Lionfish hunters, mark your calendars and plan to join us for the 2022 REEF Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival on Sept. 8-11. Registration is now open, and teams of 2-4 people can register online here. The 13th annual event includes two full days of fishing and a public festival at Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina in Islamorada.
Last Friday, April 29, the REEF community came together in an amazing show of support for marine conservation. More than 100 REEF members donated during our second-annual Give BIG for the Oceans celebration, helping us to not only meet, but exceed our fundraising goal. We want to say a BIG thank you to everyone who supported REEF during Give BIG for the Oceans. Your gift, no matter how large or small, powers our citizen science, research, and education programs.
First sighted in Lebanon in 2012, invasive lionfish have since become well-established in the Mediterranean Sea. In an effort to provide policy recommendations for the lionfish invasion within the Mediterranean Sea, REEF joined in a global collaborative effort with researchers from Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and the Caribbean to share successes and failures from two decades of lionfish management in the Western Atlantic.
Introducing our May Fish of the Month, the Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera)!
Join this one-way crossing through Indonesia, the world’s no. 1 spot for biodiversity, spending 12 days going through Selayar, Taka Bonerate, and Maumere Bay. Living up to Arenui’s motto of being “The Boutique Liveaboard”, attention has been given to every aspect of the Arenui to ensure that it fully embodies their philosophy of providing a unique dive experience. They aim to provide the best there is in terms of diving and leisure activities, without sacrificing any of the comforts and luxury you would expect to get from a 5-star hotel on land.
We are excited to welcome our Summer 2022 Marine Conservation Interns to REEF! As a part of our team, they will assist with Ocean Explorers Education programs, outreach events, and daily operations around the REEF Campus. They are:
The article highlights Team Forever Young's participation in the 2022 REEF Earth Day Lionfish Derby, where they collected a record 426 invasive lionfish in one day.
KEY LARGO, FLA. – Thanks to the recent efforts of four local divers, there are several hundred less invasive lionfish wreaking havoc on Florida Keys reefs. Team Forever Young, consisting of Tony Young, Jason Vogan, Jeff Tharp, and Luke Rankin, collected 426 invasive lionfish while participating in the 2022 Earth Day “Locals” Lionfish Derby, hosted by Reef Environmental Education Foundation.
In celebration of our third annual Fish Out of Water 5K taking place June 6-12, we're teaming up with Florida Keys Brewing Company to host an ocean-themed trivia night. No running is necessary - just gather a group of friends, choose a trivia team name, and come share your knowledge! You can also pick up this year's limited-edition 5K shirt by registering in person or making a donation to support the event.
Back by popular demand, we're hosting "part two" of Drawing Fish for Beginners with Maggie Sutrov (here's part 1)! Based on Maui, Maggie is a professional artist and a teaching artist. You can find more about her at paintthere.com. Maggie loves helping people form a deeper connection with the natural world through drawing and painting. She is also a keen advocate for the skills developed through the act of drawing, such as our powers of observation--perfect for learning and identifying marine animals!