This summer, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of REEF's cornerstone citizen science program, the Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Our annual summer fundraising campaign kicked off on World Oceans Day on June 8, and since then, thanks to the support of members like you, we were able to reach our goal of raising $60,000 to support our conservation programs!
REEF members are at the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. More than 70,000 divers, snorkelers, students, and armchair naturalists stand behind our mission.
This month we highlight REEF member Alev Ozten. Alev joined REEF in 2016, and became an expert level surveyor in the Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA) region the following year, in 2017. To date, she has conducted more than 180 REEF surveys. She lives in Bonaire, where she frequently enjoys diving and surveying!
Help improve the health of coral reefs by hunting lionifsh in a REEF derby! Not a diver? You can also participate in the culinary competition by buying a VIP ticket. This will allow you to taste and vote on your favorite dish while promoting lionfish as a tasty and sustainable food choice.
Check the archives for the first two Fishinars covering fish in the Philippines, and then tune in with Amy Lee to learn even more! This Fishinar will be a great study tool for those heading to the Philippines on REEF's Field Survey Trip in October, or for anyone interested in learning to ID (even more!) fish in the Tropical Pacific.
Come celebrate the impact and success of marine conservation and education initiatives in the Florida Keys. REEF Fest eents include educational 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, and tickets are required for the Saturday banquet.
This will be REEF's second Field Survey to the the Solomon Islands, which comprise one of the most intact and biologically rich oceanic archipelagos on Earth. In fact, the region was identified as a “Bright Spot” in a recent study published in the scientific journal, Nature. The Solomon Islands were designated as a location where coral reefs are flourishing against the odds despite environmental pressure. This land-based trip to Uepi Island Resort will feature plenty of opportunities for diving Marovo Lagoon, the longest saltwater lagoon in the world.
REEF’s Grouper Moon Project, ongoing since 2001, was recently featured in Scientific American as a model for natural resource science. The project is a powerful collaboration between scientists at REEF, Cayman Islands Department of Environment, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Oregon State University, with input from Caymanian fishermen and support by local businesses. The work has connected cutting-edge science with the real-world need for understanding and protecting Nassau Grouper and their spawning aggregations.
REEF members are at the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. More than 70,000 divers, snorkelers, students, and armchair naturalists stand behind our mission.
This month we highlight Hideko Kawabata, REEF member since 2007. Hideko has conducted 159 REEF surveys, and has been on many REEF Trips to the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Indo-Pacific. She is a Level 3 TWA surveyor. Here's what she had to say about REEF:
How did you first learn about REEF?