REEF: How You Can Help to Protect Biodiversity and Ocean Life

 

The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is an international marine conservation organization based in Key Largo, Florida. The mission of REEF is to protect biodiversity and ocean life. They do this through actively engaging and educating the public through citizen science. REEF is mainly focused on four ongoing projects: the Volunteer Fish Survey Project, the Grouper Moon Project, the Invasive Species Program, and the Ocean Explorers Education Program.

 

Volunteer Fish Survey Project

The Volunteer Fish Survey Project involves letting citizen scuba divers and snorkelers collect and report information on marine fish populations, as well as the populations of select invertebrate and algae species. The data that is collected is checked by a comprehensive experience rating system and QA/QC checks to ensure that the data is of high quality. In 2020, there were over 16,000 volunteers who had conducted over 250,000 at almost 15,000 sites around the world.

 

Getting involved with the Volunteer Fish Survey Project is easy. All you need is an underwater slate and pencil, a fish species reference book, and access to the internet to submit your data. You also need to familiarize yourself with the Rover Diver Survey Method, which is the method used by REEF to keep track of how many fish are identified. You can find a short video on the Rover Diver Survey Method here.

 

Grouper Moon Project

The Grouper Moon Project is a conservation science partnership between REEF and the Cayman Island Department of Environment (DoE) with the purpose of studying the Nassau grouper. The Nassau grouper is a social and ecological cornerstone of Caribbean coral reefs. Normally groupers are a solitary species, but on full moons in the winter the groupers come together in aggregation spots to breed. During these times, many fishermen will also aggregate on these sites in order to catch the normally elusive species. Now over 1/3 of the grouper breeding sites have been depleted or abandoned, and the Nassau grouper is endangered.

 

Since 2002, both REEF and the DoE have fielded research teams each winter to monitor Nassau groupers in spawning sites in the Cayman Islands. These areas are home to the last large reproductive population of Nassau groupers. The scientists perform tagging research projects, soundscape research, studies on the habitats and genetics of juvenile grouper, along with other oceanographic research on their species to better understand, and to ensure their continued survival and hopefully the restoration of their populations.

 

Invasive Species Program

The threat of exotic and invasive species has been a growing ecological threat in recent years. REEF has noticed that divers and snorkelers are a valuable resource in detecting species outside of their natural habitat. Through this they developed the Invasive Species Program, which gave a way for divers and snorkelers to easily report when they spot a non-native species when they are out on an excursion. The data is used to track where exotic species are showing up and provides an early warning system that allows for a rapid response to help remove non-native species before they become invasive.

 

REEF has been working closely with government agencies and partners to better develop early responses to non-native species. One species they heavily focus on is the Lionfish, trying to find better ways to slow their invasion and hopefully remove them from U.S. waters. If you are out diving or snorkeling and spot a species you know to be non-native, you can help by submitting an Exotic Species Sighting Form that can be found here.

 

Ocean Explorers Education Program

The Ocean Explorers Education Program is meant to inspire participants to engage with hands-on learning. The program offers multi-disciplinary programs for both individuals and groups that focus on biology, ecology, citizen science, invasive species, and service learning. The Ocean Explorers Education Program has both in-person and online programs. The program also does full-service multiple day travel programs to both international and domestic areas. These trips are customizable and can offer many different activities like snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, and many others.

 

More pertinent to Stockton students would be the Ocean Explorers Field Survey Trips, which are geared to college-age students, ages 18-25. These trips are led by REEF’s Ocean Explorer Education staff and are geared to be equally fun and educational. Currently they have a trip planned to Costa Rica, from July 23^rd to July 30^th.  They also do virtual field trips for those who cannot go on the trips in person.

 

If you would like to learn more about the Reef Environmental Education Foundation or any of its projects, you can find more information on their website linked here.