Welcome to Citizen Science Corner, our quarterly feature to celebrate those who recently reached a milestone in our Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Here are achievements from July, August and September 2023:
Juvenile Hamlet Award
The Juvenile Hamlet Award is for individuals who have conducted 500+ REEF surveys. Congratulations to our latest Juvenile Hamlet Club members, Marilyn and Robert Bentley! Read more about the Juvenile Hamlet award and others who have achieved it.
Enjoy the Rocio Del Mar's world class experince diving in the Sea of Cortez. There is a reason they get so many return customers. The Sea of Cortez is incredibly diverse with a vast array of blennies, jawfish, rays, massive schools of fish, seahorses, frogfish, Mexican Horn Sharks, and the list goes on and on. They have a large population of sea lions and a lot of whale activity on this particular trip, consistently seeing Pilot, Fin, and Sperm Whales. The Rocio del Mar is a family-owned liveaboard and a longtime partner of REEF.
Derby sets record for most lionfish caught during a Florida Keys derby, and most lionfish harvested by a single team
We're wrapping up a busy and rewarding summer season for the REEF Ocean Explorers Education Program! We hosted virtual, in person, and field-based programs for ocean lovers of all ages, from inter-generational programs designed for grandparents and their grandchildren to learn about marine life of the Florida Keys together, to weeklong trips with classroom lessons, snorkeling and kayaking, and even online programs to help people experience the ocean from their home or classroom.
REEF Fest is an annual event for ocean lovers. It includes free educational presentations, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, nature tours, and socials. It's all happening on October 19-22 in Key Largo, Florida. You can check out all the details at www.REEF.org/REEFfest. We're excited to welcome an amazing lineup of guest speakers this year, including:
The 14th annual REEF Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival is finally here! Participants will take to the water to hunt lionfish from sunrise to sunset this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 8 and 9, and we can't wait to see how many invasive lionfish they remove! So far, 26 teams are registered to compete in this year's derby. Teams may register until 6:30pm on Thursday, Sept. 7. The derby will end on Sunday, Sept. 10, with a lionfish festival at the picturesque Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina in Islamorada, Florida.
Submissions for the 2023 REEF Discover the Sea Underwater Photography Contest are now open! All ocean photographers are invited to submit their favorite photos. It’s free to enter, and you may submit up to three photos per person in each of the following categories:
REEF Field Survey Trips are eco-vacations led by marine life experts. Each trip features daily dives and fish ID classes for both beginners and experienced surveyors. Divers, snorkelers, and families are all welcome. Only a few spaces remain on our Field Survey Trip to the Southern Sea of Cortez, happening this fall from Sept. 29-Oct. 6. Warm waters and calm seas make this a great time of year to dive in the Sea of Cortez. This unique body of water is separated from the Pacific Ocean by Mexico's Baja Peninsula.
Meet our September Fish of the Month, the Rock Gunnel, Pholis gunnellus!
Survey Regions: The Rock Gunnel is found in the temperate and cold waters of the Northeast US and Canada region. Click here to view the REEF database sightings report for this species.
Size: They grow to between 5 to 8 inches.
