REEF online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what's coming up this month:
Fishinar: Red Sea Fishes, Part 3
Wednesday, May 10, 8pm EDT
Click here to register.
The Red Sea is full of fascinating fishes. In this session, we'll teach you how to recognize some of the species you may see there. For even more Red Sea fishes, check out Parts 1 and 2 in our Fishinar Archives.
We're gearing up for summer, and that means Lionfish Derby season is here! We're excited to share that registration is now open for the 2023 REEF Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival on Sept. 7-10. The event includes two full days of lionfish hunting, followed by a lionfish festival at Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina in Islamorada, Florida. The family-friendly festival takes place on Sunday, Sept. 10 and includes lionfish scoring, tastings, educational demos, games, crafts, raffles, and activity booths from arts and conservation vendors.
We are encouraging Tropical Western Atlantic REEF surveyors to be on the lookout for a skin condition that is affecting reef fish in the Caribbean. Black Spot Syndrome (BSS) affects many reef fish but can easily be observed on Ocean Surgeonfish, especially when they are pale in color. The black spots are usually on the fins and skin of the affected fish. In many cases, Black Spot Syndrome is caused by a trematode parasite, Scaphanocephalus spp., which moves from marine snails to reef fish and ultimately into osprey, which consume the infected fish.
If you've dreamed of diving the Red Sea, this summer is the perfect time to plan a trip! There are just a few spaces left on our Red Sea Field Survey Trip happening on July 6-16, 2023. This ten-day liveaboard trip offers the chance to explore the shipwrecks, reefs, and pinnacles of the Egyptian Red Sea. REEF Trips are a great way to meet fellow marine life lovers and learn more about the fish you see on your dives. Trips are open to all surveyor experience levels, from beginner to expert! Here are even more reasons to sign up today:
REEF members are the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. A diverse community of divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts support our mission to conserve marine environments worldwide.
Introducing our May Fish of the Month, the Red Sea Anemonefish, Amphiprion bicinctus!
Survey Regions: Red Sea Anemonefish are found only in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, part of REEF's Indian Ocean & Red Sea (IORS) survey region. Click here to see the REEF database report for this species.
Size: They grow to be about 6 inches long.
When diverse experiences are brought together and amplified, they become a movement and a force for change. Join the conversation and be part of this movement as we share and learn together about the importance of listening, understanding, and amplifying the voices and experiences of equity-deserving groups in marine conservation.
The fourth annual Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K is coming up on June 5-11. Have you registered to join us yet? You can participate from anywhere in the world, and pick your favorite way to get active - run, walk, hike, bike, or swim - anything goes! When you sign up, you will choose to join one of five Fish Teams. Read on to learn more about this year's Fish Teams, and click here to read about each fish's race personality!
This Great Annual Fish Count, join REEF and Amoray Dive Center for a free fish ID class, followed by a REEF survey dive/snorkel.
Morning check-in for class at REEF Interpretive Center at 9:15am, break for lunch at 11am (on your own), and check-in for the survey dive/snorkel at Amoray Dive Center at 12:15pm.
