Ever recognize a fish instantly, without knowing how? That intuitive sense is called GISS or Jizz - short for “general impression of size and shape.” Originating from WWII aircraft spotting and later adopted by naturalists, it describes the instinctive recognition of a species through its overall look and behavior. The term "jizz” first appeared in an Irish natural history column in 1921, and is likely derived from the German word gestalt, meaning a complete shape or form. It's often used in birdwatching.
On average, more than 1,000 REEF surveys are submitted each month by volunteer divers worldwide, adding to the world’s most comprehensive marine fish biodiversity database. Since January 2024, 22,665 surveys have been submitted by 1,226 REEF volunteer surveyors.
In 2025, we’ve received several exciting new data requests from researchers using REEF data for important studies, including:
• North Carolina State University: studying South Atlantic marine life.
• Simon Fraser University: tracking Spiny Pink Sea Star trends in British Columbia.
At REEF, every survey you submit adds vital data to marine conservation, and we love celebrating your contributions! As you reach key milestones in the Volunteer Fish Survey Project, you’ll receive recognition along the way:
• 100 Surveys: Congrats email and printable certificate.
• 500 Surveys - Juvenile Golden Hamlet: Mailed certificate, webpage listing, and social media shoutout.
This Great Annual Fish Count, join REEF Conservation Partners Let's Go Dive Bonaire and Biodiverse Bonaire for a survey dive/snorkel as part of the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project!
Survey Dive/Snorkel Details:
- July 18 at 9am AST
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Isidel Park, Bonaire
This Great Annual Fish Count, join the MERROW Foundation for a FREE fish ID class and 2 fish survey dive/snorkels as part of the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project. See below for details on the July 21 and July 23 event days:
July 21: Fish ID Class and Survey Dive/Snorkel
- Free fish ID class: 9am at Carteret Community College Howard Bldg, Morehead City, NC
- Survey dive/snorkel: 1:30pm at Radio Island Rock Jetty
July 23: Survey Dive/Snorkel Only
This Great AnnualFish Count, join EcoPro Training Center on a luxurious liveaboard, where you can learn fish ID and how to contribute to science by doing REEF surveys! Details on this experience are below:
Boat: Sea Serpent Glorious Miss Nouran
Price: Sea Serpent Glorious Miss Nouran. Price: 2,995 Euro, per person in shared lower deck cabin (100 Euro will charge for the upper deck)
Location: Fury Shoals, south of Marsa Alam, Red Sea, Egypt
This Great Annual Fish Count, join Aquatic Adventures Ohio for a FREE Fish ID Class and learn about how you can be a citizen scientist by contributing data to REEF's Volunteer Fish Survey Project!
Fish ID Class details:
This Great Annual Fish Count, join Project Laut to learn fish ID and how to contribute to science by doing REEF surveys! All experience levels are welcome to participate and learn more about local marine life. You can join for a single day or the full week. This event will be in Indonesian and in English.
Fish ID Classes and Survey Dives:
Meet our June Fish of the Month, the Blue Tang, Acanthurus coeruleus — a Caribbean reef icon with one of the most dramatic color changes in the tropical Western Atlantic. The juvenile pictured above is a vivid lemon yellow; the adult it will grow into is deep blue. Same fish, two completely different looks.
We are excited to welcome our Summer 2026 Marine Education & Conservation Interns to REEF! They will assist with education, outreach, events, and more at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo and in the field. Since 1993, more than 150 young adults have interned with REEF and transitioned into careers all over the world, in the marine conservation field and beyond. Please join us in welcoming Will, Nevaeh, Navya, and Jay. Here’s some more about them: