Author: Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Ph.D., Co-Executive Director: Science & Engagement
In a new study published last week in the journal Conservation Letters, researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, and REEF demonstrate that fish population data collected by volunteer scuba divers and snorkelers (i.e. citizen scientists) provide a powerful and accurate tool to track species trends and biodiversity.
Led by Dr. Dan Greenberg and Professor Brice Semmens, the study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of the REEF citizen science data in monitoring trends of coral reef fishes along Key Largo, Florida, over a span of 25 years. Using REEF volunteer observations, and sightings data from a rigorous, federally-funded survey, the researchers analyzed data from approximately 90 species to determine the level of correlation between the two methods.
Despite the unstructured nature of citizen science surveys, the findings were overwhelmingly positive. "The large majority of species exhibited strong temporal correlations between the two data sets," explained Professor Semmens. "Our findings clearly indicate that citizen scientists can produce high quality ecosystem monitoring data that are on par with data from a long-term, statistically designed survey carried out by professional scientists."
The state of biodiversity worldwide has long been shrouded in mystery, primarily due to the lack of comprehensive, long-term population monitoring data. However, this new research suggests that citizen science initiatives such as the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project can be one of the keys to unlocking crucial insights into ecological trends.
This research underscores the invaluable contributions that citizen scientists and other contributory research projects can provide to our understanding of biodiversity. By engaging the thousands of scuba divers and snorkelers in marine life observing and reporting, REEF has harnessed a vast network of observers to track ecological changes and inform marine conservation. For more information about the study, please refer to the open-access article published in Conservation Letters here: https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/conl.13009 To see other scientific papers that have included REEF data, visit www.REEF.org/db/publications.
Author: Stacey Henderson, Field Survey Trips Program Manager
We have just released the 2025 REEF Field Survey Trips schedule, and we hope you will join us on a future trip! 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.
We also have exciting news for educators. Teachers can earn professional development credit by joining any REEF Field Survey Trip. 2.5 units are available from the University of California at San Diego. Contact explorers@REEF.org for details.
2025 REEF Field Survey Trips
January 12-22: Maldives Emperor Explorer Liveaboard, with Stacey Henderson. Click here for trip details.
February 15-22: Belize - Sun Breeze Hotel and Ambergris Divers, with Madalyn "Moose" Mussey and Mead Krówka. Click here for trip details.
March 22-29: Guanaja - Villa on Dunbar Rock, with Sierra Barkdoll. Click here for trip details.
April 12-22: Fiji - Nai'a Liveaboard, with Christy and Brice Semmens. Sold out; please inquire for waitlist. Click here for trip details.
May 17-24: Bequia, Grenadines - Bequia Dive Adventures, with Stacey Henderson. Click here for trip details.
June 21-July 2: Yap - Manta Ray Bay Resort, with Amy Lee. Click here for trip details.
June 21-28: Costa Rica Eco-Adventure - Rocket Frog Divers and Hotel Bosque del Mar, with Madalyn "Moose" Mussey. Click here for trip details.
June 28-July 5: Roatan - CoCo View Resort, with Hilary Penner. Click here for trip details.
July 19-27: Brazil - Atlantis Divers Brazil, with Christy and Brice Semmens, and Ned and Anna DeLoach. Click here for trip details.
TBD in August: Canary Islands, with Stacey Henderson. Details coming soon.
September 12-25: Indonesia - Arenui Liveaboard, with Christy Semmens. Sold out; please inquire for waitlist. Click here for trip details.
October 25-November 4: Anilao, Philippines - Buceo Anilao, with Madalyn "Moose" Mussey. Click here for trip details.
November 1-8: Curacao - Ocean Encounters and LionsDive Resort, with Alli Candelmo. Click here for trip details.
December 6-13: Little Cayman - Southern Cross Club, with Janna Nichols. Click here for trip details.
December 6-13: Cozumel - Chili Charters, with Tracey Griffin. Click here for trip details.
2026 and 2027 REEF Field Survey Trips Preview
TBD in January 2026: Palau - Details coming soon.
May 8 - 17, 2026: Misool, Indonesia - Misool Eco Resort, with Stacey Henderson. Click here for trip details
June 28-July 8, 2026: Tubbataha and Visayas, Philippines - Philippines Aggressor, with Amy Lee. Click here for trip details
September 12-19, 2026: Midriff Islands, Sea of Cortez - Rocio del Mar Liveaboard, with Stacey Henderson. Click here for trip details
October 25-November 5, 2026: Raja Ampat, Indonesia - Dewi Nusantara Liveaboard, with Christy and Brice Semmens.Click here for trip details
TBD in November/December 2027: Australia - 14-Day Far Northern Itinerary. Details coming soon.
