Author: Alli Candelmo, Ph.D., Conservation Science Manager
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. As a result of this work, a paper titled "Lessons from the Western Atlantic lionfish invasion to inform management in the Mediterranean” was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
Invasive lionfish control will require rapid and strategic management approaches, multinational coordination and broad cooperation among and between governments and stakeholders. The infographic (above) accompanying this article details some of the recommended and failed approached for lionfish management. Lessons for invasive lionfish management identified in the paper include:
• Conducting routine removals by spearfishing with scuba can effectively suppress local abundances of lionfish
• Encouraging the development of recreational and commercial lionfish fisheries can facilitate sustainable lionfish population control
• Engaging local communities can help achieve lionfish removals, market-development, research, and public education.
The authors also advised against failed approaches such as feeding lionfish to native fish to promote predation and implementing bounty programs to incentivize lionfish harvest. A detailed table of lionfish management strategies in both the Western Atlantic and Mediterranean was compiled to support the article and can be found here. The full article can be viewed here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.865162
Author: The REEF Team
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. We're also very thankful to the Pelton Charitable Foundation and an anonymous supporter, who generously matched our Give BIG for the Oceans contributions.
If you donated during Give BIG for the Oceans, keep an eye on your mailbox. As a special thank you, everyone who gave April 29 will receive a signed 5"x7" print of a reef scene in Indonesia, photographed by REEF Co-Founder Ned DeLoach.
Author: Amy Lee, Engagement and Communications Manager
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. The public festival is family friendly and includes scoring and lionfish tastings, educational demos, games, crafts, raffles, and activity booths from arts and conservation vendors. For more information, visit www.REEF.org/derby.
We recently kicked off the 2022 Lionfish Derby season with the annual Earth Day Lionfish Derby on April 22-24. Teams were permitted to fish in Monroe County waters only, from sunrise to sunset on April 23. Although windy conditions prevented most teams from getting on the water, Team Forever Young brought in 426 fish, which set a record for a single-day REEF Lionfish Derby held in the Florida Keys. The largest lionfish of the competition measured 425 mm, and the smallest lionfish was 102 mm.
REEF Lionfish Derbies educate the public about invasive species, gather important scientific information on lionfish populations, and promote a consumer market for lionfish. 2022 is the 13th year that REEF has hosted a Lionfish Derby in the Upper Florida Keys. During a REEF Lionfish Derby, prizes are awarded to teams who bring in the most, largest, and smallest lionfish To date, more than 60,000 lionfish have been removed from REEF-supported derbies, outreach and research programs.
Author: Stacey Henderson, Program Services Coordinator
We have some great REEF Field Survey Trips coming up next year. You can check out the full schedule at www.REEF.org/trips. Here are some highlights:
Belize - January 21-28, 2023: Leave winter behind and tour the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest reef system in the world, aboard the Belize Aggressor IV. Dive famous sites like Turneffe and Lighthouse Reef, plus sheer walls covered in gorgonians, rope sponges, and filled with plenty of fish. Click here for more details.
Roatan - July 15-22, 2023: CoCo View Resort is well known among divers for its excellent house reef. Guests will enjoy two daily boat trips and unlimited shore diving at CoCo View’s front yard reef, where more than 300 fish species have been recorded, including the endemic Redcheek Goby! Click here for more details.
Curacao - November 4-11, 2023: Scuba Diving magazine has called Curacao one of the top 10 diving destinations in the world. Enjoy boat dives and unlimited shore diving with Ocean Encounters and relax at LionsDive Beach Resort set in a stunning tropical location. It’s also perfect for you non-diving companions. Click here for more details.
Coming soon - St. Thomas, February 18-25, 2023: with Dive AquaMarine and Bolongo Bay Beach Resort - an easy getaway with great diving, and you don’t need a passport! Stay tuned for more details.
Author: Amy Lee, Engagement and Communications Manager
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:
Cayla Bernstein graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.S. in Social & Behavioral Health Sciences and a minor in Environmental Policy. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and spent many summers with family in Barbados. When she was younger she participated in Project Citizen and implemented a recycling program in her school. In college, Cayla conducted research on eutrophication of Florida waters and its effect on quality of life. She also served as an orientation leader on campus and a volunteer at the Humane Society. Recently she has worked on installing oyster shell bags in Tampa Bay to create habitat and slow erosion along the shoreline. Cayla is a foodie in her free time and enjoys roller skating, snorkeling, fishing, and kayaking, and she is excited for the opportunities that await at REEF.
Lauren Bulik attends Clemson University where she is pursuing a dual B.S. in Environmental and Natural Resources and Biological Sciences. She is grew up in Long Island, New York, and chose to to pursue a career studying the ocean after completing an independent research project on microplastic pollution in her local bay. At Clemson, she joined a research lab to study the impacts of marine debris. She also conducted coral reef surveys in the Florida Keys with her lab. Lauren is passionate about sharing knowledge with the public to encourage community efforts in marine conservation. She taught children about marine ecosystems and ocean health through an immersive STEM and arts program with South Carolina elementary schoolers and volunteered as a Discovery Guide with the New York Aquarium. She is thrilled to continue her journey and be part of the REEF team.
