Author: Martha Klitzkie, Co-Executive Director: Strategy & Operations
REEF Co-Executive Director, Dr. Christy Pattengill-Semmens, was recently welcomed to the Women Divers Hall of Fame (WDHOF) in celebration of her achievements in ocean citizen science, education, and conservation. Although WDHOF was not able to hold their usual formal induction ceremony for Christy or the other five inductees of the Class of 2021 (or for the Class of 2020), Christy received her WDHOF pin in a short ceremony held at a DEMA awards dinner last month in Las Vegas. Christy was pinned by Michele Hall, an award-winning documentarian and IMAX film maker who was inducted to WDHOF in 2000. Even though Christy was just inducted this year, she was also voted by fellow members to serve on the WDHOF Board of Directors. Congratulations, Christy!
The members of WDHOF form an elite group that includes the most notable women leaders and innovators in the diving community. There are 250 members hailing from 30 U.S. states and Territories and 22 countries worldwide. REEF's own Board Chair, Anna DeLoach, was inducted as a WDHOF member in 2011. WDHOF recognizes the contributions of women pioneers, leaders and innovators in the many fields of diving. It works to promote careers & opportunities for women in the dive community. This is primarily achieved through scholarships and grants awarded annually to almost 50 individuals. To learn more about WDHOF, visit their website at www.wdhof.org.
Author: Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Ph.D., Co-Executive Director: Science & Engagement
REEF’s Grouper Moon Project was recently recognized with one of American Fisheries Society (AFS)'s highest honors, the William E. Ricker Resource Conservation Award. The Ricker Award is given annually, if warranted, to an individual or organization for a singular accomplishment or long-term contributions that advance aquatic resource conservation at a national or international level. The award was accepted on REEF's behalf by REEF Board member and longtime Grouper Moon scientist Dr. Scott Heppell at the annual AFS meeting last month.
Scott commented, "it is truly rewarding to be recognized by the AFS for the success of the Grouper Moon Project. The Cayman Islands arguably have the healthiest Nassau Grouper population left on the planet, and it is the direct result of tremendous efforts made by REEF and its citizen scientists, the Cayman Islands Department of Environment, and the people of the Cayman Islands. We look forward to the continued success of the project and hope that our efforts serve as a model for Nassau Grouper conservation in other nations of the Caribbean.”
The American Fisheries Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to strengthening the fisheries profession, advancing fisheries science, and conserving fisheries resources. The Grouper Moon Project is a conservation science partnership between REEF and the Cayman Islands Department of Environment, with scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and Oregon State University, aimed at studying Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus,) a social and ecological cornerstone of Caribbean coral reefs. Since 2002, the Grouper Moon team has been studying one of the largest, and one of the last known, spawning aggregations of Nassau Grouper left in the Caribbean. Their work in the Cayman Islands has led to numerous scientific publications and resulted in sweeping science-backed regulations and protections. For more information, visit www.REEF.org/groupermoonproject.
Author: The REEF Team
Together, we're building a brighter future for the oceans. Your support of REEF funds programs that use citizen science to protect marine life, conduct groundbreaking conservation science research, and engage and educate ocean stewards and communities. By working together, we can achieve meaningful solutions for conservation success. Our winter fundraising campaign is underway, and your year-end gift will help ensure that we can start off 2022 on a high note, ready to take action to advance ocean conservation worldwide.
We hope you'll consider making a gift to REEF this winter, and we also hope you can join in our virtual Oceanside Chat on December 16 at 8pm EST. Ned and Anna DeLoach will share some of their recent fishy adventures and holiday traditions. We'll also discuss the impact of REEF's work and what we're looking forward to in the year ahead. Click here to register.
All who donate $250 or more this winter will receive a signed copy of a limited edition marine life image from Paul Humann. This year's print is a group of False Clown Anemonefish and their host anemone, photographed by Paul in Indonesia. Happy holidays from all of us at REEF and thank you for your support!
Author: Amy Lee, Engagement and 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 REEF member Park Chapman. He has been a member of REEF since the early days of the Volunteer Fish Survey Project in 1993. For years, Park has been a strong advocate for REEF's mission throughout the dive community. He regularly lends a helping hand behind the scenes as a volunteer at REEF events and trade shows like DEMA. He is also an avid underwater photographer and loves traveling. We're very thankful for Park's enthusiasm and support of REEF's marine conservation work!
When and how did you first volunteer with REEF or become a REEF member? How did you first hear about REEF?
I learned about REEF from an ad in Skin Diver magazine in 1993 and started volunteering after going to Bonaire for the annual coral spawning. Helping behind the scenes and doing what some would call “grunt work” may not be exciting but helping REEF staff is important and gives me great joy.
If you have been on a REEF Field Survey, where and what was your trip highlight?
Meeting other members and learning about new species and their behaviors. Mother Nature created a beautiful planet we must protect in order to survive. With real science like this, who needs science fiction?