Can't wait until next year? The following 2024 REEF Field Survey Trips have limited space remaining:
April 6-13, 2024: Utila - Utila Lodge, with Janna Nichols - Click here for trip details
May 4-11, 2024: St. Lucia - Anse Chastanet Resort, with Madalyn "Moose" Mussey - Click here for trip details
September 28-October 5, 2024: Grand Cayman - Sunset House, with Hilary Penner - Click here for trip details
November 2-13, 2024: Lembeh, Indonesia - Passport to Paradise Trip - Three amazing locations in 11 days, with Stacey Henderson. Click here for trip details
Author: Amy Lee, Communications Manager
We are so proud to share that Alice and Will Ribbens are our 2023 REEF Volunteers of the Year! Alice has been a REEF member since 2010, and Will joined in 2012. Since then, they have been active and dedicated members of the REEF community who serve as outstanding ambassadors for REEF's mission and ocean conservation work.
Alice and Will have helped engage many people with REEF in their home state of Minnesota and beyond. They regularly organize "Fish Nights" at their local dive shop, Scuba Center - also a REEF Conservation Partner! Fish Nights are free, fish-focused presentations, held about once a month. Each Fish Night has a different topic, featuring content created by the Scuba Center team or a REEF Fishinar screening. Fish Nights are open to everyone, including divers, non-divers, families, friends, and children.
Both avid fish surveyors, Alice and Will have collectively conducted more than 1,400 total REEF surveys throughout many survey regions, including Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA), Central Indo-Pacific (CIP), South Pacific (SOP), Indian Ocean & Red Sea (IORS), Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP). Alice has also surveyed in the US/Canada Pacific Coast (PAC) region. They enjoy traveling and they conduct surveys during REEF Field Survey Trips, as well as their own diving adventures.
In addition to their efforts to engage people with ocean conservation and spread the word about REEF, Alice and Will support REEF programs behind the scenes, from providing valuable feedback and ideas for developing our new REEF Ocean Ambassadors Program, to testing a prototype device to collect environmental DNA (eDNA) in Minnesota's chilly lake waters. They have also represented REEF at industry events like the annual Dive Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) Show. During DEMA Show 2023 in New Orleans, Alice was one of five panelists who participated in a REEF-organized seminar about citizen science programs for divers and snorkelers. As part of the panel, she shared her experience as a dive professional to highlight how involvement in citizen science programs like the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project can enhance scuba diving and keep divers interested and engaged.
Alice and Will had this to say about their feelings on being named REEF Volunteers of the Year: "We are humbled, thrilled, and excited by this honor. Humbled because we know so many of the past REEF Volunteers of the Year are well known contributors in the REEF and marine conservation community. Thrilled because REEF is important to us, and to know that our support and work is valued means a lot to us. We are excited to continue our journey of learning and exploration in a conservation community as vibrant as REEF. We are proud of REEF and the opportunity to be part of the REEF community."
Alice and Will's support and leadership has helped to foster a growing community of people interested in ocean conservation. We are so thankful for their incredible dedication to REEF's mission, and we are honored to celebrate them as our 2023 Volunteers of the Year! To read more about Alice and Will, check out their Faces of REEF profiles here and here. Click here to see all past REEF Volunteers of the Year.
Author: Hilary Penner, Education Manager: Program Development
Supported by a grant from the Society of Conservation Biology, REEF Ocean Explorers Education team member Madalyn Mussey recently traveled to the southeastern Caribbean island of Grenada to teach fish ID and REEF survey methods to college students. Known as the the Aqua Rangers, these Grenadian students protect their island resources and learn career skills to boost their blue economy. For two days, the Aqua Rangers attended REEF fish ID classes, conducted fish surveys while scuba diving, discussed their sightings and submitted their surveys to the REEF database, and became Level 2 REEF fish surveyors for the Tropical Western Atlantic region!
Many of the Aqua Rangers were newly certified divers who quickly turned into enthusiastic fish surveyors. Participant Ty Geer said, "It's an awakening, I can see the grain in the wood now not just the door,” about learning to identify fish. Another student remarked, “It’s fun to think about people in relation to how the fish behave, like each of us have our own fish species we can relate to. It’s nice to know more about the fish we’re seeing, beyond just their names. It helps me remember them better, but I also am having more fun diving.” With support from the Aquanauts Grenada dive operation, the Aqua Rangers will continue to conduct fish surveys in their region and are also interested in using REEF data for their capstone projects.
