Seventeen dedicated REEF surveyors recently visited the beautiful Caribbean island of Grenada for a week of diving and fish surveying. The results from the trip were recently processed into REEF's database, adding to the survey count for the largest marine life sightings database in the world. Altogether, the group conducted 181 surveys at 15 sites and recorded 208 different species. Several of the reports were new records for the area, including the Greenbanded Goby, Bridled Burrfish, Striped Grunt, Red Banner Blenny, Goldline Blenny, Molly Miller, Bantam Bass, and Bluelip Hamlet!
We’re excited to introduce our Fall 2019 Marine Conservation Interns. These individuals will support the REEF team in mission-oriented tasks and daily office operations at REEF Headquarters, as well as play an integral role in our annual four-day event REEF Fest, as well as the Upper Keys Lionfish Derby and Festival and other education and outreach opportunities throughout the semester. They will also have the chance to scuba dive, conduct fish surveys, and volunteer with environmental organizations in South Florida and the Florida Keys.
REEF members are at the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. Over 60,000 divers, snorkelers, students, and armchair naturalists stand behind our mission.
This month we highlight Mindy Gould, member since 1997 (20 years!). Mindy has conducted 121 surveys, in both the western tropical Pacific and the Tropical Western Atlantic. Here's what Mindy had to say about REEF:
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.
Make a dive trip that counts - in Bermuda, October 3- 10, on the Fish Behavior Tour! World-renowned marine naturalists, Ned and Anna DeLoach, authors of Reef Fish Identification and Reef Fish Behavior, will join local expert REEF instructor, Judie Clee, and Chris Flook, Collector of Specimens for the Bermuda Aquarium, as your trip leaders. Ned and Anna will schedule slide and video fish presentations about the wonderful world of marine life behavior and fish identification. This is an excellent destination for your non-diving friends and family as well.
You’re invited to REEF’s Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival! This year’s event is taking place on Sept. 9-12, 2021, and features two full days of lionfish hunting, followed by a family-friendly festival hosted at Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina in Islamorada. Click here for all the details.
We’re excited to introduce our Spring 2019 Marine Conservation Interns. These individuals will support the REEF team in mission-oriented tasks and daily office operations, as well as play an integral role in the many education and outreach programs that take place throughout the spring semester. They will also have opportunities to scuba dive, conduct fish surveys, and volunteer with environmental organizations in South Florida and the Florida Keys. This semester’s interns bring diverse skills and interests to REEF. They include:
Take a bite out of lionfish at the 13th annual REEF Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival, coming up on Sept. 8-11. The event features two full days of lionfish hunting, plus a family-friendly lionfish festival.
We’re excited to introduce our Summer 2019 Marine Conservation Interns. These individuals will support the REEF team in mission-oriented tasks and daily office operations at REEF Headquarters, as well as play an integral role in our Lionfish Derby Series, Ocean Explorers Summer Camp, and other education and outreach events taking place this summer. They will also have opportunities to scuba dive, conduct fish surveys, and volunteer with environmental organizations in South Florida and the Florida Keys. This semester’s interns bring a unique set of skills and interests to REEF.
Registration is now open for REEF Fest 2019 sponsored by Capital Bank Foundation, on Oct. 17-20! 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 ocean-themed 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, but pre-registration is requested.