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?
Seventeen dedicated REEF surveyors recently visited the beautiful Caribbean island of Grenada for a week of diving and fish surveying. The results from the trip were recently processed into REEF's database, adding to the survey count for the largest marine life sightings database in the world. Altogether, the group conducted 181 surveys at 15 sites and recorded 208 different species. Several of the reports were new records for the area, including the Greenbanded Goby, Bridled Burrfish, Striped Grunt, Red Banner Blenny, Goldline Blenny, Molly Miller, Bantam Bass, and Bluelip Hamlet!
We are thrilled to be celebrating a quarter-century of citizen science success by recognizing the 25th anniversary of our cornerstone program, the Volunteer Fish Survey Project. In the summer of 1993, a small group of pioneering conservationists took a slate on a dive in the Florida Keys, and initiated what would eventually become the world's largest marine life sightings database.
The most comprehensive tax law changes in more than 30 years occurred in 2018 and may have important implications on your charitable giving. We know these laws can sometimes be confusing, so we have outlined some important details for you below.
Estate and Gift Tax