Introducing our May Fish of the Month, the Red Sea Anemonefish, Amphiprion bicinctus!
Survey Regions: Red Sea Anemonefish are found only in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, part of REEF's Indian Ocean & Red Sea (IORS) survey region. Click here to see the REEF database report for this species.
Size: They grow to be about 6 inches long.
When diverse experiences are brought together and amplified, they become a movement and a force for change. Join the conversation and be part of this movement as we share and learn together about the importance of listening, understanding, and amplifying the voices and experiences of equity-deserving groups in marine conservation.
The fourth annual Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K is coming up on June 5-11. Have you registered to join us yet? You can participate from anywhere in the world, and pick your favorite way to get active - run, walk, hike, bike, or swim - anything goes! When you sign up, you will choose to join one of five Fish Teams. Read on to learn more about this year's Fish Teams, and click here to read about each fish's race personality!
This Great Annual Fish Count, join REEF and Amoray Dive Center for a free fish ID class, followed by a REEF survey dive/snorkel.
Morning check-in for class at REEF Interpretive Center at 9:15am, break for lunch at 11am (on your own), and check-in for the survey dive/snorkel at Amoray Dive Center at 12:15pm.
This Great Annual Fish Count, join REEF and Key Dives for a free fish ID class, followed by two REEF survey dives.
Morning check-in for class at REEF Interpretive Center at 9:15am, break for lunch (on your own) at 11am, and check-in for the survey dives at Key Dives at 12:30pm.
Locations
REEF Interpretive Center: 98300 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037
Key Dives: 79851 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036
Complete this Dive Waiver no more than 30 days prior to the trip:
The REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project operates worldwide, and REEF members are located all over the globe, but our physical location - and our home since REEF was founded in 1990 - has always been in the Florida Keys. The REEF Campus in Key Largo is a visitor center and nature center, which includes the historic REEF Headquarters building, the Interpretive Center, and an outdoor oasis including a Native Plants Trail, butterfly garden, and covered picnic and gathering area.
Each year on the last Friday in April, REEF celebrates Give BIG for the Oceans. This single-day giving event is a way for the REEF community to come together to celebrate and support ocean conservation. Give BIG for the Oceans 2023 is coming up on April 28. All donations made during Give BIG for the Oceans 2023 will be MATCHED up to $15,000! We're so thankful to the Pelton Charitable Foundation and an anonymous supporter for providing these matching funds. Be sure to mark April 28 on your calendar because you don't want to miss this remarkable match opportunity.
Did you know that April is Citizen Science Month? Coordinated by SciStarter, Citizen Science Month helps raise awareness of opportunities for everyone to participate in science in meaningful ways. Citizen science is at the heart of REEF's work with the Volunteer Fish Survey Project (VFSP). Since its launch in 1993, the VFSP has generated one of the largest marine life databases in the world. As of April 1, 2023, the REEF VFSP database has 281,606 surveys conducted at 16,189 sites throughout the world’s oceans, by 17,030 volunteer divers and snorkelers worldwide.
We are excited to share the 2024 REEF Field Survey Trips schedule! REEF Trips are led by marine life experts, and include diving, fish ID classes, and fun with friends. Divers, snorkelers, and families are welcome on REEF Trips. To find out more or book your space, email trips@REEF.org. We'll send you an invoice to submit a deposit to secure your space. For individual trip details and more info, please visit the links below.
Spring is here, and the REEF education team is hard at work teaching all ages about the ocean and marine conservation! REEF Ocean Explorers Education Programs bring the ocean to life through online and in-person learning. Our programs include hands-on lessons and activities to teach participants of all ages and backgrounds about citizen science, ocean life, marine ecology and habitats, and most importantly, how we can make a difference. Here are some stats from REEF Ocean Explorers Education Programs so far in 2023:
