Key Largo, FL. The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) recently received prestigious recognition form a group of conservation peers. At the annual meeting of the Treasure Coast Chapter of the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals, REEF was presented with the "Program of the Year" award for its efforts in educating the public and gathering data on fish distributions and populations. REEF Director of Development, Andrea Fullman, accepted the award before the more than 100 attendees on behalf of REEF's members, staff, and board for their long term commitment to the environment. "Our more than 26,000 members have contributed more than 60,000 fish surveys into the REEF database helping us to understand and protect our marine environment."
REEF's programs have been in place since 1993, to help train divers and the general public in marine life identification and the collection of fish survey data during their diving and snorkeling activity. The Fish Survey Project has become the largest fish sightings database in the world with over 2 million species sighting records. To learn more about how to take part in this and other REEF conservation programs, please visit www.reef.org or e-mail reefhq@reef.org. Membership is free to US mailing addresses.