Author: Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Ph.D., Co-Executive Director: Science & Engagement
Our partners at the Cayman Islands Department of Environment (DoE) recently used REEF data to evaluate Scalloped Hammerhead shark populations in the Cayman Islands, and their findings could mean good news for the future of hammerhead sharks in the area! The Scalloped Hammerhead is a critically endangered shark species with a decreasing global population. They are normally seen in large schools in the Pacific Ocean, but this is a rare sighting in the Atlantic Ocean, and schools of Scalloped Hammerheads have not been observed in the Cayman Islands for decades.
In 2022, DoE's shark research team surveyed the deeper waters off the North Sound, Grand Cayman for the Cayman Deep See Project. Video footage showed a school of Scalloped Hammerhead sharks below 200m - the first sighting around the Cayman Islands since the 1970s! Following this exciting sighting, the team looked at other sources of long-term monitoring data for the Cayman Islands, including the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project database, to evaluate population trends. Their findings suggest that Scalloped Hammerhead may be slowly re-occupying the Cayman Islands, selecting and using deeper waters to school. Meanwhile, another species, the Great Hammerhead, has also become less scarce in the Cayman Islands. Results of this work were recently published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. For more info and to see all scientific papers using REEF data, visit www.REEF.org/db/publications.
Author: Amy Lee, Communications Manager
Registration is open for the fifth annual REEF Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K! This event brings people together in the spirit of health, community, and conservation. From June 8-15, you can join in by getting active in celebration of World Ocean Day! You can choose your favorite activity: run, walk, hike, bike, swim, or even paddle! You can complete your 5K at your own pace and participate from anywhere in the world. For all the details and registration, visit www.REEF.org/5K.
Proceeds from the Fish Out of Water 5K support the REEF Oceans for All initiative. Oceans for All supports scholarships, programming, and outreach activities to provide ocean experiences and education for all. Visit this page to learn more and watch a video about Oceans for All.
When you register for the 5K, you’ll choose to join one of five Fish Teams: Pygmy Seahorse, Lumpfish, Saddled Butterflyfish, Horn Shark, and Fairy Basslet! Read more about Fish Teams here and then select your favorite team during registration! Friends, families, co-workers, or dive buddies can also team up to participate together by forming a Fish Shoal. You don't have to be on the same Fish Team as your "shoal-mates" either. Read more about Fish Shoals here.
Registration packages start at $35. Registration rates increase after April 30, so be sure to sign up early to take advantage of the discount. All participants receive a limited edition 5K shirt, printable race bib, and a set of Fish Team stickers.
Author: Madalyn Mussey, Education Manager: Ocean Explorers Programs
REEF Ocean Explorers Education Programs inspire people to make a difference and protect the oceans. We teach learners of all ages about marine biology, ecology, citizen science, and invasive species. To connect even more people with ocean conservation, REEF has partnered with several arts and humanities organizations to create programs and events that highlight connections between science and the arts. By incorporating arts and humanities into REEF education programs, participants will learn about how the ocean is linked to our culture and lives, and build a stronger connection to the environment. Not only does using art make complex scientific concepts more accessible and understandable, artistic expression also boosts creativity. Meanwhile, science and conservation can inspire people to create art in new ways and view the world differently. Merging arts and science provides opportunities for people with diverse backgrounds and skills to help make a difference and builds a more inclusive marine conservation community.
We are preparing to host our second annual REEF Arts & Science Festival at the REEF Campus on Saturday, April 27! We're excited to have Florida Keys nonprofits, environmental organizations, and artisanal vendors join us for a fun event that includes interactive booths, crafts, science demos and activities, and take-home art kits. More than 200 people attended our inaugural Arts & Science Festival last year and we hope to increase that number this year. All are invited to attend this family-friendly event. If you are in the Florida Keys, be sure to stop by the REEF Campus on April 27 from 10am-3pm. Click here for more information about the REEF Arts & Science Festival.
Author: Noa Parks, Marine Conservation Fellow
Are you interested in teaching fish ID to others, but aren't sure where to begin? Check out REEF's marine life identification curricula, which is available for 15 different areas! These instructor-led courses include everything you need to teach divers and snorkelers about some of the most commonly encountered species in a given region. Dive shops, clubs, and instructors can use this resource to introduce divers and snorkelers to citizen science and marine life identification. We have just released our newly updated South Pacific Fishes curriculum, featuring 66 of the commonly seen fish species in REEF's South Pacific (SOP) survey region, which includes Fiji, Tonga, Samoan Archipelago, Line Islands, and Cook Islands. The curriculum comes with an easy-to-use teaching materials to train students in identification and REEF survey methodology, a USB Flash drive with a slideshow of fish images, survey materials including a slate, underwater paper, and photo ID card, plus a Level 2 Surveyor quiz, and a fun FISH-O game.
