In spite of Tropical Storm Sally’s unexpected appearance over south Florida, 23 teams brought in 1,321 invasive lionfish during the 2020 Upper Keys Lionfish Derby – the most fish ever harvested at a REEF Lionfish Derby held in the Florida Keys. Teams were permitted to fish anywhere in Florida, from sunrise to sunset on Friday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 12. More than $4,000 in cash and prizes was awarded to teams who brought in the most, largest, and smallest lionfish.
REEF is proud to highlight Scuba Center, a Conservation Partner in Minnesota. REEF Conservation Partners are organizations and dive shops committed to protecting marine environments worldwide. As valued REEF ambassadors, they serve as centers for marine conservation actions, outreach, and education. You can view the full listing of Conservation Partners or register your organization as a REEF Conservation Partner here.
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.
Dive into the marine world while staying dry on land – join REEF’s Into the Blue Book Club! The goal of Into the Blue Book Club is to bring together readers of all levels who are passionate about the ocean and conservation. Best of all, Into the Blue Book Club is virtual, so you can join in from anywhere in the world.
Researchers from the Marine Megafauna Foundation, Jessica Pate and Andrea Marshall, show strong evidence that south Florida features a nursery ground for manta rays, only the third such special place known for the species.
Active civic engagement is at the heart of REEF’s values. As a grassroots citizen science organization, we believe in the power of individuals and communities working together to make a difference. One way we can do that is by participating in elections. Whatever your values and priorities, every voice matters, and it is your privilege and right to vote.
In this paper, researchers from the Marine Megafauna Foundation show strong evidence that South Florida features a nursery ground for manta rays, only the third such special place known for the species. The results are surprising, given the proximity to large numbers of people and human activity. The lead author spent hundreds of hours conducting visual boat-based surveys between Jupiter Inlet and Boynton Beach between June 2016 to November 2019 in order to locate and identify individual manta rays from their color patterns and markings.
REEF’s in-person programming is on hold for now, so here are some upcoming marine conservation programs that you can join from home. These programs are free and open to the public. To view all upcoming programs, visit www.REEF.org/events.
Fish Face-To-Face: Tropical Western Atlantic
Thursday, October 8 at 8 PM EDT
Click here to register.
Welcome to the Citizen Science Corner, our quarterly feature to acknowledge those who recently reached a milestone in our Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Below are the REEF members who achieved a survey milestone in July, August, or September 2020.
Experience Level Advancements
REEF Experience Levels are a way for divers and snorkelers to measure their fish ID knowledge along with their surveying experience. From brand new beginners up to the top (Level 5), you'll find plenty of resources and friends to help you along the way.
To get you in the mood for Halloween, meet our spooky October Fish of the Month - the Pinnate Spadefish, Platax pinnatus!