We hope you enjoy this special edition of REEF-in-Brief, in honor of World Oceans Day, which was celebrated worldwide yesterday. First proposed in 1992—and unofficially celebrated since—World Oceans Day was declared by the United Nations to be recognized on June 8th every year starting with 2009. REEF's commitment to understanding and conserving the world oceans is reflected in our goal to protecting marine life through education, service, and research using volunteer citizen scientists. In this issue, we announce the launch of the newest Online Data Entry interface. This tool is central to the REEF Volunteer Survey Project and this updated version includes ALL of the project regions, including the Tropical Eastern Pacific and the Northeast US & Canada. We also improved several features to make the interface more user friendly and efficient. This issue also includes information about a recent scientific publication that used data collected by REEF volunteers to evaluate the status of large predatory fishes in the Caribbean, a new monitoring project undertaken by our Advanced Assessment Team on a new artificial reef in the Florida Keys, and several other important news tidbits.

I also want to take a moment to ask you, our valued members, to make a donation today in support of our Summer 2009 Fundraising Campaign. Please help us reach our goal of raising $30,000 in 30 days. Your financial contribution will help ensure that REEF is able to continue our valuable marine conservation programs. In honor of World Oceans Day!

Best Fishes,

Lisa