R e e f E n v i r o n m e n t a l E d u c a t i o n F o u n d a t i o n

P r o t e c t i n g M a r i n e L i f e T h r o u g h E d u c a t i o n , S e r v i c e a n d R e s e a r c h

REEF NOTESREEF NOTESFALL/WINTER 2001

REEF Board of TrusteesPaul H. Humann, founderMarine life author and photographer

Ned DeLoach, founderPresident,New World Publications

James P. Dalle PazzePartner,Herdeg, duPont,and Dalle Pazze, LLP

Dr. James BohnsackSenior Fisheries Biologist,National Marine Fisheries Service

Gina GreenDirector,Caribbean/Latin America,The Nature Conservancy

David TaylorExecutive Editor,Rodale Scuba Diving Magazine

REEF Advisory Board

Billy CauseyDr. Ken DeaverKalli de MeyerDeena Wells Stephen FrinkProfessor Robert GinsburgDr. Steven GittingsWolcott HenryWilliam HornPeter HughesDr. Tom IsgarJennifer LashDr. Carol LorenzKen MarksChris OstromDr. Emily Schmitt-LavinDr. Edwin SteinerDr. Kathleen Sullivan SealeyAnne Walton

REEF StaffLaddie AkinsExecutive DirectorLeda CunninghamOffice ManagerDr. Christy Pattengill-SemmensScientific CoordinatorAlex ScoreEducation/Outreach CoordinatorLeslie WhaylenField Operations Coordinator

IN THIS ISSUEDirector’s CornerRecent REEF Happenings:

New Additions to REEF’s Monitoring Efforts, Boy Scout Jamboree, Chevron Award, GAFC, Annual Sustainer’s Event & Advisory Board Meeting, and SSE

REEF Science News and MPA NewsMember Article and Intern ReportThe Numbers and Details

Contributions, Field Survey Schedule, Survey Counts, REEF Field Stations

NEWSFLASH!REEF Headquarters Relocates to Its Own Building

The new REEF headquarters.

Celebrating REEF’s new home with Chairman of theBoard, Paul Humann are (pictured from left) Alex Score(Education and Outreach Coordinator), Leslie Whaylen

(Field Operations Coordinator), Leda Cunningham(Office Manager), and Shannon Lyday (Fall ’01 Intern).

Thanks to a successful capitalfundraising campaign, REEF hasacquired a new home. Attend-ing the closing on September14th were Chairman of theBoard Paul Humann, staff mem-bers Alex Score and Leda Cun-ningham, and intern ShannonLyday. In mid-October, the REEFmigration south (approx. 8miles) of computers, scan forms,and REEF paraphernaliaoccurred. Stay tuned in to thisstory as it unfolds in the nextedition of REEFNotes.

Effective October 15, our phone number will change to

305 852-0030

REEF in Brief - What’s New

In collaboration with otherconservation organizations, REEFhas developed two additionalcomponents to the Fish SurveyProject: a Pacific NorthwestInvertebrate monitoring programand a Sea Turtle SightingsProgram.

In science and monitoring, REEFhas been busy with new papers,scientific conferenceattendance, documenting arange expansion, and excitingdiscoveries during SSE dives.

In August, REEF received theprestigious Chevron ConservationAward.

GAFC 2001 was a great successwith over 90 seminars and 1500surveys submitted from100 surveydives held throughout the US andfour Caribbean countries.

REEF and the National MarineSanctuary System created edu-cational materials for the 2001Boy Scout Jamboree.

The annual REEF Sustainer’s Eventand Advisory Board Meeting washeld in June. REEF member,Audrey Smith, was namedVolunteer of the Year.

Lately, it seems that the wave of marineconservation energy is beginning toreach a critical mass. For most of ourknown history the underwater environ-ment has been hidden from view andtherefore hidden from the forefront ofconservation action. Now on all levels, aflurry of environmental activity is gainingmomentum . From the grassroots publicall the way up to the Office of thePresident, those concerned are looking very closely at current environmentaland fisheries practices.

