Become a REEF AI Volunteer!
Looking for something worthwhile to do this winter from the comfort of your couch while contributing to marine conservation?

REEF is seeking remote/dedicated volunteers to contribute to Artificial Intelligence (AI) Training datasets for two technology-based citizen science projects. With minimal instruction, you can help build valuable datasets that are vital to finalizing the AI workflow for the project, including automated laser detection, fish boxing/outlining and fish identification. You can help from home and minimal technological or fish ID skills are required to contribute. 
If you are interested in volunteering to contribute to the AI training datasets for these projects please fill out the webform below.

SMILE Project
A new collaborative project SMILE (Size Matters: Innovative Length Estimates) is now underway in the Florida Keys to help collect information about fish lengths. Length data are critical for management of ecologically and economically important marine species. The SMILE project incorporates diver-collected fish length data, through the use of affordable user-friendly camera technology, as a companion to the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project. SMILE equips volunteer divers with specially designed "FishSenseLite" cameras, which include an integrated laser pointer.  Divers aim the laser at the side of a fish, snap a burst of photos, and an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven analysis extracts length measurements from the images. Through SMILE, divers can enjoy their dive while contributing critical data on species with high ecological and economic value.
SMILE is funded through NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), and includes scientist from REEF, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (SAFMC) Citizen Science Program, the Semmens Lab at Scripps Institution of Oceanagraphy, Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA), Axiom Data Science and University of California San Diego (UCSD) Engineers for Exploration, (E4E). 
For more information about how you can participate in or support the SMILE project please email smile@REEF.org with questions. 

Grouper Spotter 
Grouper Spotter tackles another significant challenge: non-invasive identification and tracking of individual fish. This project is focused on groupers, a highly vulnerable species known for forming dense spawning aggregations that make them easy targets for fisheries. Grouper Spotter uses artificial intelligence to automate photo-identification, allowing divers to document and track individual groupers based on their unique patterns.
Working alongside another non-profit, WildMe, REEF has created the Wildbook, Grouper Spotter, to recognize and match individual groupers by their natural markings. We have successfully demonstrated that AI can identify individual fish and the data produced will allow scientist to track fish movements, and analyze population metrics like recruitment, mortality, and even behavior. In addition, when paired with length measurement technology like the SMILE project, growth of individuals can be estimated.
For more details on Grouper Spotter and how to get involved or support the project please contact grouperspotter@REEF.org.


If you are interested in volunteering to contribute to the AI training datasets for these projects please fill out the webform below.
 

 
1 Start 2 Complete
This can vary and there is not a required amount it is just so we have an idea of how much volunteer time we have for each project.
Fish ID skills are not needed to participate in most of the labeling projects.
If you are interested in helping indefinitely please put 1/1/2028 for your end date.
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