The Faces of REEF: Donna Goodale

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 Donna Goodale, a REEF member who lives in Hawaii. She joined REEF in 2023 and has conducted 87 surveys. She is an Expert surveyor in the Hawaii (HAW) region and has also surveyed in the Central Indo-Pacific (CIP) region. We're so glad to have a dedicated member like Donna!

Fish of the Month: January 2025

We're kicking off a new year with our January Fish of the Month, the Bluestripe Butterflyfish, Chaetodon fremblii!

Survey Regions: Bluestripe Butterflyfish are endemic to Hawaii, which means this is the only place in the world that they are found. Click here to see a distribution for this species in the REEF database.

Size: They grow to about 6 inches.

Welcoming a New REEF Board of Trustees Member

We are pleased to introduce Tamsen "Tamie" DeWitt, the newest member of the REEF Board of Trustees. Tamie has been a REEF member since 2018 and joined the Board of Trustees in late 2024. She has always been inspired by the ocean, which may be because her parents are both from Rhode Island, the ocean state. Tamie was raised as an army brat and was fortunate to go to junior high and high school in the Canal Zone in Panama, Central America. After moving back to the states and getting her masters degree in International Education, she taught ESOL for adults in Maryland.

Announcing REEF Fish & Friends Seminar Series for 2025

We're excited to announce our speaker lineup for 2025 REEF Fish & Friends! Each month features an engaging ocean-themed presentation from a guest speaker. Presentations are free to attend, and are hosted at the REEF Campus in Key Largo. Seminars are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube so you can also join in virtually. This year's Fish & Friends presentations include:

Fishinars and Online Programs: January 2025

Our online programs are free and open to all! Check out what's coming up, and view the entire schedule of Fishinars and other online programs here.

Citizen Science Corner: October - December 2024 Achievements

Welcome to the Citizen Science Corner, our quarterly feature to celebrate those who recently reached a milestone in our Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Here are achievements from October, November and December 2024.

Ultra Golden Hamlet Award

New REEF Swag for the Holidays

The holidays are here, and if you need to find a gift for the ocean lover in your life, check out the new merchandise we recently added to the REEF online store, including lightweight zip-up hoodies and hats with our new logo. Be sure to check out www.REEF.org/store to see these items as well as plenty of other swag. We also have educational materials, books, and survey gear, all of which make great gifts for divers, snorkelers, and marine life enthusiasts. We suggest placing your order early to allow time for shipping during the holidays.

Volunteers Needed for AI Citizen Science Projects

This winter, REEF has an opportunity for you to involved in ocean conservation from the comfort of your home! We are seeking remote, dedicated volunteers to help create artificial intelligence (AI) training datasets for two collaborative, technology-based citizen science projects, the SMILE project and Grouper Spotter. You can read more about both of these projects below. Volunteers are needed to help build training datasets that are essential for finalizing the AI workflow for these projects, including automated laser detection, fish boxing and outlining, and fish identification.

Join Us on a REEF Trip in 2025 or 2026

With a new year approaching, it's a great time to plan your next dive or snorkel vacation, and we hope you'll join us on a REEF Field Survey Trip! There are some spaces available on  upcoming REEF Trips in 2025 and 2026, including an amazing 10-night one-way charter in the Philippines, which includes the chance to dive the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This incredible trip is happening on June 28-July 8, 2026, and you don't want to miss it!

Support Ocean Conservation and Education This Winter

You can give the gift of healthy oceans by supporting REEF! Thanks to your support, we are able to protect marine habitats and species, educate countless individuals, and preserve marine biodiversity worldwide. We're so grateful to everyone who has made a donation this winter. If you have not yet donated, please consider contributing to REEF today. Your year-end gift will help set us on a path for success in 2025 and beyond.

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