Within the last 5 years, marine conservation success stories have made nationalheadlines. We have seen the establishment of the first no-take zones in theFlorida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; President Clinton’s Executive Orderdesignating the formation of the Coral Reef Task Force and its subsequentrecommendation to protect 20% of our coral reefs by the year 2020; theestablishment of the first large no-take marine reserves, nearly 160 square miles,as part of the Dry Tortugas Ecological Reserve; and a host of management planreviews that are beginning to look at no-take marine reserves as one of themost forward thinking measures of protection available.

However, even with all of this new momentum, the wave could still dissipate.Despite successful partnership efforts between government and localstakeholders to establish acceptable management plans for threatenedfisheries, recent movements and legal wrangling by special interest groups haveforced the rescinding or modification of marine reserve measures. Such tacticsto curtail the conservation momentum are causing the wave to back updangerously high.

Of course we all know that managing the entire ocean on a species by speciesis impossible. The immeasurable and poorly understood relationships amongspecies, and between species and habitat, turn the equation into a spider webof complexity.Your efforts, however, can help move effective conservation andvolunteerism efforts forward. Make your voice heard and become involved inocean conservation issues. REEF Fish Survey Projects, the Great American FishCount, REEF Field Surveys, and other projects enable you to gather data helpingto support our understanding and preservation of underwater environments.They also help show those in decision-making positions that the support foreffective conservation is not going away and that constituents now knowfirsthand what is working and what is rhetoric. Keep the wave moving and keepon diving!

Best Fishes,

Laddie Akins

DirDirector’s Corector’s Cornerner

q

July. Not true!!! REEF needs dedicated fishwatchers all yearround! So, while you’re waiting for the next GAFC to comearound, attend a REEF fish ID seminar, practice your fish-watching skills, keep doing surveys and join us next year!The planning will soonbegin for 2002! Formore infor-mation onthe GAFC, visit thefishcount website atwww.fishcount.org.To learn more aboutthe REEF Fish SurveyProject visitwww.reef.org.

REEF Goes tothe Boy ScoutJamboree! Every four years, thousands of scouts converge at Fort AP Hill,Virginia, for the National Boy Scout Jamboree. During the 10-day Jamboree, scouts have the opportunity to experiencemany activities such as scuba diving, rappelling, archery andkayaking. This year’s Jamboree took place July 23-Aug. 1 andover 32,800 boyscouts and nearly 8,000 staff members attended.

At this year’s jamboree, REEF and the National MarineSanctuary System teamed up to develop educationalmaterials for scouts visiting the scuba and snorkelingactivities area. Posters were developed showcasing four ofthe National Marine Sanctuaries—Florida Keys, Flower GardenBanks, Channel Islands and the Hawaiian Islands HumpbackWhale Sanctuary—and illustrating fish that are commonlyfound. Posters were placed throughout the scuba area anda card similar in design was given to each scout to takehome. For the scuba or snorkel experience, each scoutentered one of four pools representing a designated sanctu-ary. The dive instructor for each pool welcomed the scouts tothe designated sanctuary and once in the pool, scouts weregiven a chance to try out the scuba or snorkel equipment.Plastic underwater photos of fish buoyed by a float wereplaced within each sanctuary pool giving the young visitorsthe illusion of a real dive or snorkel. Not exactly the realthing… but you get the idea!

Additionally, all of the participating national marinesanctuaries donated such items as posters, lapel pins, videos,nature guides, T-shirts, dive flags etc. to be given away duringthe Jamboree. It was a great event!

We hope through this experience, the scouts gained anappreciation of the value and beauty of our National MarineSanctuary resources. Most of all, we hope they had fun,learned a fish or two, and will become future fish-watchers!To find out more about the Boyscout Jamboree visitwww.bsajamboree.org. To learn more about fish in theSanctuaries, visit www.reef.org/sanctuaries.

Divers and Snorkelers Makethe GAFC a Great Success!This year, the Great American Fish Count was bigger andbetter than ever! Over 90 seminars and 100 dives werescheduled throughout thenation and Caribbean! ManyGAFC dives were conductedwithin National MarineSanctuary areas with kick-offevents held in Stellwagen Bank,Florida Keys, Channel Islandsand Monterey Bay. We estimateover a thousand divers andsnorkelers participated this yearand over 1500 surveys werecompleted during the Julyevent. In just one year, the GAFChas grown by more than 300%!

