Field Surveys – Eighteen REEF members joined Drs. Christy and Brice Semmens earlier this month on a Field Survey to the Sea of Cortez aboard the Rocio del Mar live-aboard. The team conducted over 300 surveys in 20 locations around the Midriff Islands, many of which were new to the REEF database. It was a great trip, with 130 species of fish found, beautiful topside scenery, and pods of sperm and pilot whales!
REEF is proud to partner with over 130 dive shops, dive clubs, individuals and other organizations as REEF Field Stations.
REEF members are at the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. Over 40,000 divers, snorkelers, students, and armchair naturalists stand behind our mission.
Every month, scientists, government agencies, and other groups request raw data from REEF’s Fish Survey Project database. Here is a sampling of who has asked for REEF data recently and what they are using it for:
- A biologist from Fisheries and Oceans Canada is evaluating fish and invertebrate populations in Race Rocks outside of Victoria BC, in preparation for the establishment of an Marine Protected Area.
Join Reef Watch Waikiki for a REEF Fish ID Class and Snorkel Survey. The class includes instruction on how to complete a REEF survey followed by basic coral reef ecology, fish biology, identification tips, and common characteristics of different fish families found in Hawaii.
Join Reef Watch Waikiki for a REEF Snorkel Survey. The survey will last approximately 30-45 minutes and involve identifying, counting and recording reef fish observed in the Waikiki Marine Life Conservation District. Those wishing to participate in the survey should have already completed a REEF Fish ID Class and should be strong swimmers and competent snorkelres. Please bring your own snorkel gear (snorkel, mask and fins), dive slate, survey paper, towel, sunscreen, water and rashguard or wetsuit.
Join Reef Watch Waikik for a REEF Fish Identification Class. The class includes instruction on how to complete a REEF survey followed by basic coral reef ecology, fish biology, identification tips, and common characterisitics of different fish families found in Hawaii. After being trained, you can conduct a REEF survey anywhere on Oahu (but we hope you'll help us out in Waikiki once in a while!). You do not need to bring anything to the class.
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Join Reef Watch Waikiki for a REEF Fish Identification Class. The class includes instruction on how to complete a REEF survey followed by basic coral reef ecology, fish biology, identification tips, and common characterisitics of different fish families found in Hawaii. After being trained, you can conduct a REEF survey anywhere on Oahu (but we hope you'll help us out in Waikiki once in a while!). You do not need to bring anything to the class.
Greetings!
While fall used to be a slower time here at REEF, this year we are busier than ever. In addition to working with scientists to get them up-to-date species data and continuing to coordinate and expand the citizen science Fish Survey Project to new regions, the REEF staff is involved in a variety of marine conservation issues including the lionfish invasion in the Caribbean and associated waters and endangered species spawning aggregation research. This issue of REEF-in-Brief features updates from several of these programs.