Your Contribution Is Needed For Marine Conservation

Our year-end fundraising campaign is well underway, and we would like to thank those of you have already donated. If you haven’t had a chance to make a contribution yet, it’s not too late to get your donation in for the 2010 tax year – just click here now to donate securely online. You can also call REEF Headquarters (305-852-0030) to make a contribution over the phone, or mail your check to REEF, PO Box 246, Key Largo, FL 33037.

Thanks to thousands of volunteers, as well as financial support from members like you, REEF’s Volunteer Fish Survey database now has over 143,000 surveys! REEF’s database – the largest marine life species database in the world – is frequently used to address marine conservation issues and has been featured in dozens of scientific publications.

Not only do REEF surveys result in data affording more regulatory protections, many of our trips yield discoveries of previously unrecorded species in a region. In fact, recently a REEF surveyor from the Tropical Pacific documented over 40 species of fish previously not known to occur in the Solomon Islands! That’s diving that truly counts!

REEF continues to take the lead in addressing the complex and growing challenge of the lionfish invasion in Florida, Bahamas, and Caribbean. Recently, the invasion was ranked by a group of noted scientists as one of the top 15 greatest threats to biological diversity facing the world today! Your contribution will help ensure REEF has the personnel required to do this vital work. We are also announcing the availability of the new Lionfish Cookbook, which can now be purchased through the online REEF Store. You can check out some of the recent media coverage of our Invasive Lionfish Program here, including twelve news stories in 2010 alone!

In 2011, REEF will expand our Grouper Moon Project study of endangered Nassau Grouper spawning aggregations. We will use state-of-the-art oceanographic technology to track larvae released from Little Cayman’s large spawning aggregation. We will also take advantage of the dynamic nature of real-time satellite tracking investigations to build an exciting web-based education and outreach program aimed at promoting the management and conservation of these spawning aggregations.

Please support REEF and the critical work we do by donating generously. 

On behalf of all of us at REEF, thank you for your support and your investment in REEF’s future – we couldn’t do it without you!

Best fishes and happy holidays,

Paul Humann

President, REEF Board of Trustees

P.S. As a special thank you, individuals who make a contribution of $250 or more will receive this signed 11×14 limited-edition print of a spectacular Coral Grouper.