This could not havebeen achieved withoutthe hard work anddedication of all thosewho organized a GAFCevent in their area andthe many individualswho participated.Congratulations toyou all!

The GAFC had a newtwist this year, the GAFCChallenge! Those diversconducting a REEF fishsurvey during sanc-

tioned GAFC dive events were entered into a grand prizedrawing. Sponsors for the Grand Prizes included REEF FieldStations: Southern Cross Club on Little Cayman,www.southerncrossclub.com, and Aqua Safari,www.aquasafari.com, in Cozumel, Mexico.

Congratulations go to Gijs van Hoorn of Bonaire who wonthe grand prize to Little Cayman and Tina Fisher of TierreVerde, FL who won the package to Cozumel.

Regional prizes were also award-ed. Sponsors included Dive Trainingmagazine, Bonica Precision Inc.,REEFNet, New World Productions,Divers Direct of Key Largo, andspecial limited edition prints byPaul Humann and Tom Isgar. Aspecial thanks goes out to all ofour sponsors whose support helpedmake this year’s GAFC event ahuge success.

The GAFC occurs every year forthe entire month of July. The eventserves to educate, inspire andencourage divers and snorkelers tocomplete fish counts not onlyduring the month of July but allyear round. Many people believethey can only do fish counts during

REEF NOTESREEF NOTES

Ron Richman, a PADI Instructorwith "The Dive Shop" in TucsonArizona conducting a GAFCfish survey in the Gulf ofCalifornia at Lighthouse divesite next to Isla San PedroNolasco. Photo by Ren Hicks

Members of The New England AquariumDive Club participated in a GAFCChallenge dive at Fort Weatherill, locatedin Jamestown, Rhode Island.

GAFC participants on their way todo a fish survey in new areas withinthe Channel Islands NationalMarine Sanctuary.

Volunteers for the HawaiianIslands Humpback WhaleNational Marine Sanctuarycomplete REEF's survey scanforms after their GAFC dive.

Volunteers from the Poulsbo Marine ScienceCenter survey at Point White Pier onBainbridge Island,WA.

qPacific Northwest Invertebrate Monitoring A new invertebrate monitoring program will serve as a companion to the exist-ing fish monitoring program for the Pacific Northwest. The project grew from apartnership between REEF and the Living Oceans Society, a non-profitorganization based in British Columbia committed to the preservation of marinebiological diversity and creation of sustainable fisheries through the establish-ment of a network of marine protected areas and ecosystem management.(For more information, visit www.livingoceans.org). The Living Oceans Societywas an important partner in REEF's initial expansion to the area, and thanks tothe urging of Pacific Northwest surveyors eager to learn more about thesefascinating spineless creatures and the work of Living Oceans Society indeveloping the program, the invertebrate program became a reality in thesummer of 2001.

As part of the new program, invertebrates are monitored using the sameRoving Diver Technique survey method used in REEF fish surveys and the dataare scanned into the existing REEF database that is accessible on REEF’sWebsite. Specifically, 44 invertebrates are being monitored using either the fourabundance codes (Single, Few, Many, Abundant) or ‘Present,’ depending onthe species. Species that tend to be present in aggregations rather than asdiscrete individuals, such as sand dollars and strawberry anemones, are recordedas ‘present’ if seen during the dive rather than assigning an abundance cate-gory. Divers can now conduct a fish survey, an invertebrate survey, or bothduring each dive. The list of invertebrates included is available athttp://www.reef.org/data/pac/invertsp.htm.

New survey materials have been created, along with a new training curriculummodule, "Introduction to Identification of Pacific Northwest Invertebrates," written byLiving Oceans Society. Survey and training materials are available through our on-

line store or from REEF HQ. Please feel free to contactREEF with any questions about this new program.

REEF would like to extend a big thanks to the LivingOceans Society for leading this effort, to Susan Francis and Dana Haggarty for putting together agreat training curriculum, and to the following local photographers who donated their images:Rick Harbo, Rob McMurty, Steve Horvat, Marli Wakeling, Dana Africa, Mikael Eriksson, Tony Cohen,Susan Francis, Karlista Rickerson, Aaron Tinker, David Haggarty, and Carol Valkenier.

