KEY LARGO, FLA. – Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is excited to announce the 16th Annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival, scheduled for April 24-27, 2025. This event uniquely combines invasive lionfish removal with vibrant local arts and conservation efforts, aiming to engage the community in ocean conservation through interactive and educational activities.
Event Schedule
REEF members are the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. A diverse community of divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts support our mission to conserve marine environments worldwide.
This month we highlight Edgar Graudins, a REEF member who lives in Washington. Since joining REEF nine years ago, he has conducted more than 140 surveys and achieved Expert Level status in the US Pacific Coast & Canada (PAC/PNW) survey region. We're thankful to Edgar for his dedication to conservation and passion for REEF's mission!
2025 REEF Trips are filling up fast! A few spaces still remain on our REEF Trip to Curacao on November 1-8, 2025. This southern Caribbean island recently rated as one of the top 10 diving destinations by Scuba Diving magazine readers. The trip includes daily fish ID classes, five days of boat dives and unlimited shore diving! Divers and snorkelers alike will enjoy the cozy, casual atmosphere at LionsDive Resort. More info about this trip can be found here.
We are thrilled to announce the new Ocean Exploration Center for Marine Conservation at the REEF Campus in Key Largo, Florida. This state-of-the-art, interactive space will immerse visitors in the wonders of the ocean, sharing REEF’s mission and inspiring conservation action. This 4,000-square-foot, two-story facility will serve as a hub for marine conservation, education, and citizen science.
Introducing our February Fish of the Month, the Bogue, Boops boops!
Survey Regions: The Bogue is found in REEF's Eastern Atlantic & Mediterranean (EAM) survey region. It is found along the coasts of Europe, Western Africa, the Azores, and the Canary Islands. Click here to see a distribution for this species in the REEF database.
Grand Opening Celebration Planned for June 7-8, 2025, Coinciding with World Ocean Day
KEY LARGO, FLA. – Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is excited to announce the grand opening of the REEF Ocean Exploration Center for Marine Conservation at the REEF Campus in Key Largo, Florida. The public is invited to join a special grand opening celebration on June 7-8, 2025, coinciding with World Ocean Day.
Congratulations to Fred Hartner, who recently joined the Golden Hamlet Club! This distinguished group is made up of highly dedicated volunteers who have conducted 1,000 or more REEF surveys as part of the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project.
We are gearing up for an amazing year of conservation and celebrations, we hope you can join us at a REEF event this year. Save the date and check out details below!
REEF by the Sea - February 28 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL: REEF Sustainers receive an invitation to this annual event, held each spring in either California or Florida. For more information about donor recognition levels, visit this page.
We are so excited for the 16th annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival! Starting this year, we are combining the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby with the annual Arts & Science Festival to form a conservation and arts festival! It will all take place at the REEF Campus and will feature vendors including artisans and local non-profits, along with lionfish scoring, fun conservation science and art activities, music, educational and cooking demos, food trucks and drinks, free lionfish tastings, raffle, and derby awards ceremony!