Curricula are also available for our other regions, from the Tropical Western Atlantic to the Pacific Northwest and more. In addition there are a variety of underwater survey paper formats available for the various locations throughout the tropical Pacific, as well as our other survey regions. Check out the REEF Surveyor Toolbox to see all of the materials for a specific region. Curricula and other survey materials can be purchased online at www.REEF.org/store.
Author: The REEF Team
Every year on the last Friday in April, REEF celebrates Give BIG for the Oceans. This single-day giving event is a way for the REEF community to come together to celebrate and support ocean conservation. Our fourth annual Give BIG for the Oceans is coming up on April 26, and all donations made on this day will be MATCHED up to $30,000! A special thank you to the Pelton Charitable Foundation and two anonymous REEF members for providing these matching funds. Be sure to mark April 26 on your calendar to be sure that you can take advantage of this incredible match opportunity.
Everyone who donates during Give BIG for the Oceans will receive a signed 5"x7" print photographed by REEF Co-Founder Ned DeLoach. This year, Ned and Anna selected this amazing image of a Spottedtail Morwong, photographed during a trip to Japan. This print is available only during Give BIG for the Oceans 2024. Please keep an eye on your email inbox this month for reminders about Give BIG for the Oceans, and thank you for being part of REEF. We couldn’t do it without you!
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 Rachael Lewus, a REEF member from Washington, DC. She has conducted nearly 100 surveys and is an Expert Level surveyor in the Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA) region. She has also surveyed in the South Pacific, Central-Indo Pacific, and Tropical Eastern Pacific regions. We're excited to feature Rachael this month and are thankful that she's part of REEF!
When and how did you first volunteer with REEF or become a REEF member?
I was first taught to survey in a volunteer program in 2010, but hadn't used it in years. I was on a trip to Belize for New Years 2019-2020 and my shop offered the TWA fish class for everyone, which I'd sat in on many times. My shop owner, Heather, encouraged me to just make a list of what I saw on the next dive. When I came out of the water with 40+ species, she dared me to make it to 100 by the end of the trip. I did my first eight surveys on that trip, and with the help of many other folks pointing things out, ended up with 101 identified fish. I was hooked!
What is your favorite part about being a REEF member?
Access to Fishinars! It can be so hard to learn how to differentiate similar species from the books and photos. In the Fishinars, it's like you've been given a magic decoder ring. If you're not convinced, watch the TWA one on Chubs and Porgies - game changer!
Do you have a favorite local (or not) REEF Conservation Partner or dive shop?
I dive with Blue Planet Scuba in Washington DC - they are the best! They offer the Fish ID class monthly and often do the presentations on trips for anyone who wants to learn more. They are very conservation-focused in general, offering the AWARE course in sharks, turtles, and whale sharks, doing local cleanups in and out of the water, and helping all their divers understand how they can make a difference. My favorite thing though is that they've created a real community of divers in our landlocked city. It's a special place.
What is the most fascinating fish encounter you’ve experienced?
I once saw a sergeant major laying eggs on Frederiksted Pier in St Croix. I never would have spotted it if not for REEF, which taught me to notice normal fish behavior for different species. This one was behaving oddly, so I stopped and watched and got to see something really special. I also witnessed squid mating in Bonaire, the day after Ned DeLoach gave a presentation sharing how to spot that. It's amazing what you can see once you start learning what to look for!
Do you have any surveying, fishwatching, or identification tips for REEF members?
Start with learning families. If you know what family a fish is in, it's so much easier to ID it. Once I got the families, I focused on 1-2 families per trip, using the Fishinars to study ahead of time. Bonus - it makes your knowledge global, as the species are different but the families are pretty much the same everywhere.
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.
Into the Blue Book Club Meeting
Thursday, April 11 8pm ET
Click here to register.
REEF Into the Blue Book Club brings together readers who love the ocean. At this meeting, we will discuss our latest book selection, Many Things Under a Rock: The Mysteries of Octopuses by David Scheel. Everyone is invited to join, and reading the book is not a requirement for attending the meeting.