HAPPENINGSHAPPENINGS && UPDAUPDATESTES

A Pacific Northwest REEF surveyor,Jan Honda, observing a lingcod.

Photo by Kirby Johnson.

Jewfish Now Called Goliath Grouper

Earlier this year, the committee responsiblefor naming fish in the Americas changedthe common name of the largestAtlantic grouper species from jewfish togoliath grouper. It is a rare change bythe Committee of Names of Fishes of theAmerican Fisheries Society, which hasresisted altering common names of fishunless according to society rules thenames "violate the tenets of good taste."

The origin of the name jewfish isunknown; however, the Committee feltthat a name change was warrantedgiven that some may find it offensive.REEF will begin using goliath grouper inour online materials and will change thename on printed survey materials duringthe next reprinting.

To read the AFS decision, visit www.fisheries.org/fisheries/F0105p31.PDF.

The giant nudibranch is one of the 44 invertebratesbeing monitored as part of the new program in thePacific Northwest. This spineless wonder can grow to10", can be variable in color from white to gray to red,and is distinguished from others by the many long,branched gill tufts. It is a predator of tube-dwellinganemones and displays an incredible stalking behavior- the nudibranch will rear up and literally pounce intothe tube, emerging with a mouth full of tasty tentacles.Photo by Mikael Eriksson.

As REEF’s survey effort con-

tinues to expand, many

additional ideas have arisen

regarding the use of volun-

teers for underwater data

collection. While REEF's main

focus is marine fish, two

additional components

were incorporated into the

Fish Survey Project through

collaborations with other

organizations. In the

summer of 2001, an inverte-

brate monitoring program

for the Pacific Northwest

and a sea turtle sighting

program were launched.

REEF Adds New Components to the Fish Survey Project

HAPPENINGSHAPPENINGS && UPDAUPDATESTESSea Turtle Sightings Program As part of its expansion to Hawaii earlier this year, REEFincluded green sea turtles (healthy and those afflictedby fibropapilloma tumors) in the survey protocol. Incollaboration with Seaturtle.org, REEF has recentlydecided to include sea turtle sightings in all of its regions.

What do I do if I see a turtle during a REEF dive?Applicable in all regions, REEF surveyors are now askedto include sea turtle sightings as an additional species onthe back of the survey form. If the turtle can beidentified to species its common name and/or scientificname should be given, otherwise the surveyor shouldjust mark 'Sea Turtle sp.' The same abundance codesshould be used (S,F,M,A) for this program. In Hawaii andthe Caribbean, additional information on green seaturtles with Fibropapillomatosis (FP) tumors is also beingrecorded.

Modified version of the sea turtle identification card. Visitwww.reef.org/data/seaturtle.htm to download the complete product.

Why sea turtles?1) It is well known that sea turtles are increasingly threat-

ened as their populations continue to decline.Unfortunately, as with all aspects of the marine environ-ment, scientists and resource managers simply do nothave the means to adequately monitor the status anddistribution of sea turtles. Sighting data provided by theRoving Diver Technique will be useful and valid.

2) The search image for turtles is compatible with that offish and most, if not all, divers who see a turtle whilediving regard it as a significant find and make a note ofit on their slate and in their dive log.

3) Seaturtle.org will provide a means to manage and dis-seminate the information to the sea turtle researchcommunity.

What will happen to the sea turtle data?The data will be housed in REEF's database.This fall, a sea turtle interface will be createdto allow visitors to view summary reports similarto those generated for fish. ThroughSeaturtle.org, Dr. Michael Coyne will alsoprovide the data to the sea turtle researchand conservation communities.

Who is Seaturtle.org?Seaturtle.org is a non-profit organizationbased in Maryland whose mission is to supportresearch and conservation efforts in the seaturtle community by providing online resourcesand solutions. Seaturtle.org’s founder andExecutive Director, Dr. Michael Coyne, worksfor NOAA’s Biogeography Program and isREEF's Database Programmer. For moreinformation visit www.seaturtle.org.

How can I get started?Created by Seaturtle.org, a sea turtle identifi-cation card will be posted on REEF’s websiteand distributed with REEF survey kits.

