KEY LARGO, FLA. – All are invited to celebrate ocean conservation during REEF Fest on Oct. 17-20, 2024, in Key Largo, Fla. Hosted by Reef Environmental Education Foundation, this annual event features educational ocean seminars, social gatherings, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and a nature tour. Most events are free and open to the public, although online pre-registration is requested. Please visit www.REEF.org/REEFfest for complete details.
We are excited to welcome our Fall 2024 Marine Education & Conservation Interns to REEF! They will assist with education, outreach, events, and daily operations around the REEF Campus in Key Largo, Florida. Marine Conservation Interns play an integral role in our daily operations, programs, events, and outreach. Since 1993, more than 150 young adults have interned with REEF and transitioned into careers all over the world, in the marine conservation field and beyond. Please join us in welcoming (from L-R) Natalee, Coryn, Kuba, and John! Here's a bit more about them:
Our October Fish of the Month is the Bat Ray, Myliobatis californica!
Survey Regions: Bat Rays are found throughout the waters of California, as well as north to Oregon and south to the Baja peninsula in Mexico. They have been reported in REEF's PAC (Pacific Coast of US and Canada) survey region. Click here to see a distribution for this species in the REEF database.
We are very excited to welcome two new staff to the REEF Team - Noa Parks as Citizen Science Coordinator (left) and Shelby Thomas as Education Coordinator! Both are based at the REEF Campus in Key Largo, Florida.
Boat: Miss Nouran
Price: 1895 Euro, per person in shared lower deck (100 Euro will charge for the upper deck and 150 Euro for the suite)
Free Courses Included:
REEF Fish IORS Experience Level 2
Reef Check EcoDiver course + certificate.
PADI Marine Biology specialty diver course
PADI CoralWatch Coral Health Chart specialty diver course
For more information, visit www.ecopro-eg.co/Marine-Eco-Expeditions
REEF staff and collaborators attended the 154th annual American Fisheries Society (AFS) Conference last month, held in Honolulu, Hawaii. REEF's marine life database is a valuable tool for conservation science and research on a global scale, and we were proud to represent our work at this notable conference. Nine sessions at AFS featured REEF data and/or programs.
Join us for a FREE Fish ID Class at Trans World Radio (TWR) Bonaire Headquarters on Tuesday, October 15, starting at 7:00 PM AST! Expert REEF surveyors, Carmen Toanchina and Ed Benjamin will be teaching the 25 Most Common Fish Species of Bonaire. Join in on the fun and learn how YOU can be a citizen scientist by participating in the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project.
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 July, August and September 2024.
Ultra Golden Hamlet Award
Kick off the holiday season with us and our friends at Florida Keys Brewing Co. for the 3rd Annual Merry Fishmas Trivia Night! It's free to play and prizes will be awarded to top-scoring teams.