As part of the NOAA-funded Coastal Partnership Initiative, REEF has joined forces with Florida SeaGrant to organize and conduct a series of lionfish collecting and handling workshops and hands on training dives in Southeast Florida. REEF Staff trained over 75 divers during recent workshops and dives in the Florida Keys, Miami, and Palm Beach. The project also includes organized removals by local volunteer teams throughout the year.

As the year winds down, we still have a few educational REEF Fishinars remaining. Check out the full schedule at www.REEF.org/fishinars. And keep an eye on that space because we will be adding new ones for 2015 soon. Fishinars coming up include:

REEF is proud to partner with over 130 dive shops, dive clubs, individuals, and other organizations as REEF Field Stations.

We're gearing up for another great year of marine conservation, and we hope you can join us to celebrate at a REEF event this year.

REEF by the Sea - March 1-3, in La Jolla, California: REEF Sustainers receive an invitation to this annual event, held each spring in either California or Florida. The weekend includes guest speakers such as scientists and other experts, plus socials and REEF program updates. For more information about donor recognition levels, visit this page.

A group of four people smiling and holding fish behavior books.

We're gearing up for another great year of marine conservation, and we hope you can join us to celebrate at a REEF event this year.

REEF by the Sea - March 3-4, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida: REEF Sustainers receive an invitation to this exclusive event, held each spring in either California or Florida. The weekend features  guest speakers including noted scientists and photographers, plus socials and REEF updates. For more information about donor recognition levels, visit this page.

This month, REEF is proud to highlight one of our outstanding Conservation Partners: Key Dives in Islamorada, FL. REEF Conservation Partners are active organizations and dive shops dedicated to protecting marine environments. As valued REEF ambassadors, they teach fish ID classes, host survey dives, organize volunteer events and more. Read on to find out how you can get involved with these centers of conservation action!

If you haven't checked out the 2016 REEF Trips schedule yet, now's the time. We have an exciting lineup of destinations planned, and we hope you will join us. These trips offer a great introduction to fish identification for novice fishwatchers, and are a fun way for experienced surveyors to build their life-list while interacting with fellow ocean enthusiasts. We are also offering three of the ever-popular Invasive Lionfish Research Studies trips.

Check out the great Fishinars we have planned for April! We invite everyone to join in the fun of learning in the convenience of your home, with these energetic and informative online webinars. Our Fishinars are free to REEF members, interactive (so you don't fall asleep), and chock full of tips and tricks to help you learn fish ID in many areas of the world.

In April, we have five Fishinars on the calendar:

We are gearing up for an amazing year of conservation and celebrations, we hope you can join us at a REEF event this year. Save the date and check out details below!

REEF by the Sea - February 28 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL: REEF Sustainers receive an invitation to this annual event, held each spring in either California or Florida. For more information about donor recognition levels, visit this page.

On August 13th, Lad Akins, lead on REEF's lionfish efforts, was an invited presenter to the Caribbean Fisheries Management Council and other meeting attendees at its bi-monthly meeting in St Croix, USVI. The council is charged with advising the National Marine Fisheries Service on regulations and issues related to commercially valuable marine life species in Puerto Rico and the USVI of St. Thomas, St. John and St Croix. 

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