The loggerhead sea turtle is one of six sea turtlesfound in the Caribbean, and one of the most likely

to be encountered by REEF surveyors. It is distin-guished by its large head and the somewhat

humped, reddish brown shell.

b

Aloha from Maui! Since the official Hawaii launch of REEF thispast February, REEF has been gaining momentum in the Islands.Since February, Project S.E.A.-Link has been conducting frequentsurveys involving the Maui community and Hawaii Coral ReefNetwork members. Many local dive shops and tour operators(Pacific Dive, Maui Dreams, Ed Robinson’s Diving Adventures,Mike Severns Diving, Trilogy Excursions to name a few) havebecome local partners and participated in the first officialHawaiian Great American Fish Count this July.

Among the sightings included the ubiquitous yet often difficultto identify parrotfishes, or "uhu" as they are referred to in Hawaii.Parrotfishes belong to the Family Scaridae, and there are sevenspecies in Hawaii that include three endemics.

Most beginning REEF surveyors will agree that the parrotfish familyis a collective identification nightmare, with color patternsdiffering within as well as between species and according tosex and age. Some species can even change their patternsand colors at will! As frustrating as this may be to a REEF surveyor,the ecology behind the source of frustration is quite interesting.Parrotfish are protogenous ("first female") sequential hermaphro-dites, with some individuals beginning life as females thenchanging into terminal-phase males with altogether differentcolors and patterns. These ex-females then enjoy the benefits ofharem ownership, while the initial-phase males (which are smalland match the females’ drab coloration) must resort to moresneaky tactics for procreation.

Any REEF member will recognize that this family’s commonname is derived from the bright coloration of the terminal-phase males and the characteristic "beak" possessed by allparrotfish. However, the Hawaiian family name "uhu" requiresfurther explanation. It means "loose bowels," and refers to thefact that parrotfish are often seen nonchalantly excreting massquantities of sand as they swim about the reef. Parrotfish are infact the dominant biological sand producers on coral reefs, dueto a herbivorous feeding specialization that allows them toingest, grind up, and excrete coral rock as sand while extractingalgae in the process.

This reef fish family is also featured prominently within old Hawai-ian legends.According to Hawaiian scholar Mary Pukui Kawena,it was said that the behavior of the uhu could tell a fishermanwhat his wife was doing at home…"if the uhu capered andfrolicked in the water it was a sure sign of too much levity…if twouhu seemed to be rubbing noses, it was a sure sign that therewas flirting going on at home." In addition, a wily person wasreferred to as a "slippery uhu."

While Hawaii may only have half the number of parrotfishspecies as the Caribbean, its cultural affinity to the uhu certainlymakes up for the reduced diversity! What’s more, the uhu arearguably the most conspicuous and charismatic of Hawaii’sreef fish, since the Hawaiian angelfishes are typically smaller andless impressive visually than their Caribbean counterparts.Hawaii’s seven species of parrotfishes are the Stareye, Bullet-

Hawaiian ParrHawaiian Parrotfish…otfish…Not YNot Your Tour Typical Fish Storyypical Fish Story

by Liz Foote, Executive Director, Project S.E.A.-Link (REEF Hawaii local partner)

MEMBER ARMEMBER ARTICLETICLE

Hawaii’s spectacled parrotfish.

head, Palenose, Redlip, Spectacled,Yellowbar and Regal; thelatter three are endemic to the Islands. Most are quite common,particularly the Bullethead & Palenose, although the Yellowbaris more abundant in Northwest Hawaiian Islands and is rarelyencountered in the main islands. Of the endemic species, theSpectacled is the most common and is profiled below.

Spectacled Parrotfish (Chlorurus perspicillatus) Identification characteristics: Terminal Phase: uhu uliuli ("dark")• Terminal males with lavender blue-edged bar across forehead (the

"spectacles")• Terminal males w/ blue-green body with anterior orange-pink dots &

posterior orange-pink edges on scales; bright yellow mark at base ofpectoral fin

Initial Phase: uhu ‘ahu’ula ("feather cape")• Initial phase males & females dark reddish to grayish brown with redfins & broad white bar at base of caudal fin extending into fin; can dis-play series of pale blotches along the back

Chevron Conservation AwardOn August 22nd, REEF was the honored recipient of a 2001Chevron Conservation Award, the nation’s oldest and mostprestigious tribute celebrating achievement in environmentalprotection. Since 1954, the award annually recognizes theoutstanding contributions of individuals and organizations to theconservation of natural resources. REEF was one of 6 recognizedfrom the more than 300 applicants nationwide at theSacramento, CA ceremony. REEF directors and staff acceptedthe award during a formal awards gala held in the Golden StateMuseum. More than 200 distinguished guests attended the event.

