It was a busy summer for REEF’s Explorers Education Program, between the Ocean Explorers Summer Camp and the “Nature Days” program with the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter. Throughout the summer, 80 children joined REEF to learn about marine conservation and environmental science in a fun, outdoor setting. Thank you to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Coral Reef Park Company, Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, Island Dolphin Care, and the Everglades Outpost who made these programs possible.
We’re excited to introduce REEF’s new Marine Conservation Interns for the Fall 2018 semester. These four individuals will support the REEF team in mission-oriented tasks and daily office operations, as well as assist in the Upper Keys Lionfish Derby and REEF’s biggest event of the year, REEF Fest. They will also have opportunities to scuba dive, conduct fish surveys, and volunteer with environmental organizations in South Florida and the Florida Keys. This semester’s interns bring diverse skills and interests to REEF. They include:
We are all connected to REEF for one reason or another, either we care for marine conservation or are avid divers who want to see our beloved coral reefs and fish species. However, it is difficult to imagine how life-changing diving and conservation work can be until you have heard it from the prospective of a special operations combat veteran. Last month, REEF was privileged to work closely with Force Blue Team 2 during their recent deployment in the Florida Keys.
REEF's inaugural Field Survey Trip to Thailand was held in April 2018, and the survey results of the trip were recently processed into REEF's marine life database. We are excited to share that during this trip, REEF citizen scientists conducted 305 surveys at 24 sites throughout the Andaman Sea, and reported a total of 649 species! These surveys represent the first REEF data from Thailand, which is a valuable addition to REEF's database, currently containing more than 225,000 surveys.
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.