Congratulations to the following REEF members who have recently moved up an Experience Level in our Volunteer Fish Survey Project!
Volunteers have the opportunity to advance through 5 levels (Novice through Expert) within each of our survey project regions. Experience Levels are obtained by a combination of fish/invertebrate ID tests and numbers of submitted surveys. As they advance, their data is categorized in our online sightings database accordingly.
This article highlighting REEF Fest 2019 was published by SCUBA & H2O Adventures magazine.
Join REEF staff members Ellie Place and Janna Nichols in Monterey on Sept. 27-29 for three days of diving, California marine life ID classes and fun!
We welcome both experienced surveyors and those new to fishwatching (and everyone in between).
Earth is Blue is the magazine of NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries. This article is about the Great Annual Fish Count and Volunteer Fish Survey Project, how citizen science helps sanctuaries, and why marine sanctuaries are important for REEF's work.
There is less than a month left in our annual summer fundraising campaign, and that means there is less than a month left to have your donation matched! Thanks to the generosity of three longtime supporters, all donations made this summer will be matched dollar for dollar up to $70,000! We are so thankful to everyone who has already contributed to our summer fundraising campaign, enabling us to continue our marine conservation work.
Each spring, REEF hosts REEF by the Sea, held the first full weekend in March (alternating between San Diego and South Florida). These events feature seminars and program updates, silent auctions, opportunities for diving, and a chance to mingle with REEF staff, other REEF partners and friends, and our Board of Trustees. Sustainers will be invited to REEF by the Sea in California on March 6-8, 2020, to enjoy food, drinks, special presentations by scientists and prominent figures in marine science, and networking with other REEF members.
We hope you can join us in Key Largo 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.
This month, REEF is proud to highlight one of our outstanding Conservation Partners: Blue Planet Scuba in Washington, D.C. 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!
For the first three weeks in July, REEF’s Invasive Species Program Manager, Dr. Alli Candelmo, and Lead Intern for the Invasive Species Program, Madalyn “Moose” Mussey, have spent almost every day underwater conducting lionfish research. With the help of Forever Young Charter Company, Tony Young, Jeff Leonia, REEF staff, and volunteers, REEF has been assessing lionfish densities in deep water habitats off Islamorada, FL. Along with habitat surveys, the team has deployed a hydrophone (which records underwater sounds including fish sounds) in a site with high densities of lionfish.
