In response to requests from the scientific community, we are adding a new species to monitor on REEF surveys in the Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA) - Diadema antillarum, the Long-Spined Sea Urchin. In the early 1980s, a large die-off of Diadema occurred throughout the TWA. This has had a significant and long-lasting impact on coral reefs in the region because Diadema is (was) one of the primary grazers on Caribbean coral reefs (keeping rocks clear for baby corals to establish and keeping algae from overgrowing established corals).
REEF’s Summer Donation Matching Campaign is winding down, but we still need your support to reach our goal! Please consider making your donation today - click here to donate online! We are $12,000 from our goal of $60,000, and we know we can count on the support of our members. Thanks to a generous matching pledge from three of our supporting foundations, your donation will be doubled. Your support helps ensure that we can continue the critical work to protect our world oceans through education and research.
REEF members are at the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. Over 50,000 divers, snorkelers, students, and armchair naturalists stand behind our mission.
This month we highlight Doug Biffard, a REEF member since 2000. An active surveyor who lives in Victoria, British Columbia, Doug has conducted 455 surveys to date and is a member of REEF's Advanced Assessment Team for the Pacific region. Here's what he had to say about REEF:
How did you become involved with REEF?
If you haven't checked out the 2016 REEF Trips schedule yet, now's the time. We have an exciting lineup of destinations planned, and we hope you will join us. These trips offer a great introduction to fish identification for novice fishwatchers, and are a fun way for experienced surveyors to build their life-list while interacting with fellow ocean enthusiasts. We are also offering three of the ever-popular Invasive Lionfish Research Studies trips.
Join us at Key Dives (MM 80 - Bud & Mary's Marina) for a 1 tank 2 hr dive or 2 tank 1 hr dives at Alligator Ledge. 116 fish species have been ID'd on a 2 hr dive here. Come join the fun & see how many fish you can ID! Call Key Dives to reserve your spot as space fills up quickly (305 664 2211). Don't forget to tell them you are with the 100 Fish ID group :)
Join us for a slideshow on our favorite fish from Lembeh & Raja Ampat in Indonesia. Presentation begins at 7 pm at REEF HQ, in Key Largo FL (MM98.3)
Join us for a show & tell from our trip to the Flower Gardens in the Gulf of Mexico. Class starts at 7 pm at REEF HQ in Key Largo, FL (MM 98.3)
Join us to learn about Blennies & how to ID them. Class starts at 7 pm at REEF HQ (MM 98.3) in Key Largo, FL
Come learn how about & how to ID Sea Chubs & Porgies. Class starts at 7 pm at REEF HQ, MM 98.3, Key Largo