REEF to Give Public Talk on Exotic Invasive Lionfish

WHAT:
REEF, the Reef Environmental Education Foundation, will host a free educational presentation and discussion about the recent invasion of Atlantic waters by Indo-Pacific lionfish. Though no confirmed sightings have been made in the Florida Keys, the fish have become established along the U.S. east coast, Bahamas and Bermuda and are moving rapidly throughout the Caribbean.

KEY LARGO, Fla. – REEF, the Reef Environmental Education Foundation, today released a report on its biological monitoring of the U.S.S. Spiegel Grove, a 510-foot Navy ship sunk off Key Largo, Florida in June, 2002. Since the sinking, 191 fish species have been documented on the wreck, which has become home to fish not previously documented on this site, including species rarely found elsewhere in the Keys, such as blackcap basslet and blackfin snapper. Goliath and Nassau grouper, both protected species, were documented on the Spiegel Grove.

KEY LARGO, Fla. – REEF, the Reef Environmental Education Foundation, raised $25,000 for coral reef conservation at the first annual “For the Love of the Sea” dinner and auction. Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach, co-founders of REEF and authors of the popular Reef Identification series, spoke about the importance of the REEF in training divers and snorkelers to help with conservation. Community businesses, conservationists and concerned individuals attended the event, which was held at Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort in Key Largo, Florida.

WHAT:

On Wednesday, March 12, REEF will host a community panel discussion to raise awareness about how volunteers contribute to scientific understanding of the environment. Rick Bonney of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York will lead the discussion. Florida Keys-based citizen science experts will present on local projects and ways for volunteers to get involved.

REEF is hosting this community panel discussion to raise awareness about how volunteers contribute to scientific understanding of the environment. Rick Bonney of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York will lead the discussion. Florida Keys-based citizen science practitioners will present on local projects and ways for volunteers to get involved. Topics include fish and bird surveying, native plants and coral restoration.

This is the second in a series.  The first was held in February in Key Largo, FL. 

6:30-7:00 - Reception with food, 7:30-9:30 - Presentations 
 
REEF is hosting this community panel discussion to raise awareness about how volunteers contribute to scientific understanding of the environment. Rick Bonney of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York will lead the discussion. Florida Keys-based citizen science practitioners will present on local projects and ways for volunteers to get involved. Topics include fish and bird surveying, native plants and coral restoration.

Panel Speakers include: Leda Cunningham, REEF

Thanks to a three-year grant from the Lenfest Ocean Program at the Pew Charitable Trusts, REEF and collaborators at the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment (CIDOE) and Oregon State University (OSU) will greatly expand the conservation science research being conducted as part of the Grouper Moon Project in the Cayman Islands.

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