We are excited to welcome Dr. Jen Loch to the REEF Team! As a Research Associate, Jen works directly with the REEF Conservation Science program, and oversees the field implementation of the SMILE project, an initiative to incorporate fish size estimates into the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project using camera technologies. Jen comes to us with an extensive background in fish ecology. She holds a B.S. in biology from Florida State University and an M.S.
The Islamorada Lionfish Collecting & Handling Workshop is FULL!
Thursday, September 7 - Key Dives, 79851 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036
Join Friends of Saltwater State Park Saturday, July 29, for a REEF survey dive and fish ID class in Des Moines, Washington!
REEF Survey Dive: Meet near the Snack Shack
The Fish ID Class will be held in the Classroom
For more information and to sign up visit, https://www.friendssaltwater.org/event-details/great-annual-fish-count.
Reef Environmental Education Foundation is excited to announce an opportunity to partner with classroom teachers for the 2023-2024 school year. Thanks to the Coastal Partnership Initiative (CPI) grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, we can offer your class FREE REEF Virtual Field Trips, Colorful Fish Identification Cards for your students, and marine life curriculum for you to use as a classroom resource.
Be sure to join us for the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival on Sept. 7-10, 2023! The event includes two days to collect as many invasive lionfish as possible, followed by a family-friendly lionfish festival hosted at the picturesque Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina in Islamorada. The festival is open to the public and features lionfish tastings, drink specials, educational demonstrations, games, interactive booths from environmental vendors, live music, and more. Visit www.REEF.org/derby for all the details.
Our annual summer donation match is here! Now through August 8, all gifts are doubled, dollar for dollar, up to $70,000! Will you support our citizen science, education, and research programs by donating today? You can make a donation securely online at www.REEF.org/donate. You can also donate over the phone by calling (305) 852-0030, or mail your donation to P.O. Box 370246, Key Largo, FL 33037. Your gift this summer will ensure that we can continue all of the great work shared in this newsletter.
We are excited to announce the REEF Ocean Ambassador Program, designed to support dedicated REEF members who actively engage and inspire others to become involved with REEF’s citizen science programs. REEF provides Ambassadors with resources to aid in their involvement, and these individuals make a lasting impact by connecting people in their communities to ocean conservation.
Dr. Christy Pattengill-Semmens, REEF Co-Executive Director of Science and Engagement, recently attended the 2023 Citizen Science Association Conference to share information about the Volunteer Fish Survey Project (VFSP). The semi-annual conference brings together a wide variety of practitioners, volunteers, academics, educators, and more, to share ideas and insights, and to forge stronger relationships and practices across the field.
This Great Annual Fish Count, join REEF and Silent World for a free fish ID class, followed by a REEF survey snorkel.
Morning check-in for class at Silent World at 10:15am, presentation start at 10:30am, check-in for the survey snorkel at 11:15am, and return to dock around 2:30pm. A REEF representative will be onboard to answer any fish or surveying questions!