For nearly three decades, REEF has welcomed more than 150 young adults to the REEF Campus to spend a semester immersed in marine conservation projects. This month, we highlight former Marine Conservation Intern Sarah Goldman. Read on to hear about her time at REEF and how her REEF internship helped to shape her career.
When were you a REEF intern?
Fall 2002 with fellow intern Julie Brown.
With 15,000 tube feet and up to 24 arms, the magnificent Sunflower Sea Star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) is found from Baja Mexico to Alaska. Since 2013, this magnificent species has suffered a dramatic decline due to a wasting disease. Many fear that the species may be on the brink of extinction.
REEF's 12th annual event will include two full days of lionfish fishing culminating in a family-friendly festival at picturesque Postcard Inn Resort & Marina. The festival is open to the public and will include Lionfish scoring, fillet and dissection demonstrations, Lionfish tastings, Lionfish games and crafts, raffle prizes, and other activities and products from 30 environmentally-minded vendors. Chefs will be providing lionfish cooking demonstrations and special dishes and drink special will be available.
We are partnering with Florida Keys Brewing Company (FKBC) to host a socially-distant, outdoor screening of David Attenborough's new film, "A Life on Our Planet."
Proceeds from each pint of FKBC's Fish Tail Pale Ale sold during Movie Night will be donated to REEF. We will have some REEF swag available for purchase, including t-shirts and neck gaiters, which make great holiday gifts! Please note there there is limited seating at FKBC, so guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.
Our annual winter fundraising campaign is underway! 2020 is the 30th anniversary of REEF, and we need your support to give us a strong start for 2021, and our next 30 years. Members like you make our marine conservation work possible. REEF Trustees and noted marine life authors Ned and Anna DeLoach have put together this special video message for the REEF family.
Meet our festive December Fish of the Month, the Peppermint Basslet (Liopropoma rubre!)
We are thrilled to have teamed up with Waterlust, an eco-clothing company, to create an invasive lionfish collection as their newest line of advocate apparel. The brand-new lionfish line is available on Waterlust's website and includes leggings, an athletic top, a sun suit, and headband. 10% of profits from the sale of the lionfish collection will be donated to REEF. Waterlust products are extremely high quality and are made from environmentally-conscious materials.
We recently added a few new products to our online store, including t-shirts and neck gaiters featuring colorful and unique designs that showcase each of of our core programs - the Grouper Moon Project, Invasive Species Program, and Volunteer Fish Survey Project. The new designs are printed on Comfort Colors brand t-shirts, which are soft, cozy, and pre-shrunk.
