Fort Lauderale Derby POSTPONED until a later date still TBD
Unfortunately, REEF’s Winter Lionfish Derby Event at Sharkey’s Pub and Galley for April 4, 2020 has been cancelled. We have exhausted the options of hosting a remote competition where teams can just drop off their fish, but at this time we are going adhere to the recommendations worldwide and encourage social distancing.
We will try to reschedule the Lionfish Derby competition in some capacity if possible in the upcoming months.
Ned and Anna DeLoach of REEF's Board of Trustees wrote this article about an exploratory survey project REEF conducted in the Azores to launch the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (EAM) survey region.
There are just two spaces remaining on our Field Survey Trip to Indonesia, coming up on April 10-21, 2020 and led by Christy Pattengill Semmens, Ph.D. We are excited to experience some of the most exotic and sought-after dive destinations in Indonesia on this one-way Banda Sea crossing trip from Sorong to Maumere. We'll be covering a lot of distance during this unique trip, and that means lots of places to explore! Locations we anticipate diving during this trip include Misool, Fiabacet, Boo, West Seram, Ring of Fire, Wetar and Alor.
During my first week at REEF as a Marine Conservation Intern, I gained a plethora of fish identification knowledge. My previous dive experience has been in the Pacific Ocean, so I had not seen most Tropical Western Atlantic fish underwater before. To practice, I constantly reviewed presentations and underwater photographs. I was eager to get in the water and put my identification skills to the test! I recently had the opportunity to get out on the water in Key Largo, alongside three other REEF interns: Riley, Amelia, and Stacey.
This month, REEF is proud to highlight one of our outstanding Conservation Partners: Pura Vida Divers in West Palm Beach, Florida. REEF Conservation Partners are active organizations and dive shops dedicated to protecting marine environments. As valued REEF ambassadors, they teach fish ID classes, host survey dives, organize volunteer events and more. With partners across the country and beyond, there are plenty of opportunities to engage.
Meet February's Fish of the Month, the Wolf-eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus)!
They say there are plenty of fish in the sea, and when you adopt one of REEF’s Conservation Creatures, you are helping to protect those species for the future. REEF Conservation Creatures are stuffed animals depicting iconic marine species from REEF’s Volunteer Fish Survey Project regions. These marine creatures highlight the diversity of ocean ecosystems and encourage understanding and respect for marine life.
Since 1993, more than 16,000 volunteers have conducted at least one REEF survey as part of the Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Today, the survey database totals more than 248,000 surveys. A small group of highly dedicated surveyors known as the Golden Hamlet Club have contributed significantly to this total by conducting 1,000+ REEF surveys. Congratulations to Chuck Curry, the newest member of the Golden Hamlet Club! Read on to learn more about Chuck and his involvement with the Volunteer Fish Survey Project.