Sponsored by Chevron since 1996, the $10,000 award recognizesoutstanding citizen volunteers, professionals and nonprofitorganizations for protecting our air, water, land and wildlife. Thisrecognition plays an important role in motivating people tocontinue their conservation efforts. An important factor in thesuccess of honorees, and of all nominees of this program, is theirability to work effectively with diverse organizations to achieveconsensus and meet difficult environmental challenges inpractical ways.

"Recognition of these achievements and a sharing of ideaseducates and inspires others to preserve natural resources," saidB.J. Griffin, one of five distinguished conservationists on the panelof judges selecting award winners.

REEF members David Preston and Carol Lorenz nominated REEFfor the award early this spring. Recognition for REEF’s internationalFish Survey Project and a focus on the groundbreaking work inpartnership with NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Programprovided a strong foundation for the independent judges’decisions. In recognizing the REEF program, judges made it clearthat the involvement of REEF’s volunteers in protecting marineresources was key to their decision making. Funding from theaward will play an important part in helping to establish a newREEF Marine Conservation Center in Key Largo. Way to go REEFmembers!

SCIENCE UPDASCIENCE UPDATETEREEF has been keeping busy in thescience and monitoring department.Here are some highlights:

• In May, REEF’s Scientific Coordinator,Dr. Christy Pattengill-Semmens,attended the annual EnvironmentalMonitoring and Assessment Program(EMAP) meeting in Pensacola. Shepresented a paper on the successof REEF’s partnerships, which will bepublished in an upcoming issue ofthe EMAP Journal.

• In July, Brice and Christy Semmensattended the Society forConservation GIS meeting in BorregoSprings, CA. Christy presented'Utilizing GIS in the REEF Fish SurveyProject,' highlighting two REEF GISprojects - the work of Chris Jeffreyand NOAA’s Biogeography Officewith the FKNMS data and theconcept of developing a SpeciesDistribution Atlas with tropicalwestern Atlantic REEF data. Brice'spresentation, 'Habitat MediatedBehavior in Reef Fish,' featuredresults from a pilot study conductedin the Bahamas last summer investi-gating home range size in blue tangover different habitat types. REEFreceived a ConservationTechnology Support Program grantfrom the society last year to assist inGIS applications of REEF data.

• A new paper about the benefits ofthe REEF Fish Survey Program, titled"Learning to See Underwater," waspublished in the March issue of theUnderwater Naturalist. A PDF versionis available on REEF’s website.

• During this year’s Sustainable SeasExpedition, REEF Executive DirectorLaddie Akins and Advisory BoardMember Dr. Steve Gittings conductedfish surveys during submersible andSCUBA dives. While diving off Belize,Steve witnessed an amazing site ofhundreds of snapper (mostlycubera) in a spawning aggregation.While diving off the Yucatan coastof Mexico, Laddie found what arebelieved to be three new species.Experts are currently evaluatingimages of a bass (Serranus sp.), achromis (Chromis sp.) and a hogfish(Decodon sp.).

Marine Protected Area NewsREEF believes that Marine Protected Areas(MPAs) are an important tool for the pro-tection of marine ecosystems, and weurge our members to stay informed ofMPA initiatives and funding issues. In eachissue of REEFNotes, the MPA News featurebrings you recent and noteworthyhappenings.

Aid for Fish at Risk:the Fisheries Recovery Act

Managing from crisis to crisis —unfortunately, this has been thehistorical approach toward oceanresources by the United Statesfisheries management agencies.A new bill introduced in July byRepresentative Sam Farr, the FisheriesRecovery Act (HR 2570), willhopefully change that. The act wasintroduced on the heels of a reporttitled Fish at Risk, released by theMarine Fish Conservation Network(of which REEF is a member), whichrevealed that 31 US-managed fishspecies are at risk of extinction. Thelist included many species that REEFsurveyors look for — canary rockfish,lingcod, ten species of Atlanticgrouper (including the goliath, theNassau, and the black), and thethorny skate. Additionally, 107 of thefish stocks that are federallymanaged are overfished or areapproaching overfishing.