Author: Stacey Henderson, Field Survey Trips Program Manager
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. This May, we're excited to head to the beautiful island of St. Lucia for diving, fish surveys, and fun! During our week at Anse Chastanet Resort, we'll enjoy beautiful ocean and mountain views. The entire region is a protected marine area and beach diving is easily accessible, in addition to our daily boat dives with onsite operator Scuba St. Lucia. Anse Chastanet is an environmentally-conscious, luxury resort with plenty of amenities, delicious food, and activities like sea kayaking, jungle biking, and yoga, making this a great destination for divers, snorkelers, and non-diving companions. Check out the link below for more details, and visit www.REEF.org/trips to see all upcoming trips. To book your space, email trips@REEF.org. Some of our upcoming trips include:
St. Lucia: May 4-11 -- More information here.
Tobago: July 27-August 3 -- More information here.
Grand Cayman: Sept. 28-Oct.5 -- More information here.
Indonesia - Lembeh Strait: Nov. 2-13 -- More information here.
Dominica: Nov. 2-9 -- More information here.
Author: Janna Nichols, Citizen Science Program Manager
Welcome to Citizen Science Corner, our quarterly feature to celebrate those who recently reached a milestone in our Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Here are achievements from January, February and March, 2024.
Juvenile Hamlet Award
The Juvenile Hamlet Award is for individuals who have conducted 500+ REEF surveys. Congratulations to our latest Juvenile Hamlet Club member, Naomi Wooten! Read more about the Juvenile Hamlet award and others who have achieved it.
Experience Level Advancements
REEF Experience Levels are a way for divers and snorkelers to measure their fish ID knowledge along with their surveying experience. Experience Levels are achieved by submitting a certain number of surveys and passing a fish ID test. For more info, visit www.REEF.org/experiencelevels. Let's hear it for these REEF members who have advanced an Experience Level!
All listed below are Level 2 unless otherwise noted.
California (CAL)
Charlotte Dossey
Chris Clover
Kacie Weiper
Mark Paraschuk
Mary Wholey
Michael DelValle
Ted Molter
Indian Ocean - Red Sea (IORS)
Christina Ewerhardy
Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP)
Janeen Judah
Marla Walther
Martha Ornelas
Neil Ericsson
Stacey Henderson
Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA)
Sarah Weaver - Level 5
Adam Rounce
Addison Maddox
Adrian Noble
Aidan Hussey
Alanna Del Basso
Allan Medina
Alyssa Castro
Amberly Wieczorek
Amelia Gomez Uribe
Andrea Kuljanin
Ariana Lane
Ashley Kusel
Auxane Coutanceau
Baylee Blute
Caleb Mitchell
Chloe Lynn
Davis McLead
Ela Gokcigdem
Eliza Porter
Ella Armbruster
Ella Carmichael
Elliot Tong
Emma Van Prooyen
Faith Linville
Glenn Mitchell
Grace Burtnick
Isabel Hansen
Isabella Ernst
Isabelle Pathik
Jadia Adams
Jaynie Regis
Jessy Thomas
Jody Thomas
John Anderson
Katie Goris
Kelly Doyle
Kristi Carroll Lorin
Landon Juarez
Lara Fitts
Leah Egosi
Lisa Niepelt
Lyndsey Ruiz
Madison Enriquez
Mairi Walker
Mallory Willem
Melissa Meadows
Nick Wilson
Noah Stauch
Olivia Andrisani
Piotr Jankowski
Ramon Newton
Roz-Anna Baker
Rylan Reyes
Sara Tershel
Sebastian Navarro
Sian Mark
Sierra Mulholland
Sofie Misiuta de Brito
Stevie Wittman
Sydney Houck
Tito Oliveras
Tyler Geer
Walker Smith
Author: The REEF Team
Our April Fish of the Month is the Monkeyface Prickleback, Cebidichthys violaceus!
Survey Regions: Monkeyface Prickleback are found from southern Oregon to central California, and are present but rarely seen in southern California. These areas are part of REEF's PAC region. Click here to see a REEF database distribution report for this species.
Size: They are typically 1-2 ft. long and can grow up to 2.5 ft.
Identifying Features: Monkeyface Pricklebacks have an elongated, eel-like body with a blunt snout and large, thick lips. They have a bumpy ridge that runs from their snout to the rear of their head. They can vary in color from uniform light gray to black and usually have two dark bars below each eye. Some may have orange spots along their back and orange fin tips.
Fun Facts: Monkeyface Pricklebacks hide in crevices in rocky reefs, tidal zones, and kelp forests. They are stationary and rarely move far from their home. They are able to breathe air, and in a moist environment, they can survive for more than a day out of the water!
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for our next Fish of the Month.
Photos by Janna Nichols.