Grace Davis graduated from Hollins University with a B.A. in Business and minor in Psychology. She has always had a love of the outdoors, environment, and the oceans. While in college, she was a trip leader in the Hollins Outdoor Program, where she enjoyed taking fellow students on outdoor adventures like hiking, paddling, and rock climbing. She also completed the NOLS Wilderness First Responder course and earned the Hollins Outdoor Leadership Certificate. In her sophomore year, she hosted a screening of a marine conservation documentary film to spark interest in environmental conservation in her peers and the community. She loves diving, teaching, and community outreach, and hopes to use her business background to support REEF's work as a nonprofit. Grace is excited to be a REEF intern and to learn more about marine life, specifically the invasive lionfish.
Alyssa Estrada graduated from the University of New Haven with a B.S in Marine Affairs and a minor in Legal Studies. She grew up in the Bronx, New York, and became interested in marine biology when she transferred to high school in New Jersey. In college, Alyssa was a resident assistant for the Marine Biology Enhanced Learning Community, where she served as a mentor for first year students. She hosted field trips and educational programs to educate residents on environmental issues and marine science. Her senior thesis focused on determining factors that influence college students’ knowledge, awareness, and perception of climate change. Through this research, she became interested in marine education, community outreach, and marine conservation, and hopes to attend graduate school to study one of these fields. Alyssa is ecstatic to be part of the REEF team and is looking forward to gaining more experience in ocean conservation and community engagement.
Our interns are a vital part of REEF and we couldn’t accomplish our work without them. For more information about the Marine Conservation Internship or to apply for an upcoming semester, visit www.REEF.org/internship.
Author: Sierra Barkdoll, Citizen Science Program Lead Intern
REEF's online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what is coming up in the next several weeks:
Oceans for All: Exploring Diverse Experiences in Marine Conservation
Wednesday, May 11, 8pm EDT
Click here to register.
Join us to celebrate the voices, experiences, and contributions of five diverse leaders in marine conservation. Engage and connect with the panelists and other individuals in the community as we work together to cultivate a culture of belonging and inclusion for the next generation of ocean stewards. This webinar is part of a series of educational opportunities focused on supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in marine conservation through the REEF Oceans for All initiative. Check out the Oceans for All page for more information.
Palau Fishes to Look For
Tuesday, May 17, 8pm EDT
Click here to register.
Join us as Amy Lee covers some of the easily overlooked or unique species that are more commonly found in Palau, plus some special highlights and fish for your life list.
Common Fishes of the Red Sea Pt. 2
Wednesday, June 1, 8pm EDT
Click here to register.
The Red Sea is full of fascinating fishes, and it's a favorite spot to dive. Learn how to recognize some of the fishes you may encounter there. This Fishinar picks up where Part 1 (originally taught in September 2021) left off. You don't want to miss this jam-packed session led by Christy Semmens.
Author: Sierra Barkdoll, Citizen Science Program Lead Intern
The Conservation Challenge is a way to earn fun stickers for getting involved in marine conservation. Register for the REEF Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K to earn this month's featured Conservation Challenge sticker! The third annual Fish Out of Water 5K takes place June 6-12. REEF members worldwide will run, walk, bike, swim, and more - all to support healthy oceans. Visit www.REEF.org/5K to register today. When you sign up, you’ll choose to join one of five Fish Teams - Whale Shark, Manta Ray, Ocean Sunfish, Lionfish, or Nassau Grouper. Fish Out of Water 5K participants receive a limited edition long-sleeved shirt, customizable race bib, and a waterproof set of Fish Team stickers, plus the Conservation Challenge sticker. Registration is open until May 31. Shirt sizes are limited, so be sure to register soon! For more information about the Conservation Challenge and details about other stickers you can add to your collection, visit www.REEF.org/conservationchallenge.
Author: The REEF Team
Introducing our May Fish of the Month, the Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera)!
Survey Regions: Pajama Cardinalfish are found throughout the tropical Pacific, in REEF's Central Indo Pacific (CIP) and South Pacific (SOP) survey regions. View the REEF database sightings reports here: CIP and SOP
Size: They grow to about 3.5 inches.
Identifying Features: Pajama Cardinalfish are deep-bodied with a yellow head, red iris, a dark midbody bar, and spots on the rear body that look like the fish is wearing pajama pants. Their second dorsal fin has a long, trailing filament.
Fun Facts: Pajama Cardinalfish form large schools sheltering within branching coral. They prefer to live in shallow waters of protected bays and lagoons. At night, they become darker and the spots on their rear body become more difficult to see. Like other cardinalfish species, male Pajama Cardinalfish will incubate eggs in their mouths until they are ready to hatch. To learn more about the Pajama Cardinalfish, tune into the upcoming Fishinar, Palau Fishes to Look For on May 17 at 8pm EDT.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for our next Fish of the Month.
Photo by Paddy Ryan.
