We are excited to welcome our Spring 2023 Marine Conservation Interns to REEF! They will assist with education, outreach, events, and daily operations around the REEF Campus. Joining us this semester are:
Welcome to Citizen Science Corner, our quarterly feature to celebrate those who recently reached a milestone in our Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Here are achievements from October, November, and December 2022:
Golden Hamlet Award
The Golden Hamlet Club award is for those who have conducted 1000+ REEF surveys. Congratulations to Claude Nichols and Jonathan Lavan, who both recently joined the Golden Hamlet Club! Read more about their achievement in the November 2022 e-News.
This winter, you can share holiday cheer and hope for the oceans by supporting marine conservation! When you donate to REEF, you give a gift that impacts our future and our planet. With the support and dedication of people like you, REEF is using science, education, and research to protect the oceans, and inspiring countless individuals to take action for ocean conservation. We're so thankful to all who have given generously this season. If you have not yet made a gift, please consider donating to REEF today. Your year-end contribution will help us start the new year on a strong note.
Education and engagement are essential for marine conservation success, and REEF Ocean Explorers Education Programs bring oceans to life through online and in-person learning. Our programs include hands-on lessons and activities to teach participants of all ages and backgrounds about citizen science, ocean life, marine ecology and habitats, and most importantly, how each of us can make a difference! We're proud to share some stats from the Ocean Explorers Education Program in 2022.
Want to make a difference on your next dive trip? Join a REEF Field Survey Trip to participate in meaningful conservation work, learn about marine life, and have fun with friends. We have a year-round schedule of trips to fantastic dive locations all over the world. Several 2023 trips are already sold out, but we still have limited space remaining on a few REEF Field Survey Trips next year. Below are some upcoming trips with availability.
Our online programs are free and open to all! Check out what's coming up, and view the entire 2023 schedule of Fishinars and other online programs here.
If you have any REEF surveys that you haven't yet entered, now is the perfect time to submit them. The marine life information collected by REEF volunteers is an extremely useful tool used by scientists and researchers protect our oceans. Each survey can help make a difference in the health of the ocean - but these data must be submitted to the REEF database to make an impact! You can start 2023 with a clean slate (pun intended) by entering all your surveys before the year ends.
Deck the halls for our December Fish of the Month, the Treefish, Sebastes serriceps!
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.
This month we highlight Annette Felix. She has been a REEF member since 2006, and is an avid surveyor. She has conducted 465 total surveys in the Tropical Eastern Pacific and Hawaii regions. As a member of the Guardian Club, Annette supports REEF as a monthly donor. Here's what she had to say about her involvement with REEF:
We are heartbroken to share the news that beloved REEF member, Cassandra Neal, passed away unexpectedly last month. Her kindness, laughter, and passion for the oceans will be greatly missed by many.