The Aqua Rangers Program enables youth in Grenada to have a solid foundation of the required skills for creating a sustainable, eco-conscious business or working within the eco-tourism sector. Collecting and using REEF fish survey data will provide information to help understand and protect Grenada's marine resources. Thank you to Aquanauts Grenada and Aqua Rangers for their support of this project!
Author: Janna Nichols, REEF Citizen Science Program Manager
Put your pectoral fins together in a round of applause for Sara Cowles, who has recently achieved REEF Golden Hamlet Club status!
The Golden Hamlet Club is a highly dedicated group of surveyors who have conducted 1,000+ surveys. Sara's first REEF survey was conducted off the Kona Coast of Hawaii at Big Arch, (aka Freeze Face/Lone Tree Arch) in December 2003. Since then, she has become an avid surveyor and citizen scientist not just in Hawaii, but also in regions worldwide including TWA, TEP, SOP, and CIP. She is Experience Level 5 in the TWA, HAW, and CIP regions and Experience Level 3 in the TEP region. Sara conducted her 1,000th survey on a REEF Field Survey Trip to Cozumel in December 2023.
Welcome Sara and congratulations on your achievement! To commemorate this significant benchmark, Golden Hamlet Club members’ names are engraved on a plaque displayed at REEF Headquarters in Key Largo. You can view all of the Golden Hamlet Club members here.
Author: Amy Lee, Communications Manager
REEF members are the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. A diverse community of divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts support our mission to conserve marine environments worldwide.
This month we highlight Debbie Cacace, a REEF member from Virginia. She joined REEF in 2017 and has conducted more than 460 surveys in the Tropical Western Atlantic region, where she is a Level 5 surveyor. Thank you Debbie, for being a dedicated and active part of REEF!
When and how did you first volunteer with REEF or become a REEF member?
I became a REEF member in December of 2017 as a result of learning about REEF from a friend who is a marine biologist. I was always trying to identify what I saw underwater using ID books, and being a member and surveying was an ideal way to learn more and document what I saw.
What inspires you to complete REEF surveys?
I enjoy seeing my life list, so I can keep learning and find new fish. Also, I enjoy sharing and comparing sightings with my dive buddies. As a retired engineer, documenting things has always been something I have enjoyed, and so I enjoy combining that with my love of the ocean. Attending several REEF Field Survey Trips and participating in Fishinars has helped with identification and learning fish behaviors that help identify some of the different fish.
What is your favorite part about being a REEF member?
My favorite part about being a REEF member is the opportunity to learn more and to see and share other people’s finds.
Do you dive close to where you live? Where is your favorite place to dive and why?
I live in Virginia and have made many local dives there. Opportunities to dive locally are much less than they used to be, as there are currently no local dive boats. My local dives were mostly prior to joining REEF. The majority of my diving is in the Caribbean with occasional trips to other locations. I think just about every place I have been is my favorite for something different. So, even with over 5500 dives, I have no absolute favorite of all.
Do you have any surveying, fishwatching, or identification tips for REEF members?
Don’t be intimidated by the number of different fish. Just start! I picked one species at a time and worked on that until I was comfortable and moved on to another. Take advantage of the REEF educational materials that are available.
Author: Sierra Barkdoll, Citizen Science Coordinator
Our online programs are free and open to all! Check out what's coming up, and view the entire schedule of Fishinars and other online programs here.
Fishinar: Strange Fishes of the Pacific Northwest
Tuesday, March 19 8pm EDT
Click here to register.
Poachers, snailfish, lumpsuckers... join us to learn about some of the weird fish who call the Pacific Northwest home.
Marbled Snailfish photo by Greg Jensen.
Author: The REEF Team
Our March Fish of the Month is the Barberfish, Johnrandallia nigrirostris!
Survey Regions: Barberfish are abundant throughout the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) survey region, from the Gulf of California and Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America, to the coast of Ecuador and offshore oceanic islands such as the Revillagigedo Islands and Galapagos Islands. Click here to view the REEF database report for this species in the TEP survey region.
Size: They grow to a maximum length of 6 in. or about 15 cm.
Identifying Features: Barberfish have a silvery head and silver to yellow body. They have a black ring around their mouth and each eye, and a black bar running from the middle of their dorsal fin to the base of their tail.
Fun Facts: Barberfish are members of the Butterflyfish family. They are active during the day and feed on algae, mollusks, and crustaceans. Barberfish live in rocky, boulder-strewn areas and can often be seen in large schools. They also play an important role as a cleaner species, and occupy cleaning stations where they remove parasites from other fish.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for our next Fish of the Month.
Photos by Janna Nichols.