How have we reached this point?

While a lack of scientific knowledgeabout fish life history, under-fundedfishery observer programs, and a lackof ecosystem focus all contribute, thetwo biggest contributors are likelybycatch and habitat destruction.

• Bycatch: Each year, 2.7 billionpounds of non-targeted oceanwildlife are wastefully killed in the USalone and it is estimated that one-fourth of the world’s catch is thrownback as bycatch.

• Destructive Fishing Practices: Anarea about twice the size of thelower 48 states is dredged ordragged by bottom trawling vesselsannually in US waters, often destroy-ing habitat essential to juvenile fishes.

What will the FisheriesRecovery Act do?

The Fisheries Recovery Act of 2001will change fish management law to:• Stop overfishing,• Avoid the killing of non-target

ocean wildlife,• Protect ocean food webs,• Protect fish habitat from damaging

fishing gear and practices,• Reform the Regional Fisheries

Management Councilmembership process,

• Fund the introduction of lessdamaging fishing gear and prac-tices, and

• Fund improved research andreporting, including fisheriesobservers.

What can you do?

To take action to protect, conserveand restore our marine resources,please write, call, or fax yourRepresentative and tell them tocosponsor HR 2570, the FisheriesRecovery Act of 2001. For more infor-mation visit the Marine FishConservation Network's website atwww.conservefish.org.

Bycatch is the result of non-selective fishing equipmentthat does not discr iminatebetween desired fish and thosethat are too small to sell or eat,are of l imited commercialvalue, or are illegal to keep.Shrimp, tuna, and swordfishfisheries have particularly highamounts of bycatch.

You can join REEF's member list serve

by visiting www.reef.org.

Third Annual Event Celebrates REEF’s Success On June 2nd REEF advisors and supporters once again gathered at Paul Humann’s "Mango Manor" to talkfish and reflect on REEF’s successes of the previous year. The third annual Sustainer’s Event was hosted byHumann and Ned and Anna DeLoach and sponsored by ScubaBun Enterprises. The day’s activities includedthe staff’s annual report of REEF happenings and presentations on REEF projects by four REEF partners.

Speakers included Craig Faunce from Florida Audubon who spoke aboutthe development of a new volunteer fish monitoring program in Floridamangroves based on REEF’s program; Bill Horn of the Florida Fish andWildlife Conservation Commission who presented three programs wherethe agency is currently using REEF’s data and programs; Chris Ostrom fromthe National Marine Sanctuary System who provided an overview of theTeam Ocean project; and Tracy Hamilton from the Florida KeysCommunity College who presented their efforts to involve divers from thecollege to monitor the upcoming artificial reef, the USS Vandenberg.Once the afternoon wrapped up, the evening festivities kicked off with acocktail party, a dinner catered by Jacksonville’s Happy Chefs, a raffle fordoor prizes, and a slide presentation featuring new additions to the thirdedition of Reef Fish Identification, which is due out later this year. Theevening was highlighted with the presentation of REEF’s Volunteer of theYear Award to Audrey Smith.

REEF Member Audrey Smith Named Volunteer of the YearFor over two years, Audrey Smith has been an invaluable addition tothe REEF team. Volunteering two days each week in the Key LargoREEF office, Audrey is responsible for keeping track of inventory, ship-ping orders, organizing the office, membership, and much, muchmore. Formerly a 5th grade teacher in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania forover 30 years, she and her husband, Ken ("Smitty"), relocated to theKeys after retirement in 1998. Audrey became SCUBA certified 5 yearsago and enjoys diving throughout the Caribbean as well as in her

backyard, the Florida Keys. TheREEF Boards and Staff would like toextend a special thanks to Audreyand the countless other volunteerswho help make REEF a success.