If you had to explain REEF to a friend in a couple of sentences, what would you tell them?
Explaining REEF in a few sentences is difficult because I get so excited. I love encouraging other divers to join REEF. I tell them it’s free, highlight the Volunteer Fish Survey Project, the database and its importance to ocean science. I also talk about the Grouper Moon Project, lionfish and the Invasive Species Program, and the Ocean Explorers Education Program. For non-divers, talking about protecting the oceans and explaining how easy it is to dive and showing them a few pictures hopefully gets their attention.
Do you dive close to where you live, and if so, what is the best part about diving there?
I live on the west coast of Florida, so going to Blue Heron Bridge and the Keys is great. My favorite place so far is the Coral Triangle, because of the biodiversity, which never disappoints. It’s another world down there, and night diving is off the chart!
Do you have any surveying, fishwatching, or identification tips for REEF members?
Dive slowly. If you see something, stop and wait. Patience is rewarded. A lot of marine life is scared of us at first; we are aliens in their world. After realizing you won’t eat them, you’ll see things and think, “Wow. That’s crazy stuff!”
Is there a fish (or marine invertebrate) you haven’t seen yet diving, but would like to?
I would love to dive with more big animals like whale sharks, dolphins and rays.
Author: Amy Lee, Engagement and Communications Manager
Mark your calendars, fish enthusiasts! We're headed to the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent for a REEF Field Survey Trip on Feb. 5-12, 2022. There are just three spaces remaining on the trip, and those who love adding to their fish survey life list will not want to miss this one. Known as the muck diving capital of the Caribbean, St. Vincent is renowned in the dive community as a hotspot for rare, unique, and cryptic species. Thirteen divers reported 243 species during our 2007 REEF Trip, including frogfish, Black Brotulas, pipefish, and even the iconic Golden Hamlet featured on the cover of Reef Fish Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas. Usually, muck diving goes hand-in-hand with silty water and low visibility, but St. Vincent's waters are typically clear and warm, with visibility of up to 100 feet. American Airlines has a direct flight from Miami to St. Vincent (SVD), making travel arrangements straightforward. Check out www.REEF.org/trips for more information, and email trips@REEF.org to reserve your space.
Author: Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Ph.D., Co-Executive Director: Science & Engagement
Looking for guidance on how to get started with the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project (VFSP)? Check out the new REEF Surveyor Toolbox for tips, tricks, resources and materials. The page includes an overview of the VFSP and how to become a citizen scientist, the gear you need to get started surveying, and educational resources for each REEF survey region. Next time you're planning a dive trip to a new location, visit this page to see a list of field guides, survey papers, species reference lists, and more. Happy surveying!
Author: Sierra Barkdoll, Citizen Science Program Lead Intern
As you make resolutions and plans for the year ahead, why not consider a goal that benefits not only you, but our planet as well? In early 2022, we're launching the Conservation Challenge, a new initiative to encourage REEF members to dive deeper into citizen science. The goals are to learn about marine life, gather scientific data, and connect with a community of ocean lovers as you complete various challenges that support REEF's marine conservation mission. Most of the challenges can be completed during any time of year, and we’ll choose one (or more!) challenges to highlight each month. We can't wait to share more details with you about how to get involved. Stay tuned for more information about the Conservation Challenge, kicking off in January 2022!
Author: Janna Nichols, Citizen Science Program Manager
2021 is winding down, and there are just a couple weeks left to complete the Super Surveyor Challenge! You can complete the challenge by conducting and submitting 25 REEF surveys from any region (or a combination of regions) in 2021. More than 100 volunteer snorkelers and divers have completed the challenge this year. You can see a list of everyone who has done so here.
Remember, getting in the water to conduct a survey is the first step. After your dive or snorkel, be sure to submit your data so that the REEF database can continue to be a useful resource for scientists, researchers, and policymakers. Whether your surveys are from 2021 or sometime before then, the end of the year is a great time to dust off any un-entered surveys and submit them to the REEF database by visiting www.REEF.org/dataentry. You can do it!
Author: The REEF Team
To celebrate this festive time of year, our December 2021 Fish of the Month is the Tinsel Squirrelfish (Neoniphon suborbitalis)!*
Survey Regions: Tinsel Squirrelfish are found in REEF's Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) region, from the Gulf of California to Ecuador including offshore islands such as the Revillagigedos, Cocos, and Galapagos Islands. Click here to view a sightings report for this species.
Size: They grow to about 10 inches.
Identifying Features: Tinsel Squirrelfish have a shimmery, silvery cast. Their head and body have a rosy to violet hue, and they have dark margins on their scales, especially on the upper half of their bodies.
Fun Facts: During the day, Tinsel Squirrelfish hide in caves, crevices, and under ledges of rocky reefs. At night, they come out into the open to feed on small crustaceans. Like other noctural species, they have very large eyes to help them see in the dark.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for our next Fish of the Month.
*This species was previously classified in the genus Sargocentron.
Photos by Paddy Ryan.
