For this Great Annual Fish Count event, gather at the beautiful John D. MacArthur Beach State Park for a REEF fish survey dive or snorkel! After the survey, feel free to stick around for a light lunch provided by the park!
Morning check-in for the survey dive/snorkel is at 8:00am - 8:15am at the outdoor ampitheater located inside the park.
Please bring your own dive/snorkel gear and survey supplies.
This week, hundreds of ocean lovers from all over the world are getting active in support of marine conservation by participating in the fifth annual REEF Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K. The 5K kicked off on World Ocean Day on June 8, and continues through June 15. Participants can choose their favorite exercise - walking, running, hiking, biking, swimming, or even paddling. If you haven't registered, it's not too late to join in! You can complete your 5K at your own pace this week, and participate from anywhere in the world.
As summer approaches, we are gearing up to host two of our biggest annual conservation events later this year. We hope you can join us in the Florida Keys for one or both of these events. Whether you're a diver, snorkeler, or land-based ocean lover, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Spring has been a rewarding and productive season for the REEF Campus-based Ocean Explorers Education team! From traveling to the Florida panhandle to lend a hand with measuring fish at the world's largest lionfish derby, to attending a conservation-based music festival on the beach in south Florida, we have been spreading the word about REEF’s programs far and wide. Here are some recent education and outreach highlights.
REEF Field Survey Trips are eco-vacations led by marine life experts. Each trip features daily dives and fish ID classes for both beginners and experienced surveyors. Escape the winter and join us next February for a Field Survey Trip to Belize! Located on Ambergris Caye, SunBreeze Hotel is surrounded by lush tropical gardens and breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea. The hotel faces the famous Belize Barrier Reef, which has three of Western Hemisphere’s four coral atolls and the second-largest continuous coral reef in the world.
Our online programs are free and open to all! Check out what's coming up, and view the entire schedule of Fishinars (marine life ID webinars) and other online programs here.
Fishinar: Masters of Camouflage
Tuesday, June 18 8pm ET
Click here to register.
Join REEF volunteer and Fish Geek Extraordinaire Jonathan Lavan for a trip around the world to marvel at the clever disguises of some hidden marine creatures.
Our June Fish of the Month is the Lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus!
Survey Regions: Lumpfish are found throughout the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, from Greenland to New Jersey, including REEF's Northeast US and Canada (NE) survey region. Click here to view a REEF distribution report for this species.
Size: They can reach up to 2 feet in length!
We are excited to welcome our Summer 2024 Marine 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 Sydney, Jasmine, Annika, and Diana! Here's a bit more about them:
For this Great Annual Fish Count event, gather at the Friends of Saltwater State Park for a Fish ID class followed by an optional REEF survey dive/snorkel!
Meet at the Classroom for the Saltwater Statepark Top 20 Marine Life ID class at 1pm-2pm.
Meet at the beach near the Snack Shack for the REEF survey dive at 3pm.
