science on the Spectrum, a special virtual event highlighting neurodiversity, featuring a panel of guest speakers who will share their experiences and insights on how their perspectives shaped their careers in science. We have an amazing group of scientists taking part in this event, including:
The Conservation Challenge is a fun way to earn collectible stickers while participating in marine conservation and citizen science. Did you know that you can earn a sticker for participating in a REEF Field Survey Trip? REEF Trips are a great way to learn more about marine life while spending time with others who are interested in conservation. Spaces are still available on trips this year, so check out www.REEF.org/trips to see our schedule, and sign up for a trip today.
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.