REEF Internship Molly Myhr, one of two REEF interns for the summer of 2001, arrived at REEF from Memphis, Tennessee in lateMay. Molly will graduate in May 2002 from Vanderbilt University with a B.S. in Biology. Over the summer withREEF, Molly quickly got involved in conducting fish surveys primarily with Lisa Canty, REEF’s other summerintern. She also conducted numerous surveys on a trip to Grand Cayman’s East End in mid-June.Throughout the summer, she aided the Florida Audubon’s Mangrove Ecosystem Research Project (MERP)conducting fieldwork and fish surveys in the Florida Bay mangroves. Molly periodically helped in the effortsof a dolphin ecology project learning about dolphin habitats and feeding patterns with a local dolphinresearcher, Laura Engelby. Molly plans to continue her education in the biology arena after graduatingfrom college, possibly focusing on a career in veterinary medicine.

REEF’s other summer intern, Lisa Canty, is a Florida native. Born and raised in Orlando, Lisa has visited manybeaches along the coast of Florida but loves nothing better than theaquamarine waters of the Keys. Nearly every summer she and her familyspend a week in Marathon so Lisa relished the opportunity to becomefamiliar with a different Key this year. Lisa is a recent graduate of theUniversity of Hawaii at Hilo. She has a B.A. in marine science and plansto tackle an M.S. degree in the same field someday. . . but not just yet.With experience being the best teacher of all, Lisa wants to have a littlemore under her belt before making any big decisions. REEF has givenher a good start! In addition to her 30-something fish surveys, Lisa hasbeen volunteering at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, dol-phin monitoring with Laura Engelby, and had the opportunity to meetSylvia Earle when the Dry Tortugas was proclaimed an ecological pre-serve this past July.

REEF NOTESREEF NOTES

Audrey Smith, REEF’s Volunteerof the Year.

Kitty Philips, Julie Dutcher, and JimDalle Pazze at Mango Manor.

REEF’s 2000 Annual Report is available online at

www.reef.org/annual00.pdf.

Lisa and Molly, Summer ’01 interns.

REEF NOTESREEF NOTESFairy Basslet Sighted in Florida Keys On June 5, 2001, Leslie Whaylen, Molly Myrh, and Lisa Canty conducted fish surveys with LadyCyana in Islamorada. After the first morning dive Captain Rick suggested Alligator Reef asthe second dive site. With the LC III moored on the most western ball on Alligator Reef,Leslie, Molly, and Lisa entered the water and began their fish count. Sighting glasseye snap-per, blackbar soldierfish, and a large school of glassy sweeper at the first ledge, Leslie calledREEF interns Molly and Lisa over to see the fish. As Leslie peered under the ledge, she soonforgot all about those species and instead focused in on a tiny purple and yellow fish, hangingupside down under the ledge. A Fairy Basslet! Screaming into her regulator, Leslie hurriedlypointed to the basslet to show her dive buddies and then swam off in pursuit of underwater photographers. Finding two diverswith cameras, she cajoled them back to the ledge anxious to have photographic evidence of this rare discovery.

Often mistaken for the similarly colored juvenile Spanish hogfish, fairy basslets have never been reported in Florida. Althoughboth bluish purple and yellow in coloration, the basslets can be simply distinguished from the Spanish hogfish. While the yellowon the back half of the Spanish hogfish continues onto the stomach, the yellow color on the fairy basslet is demarcated on avertical axis from the purple color. Their differing behaviors and habitat also lend clues. Juvenile Spanish hogfish are cleanerswhen young and as mature adults, they patrol a territory along the reef.

Frazier Nivens of Ocean Imagingphotographed the fairy basslet

at Alligator Ledge.

Sustainable Seas Expedition 2001The Sustainable Seas Expeditions (SSEs) are a path breakingpartnership between the National Geographic Society andthe U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) to explore the United States’ last frontier: the ocean.The five-year program has been investigating, conductingresearch in, and promoting the 13 U.S. National MarineSanctuaries, which range in size from a tiny bay in far-offAmerican Samoa to a 5,328-square-mile (13,800-square-kilometer) expanse of ocean off the California coast. Famedocean scientist and National Geographic Explorer-in-ResidenceSylvia Earle serves as the project’s director, and formerNational Marine Sanctuaries program director FrancescaCava oversees its day-to-day operations. Funding is providedby a five-million-dollar grant from the Richard & RhodaGoldman Fund.

With the help of a revolutionary one-person submersible calledDeepWorker, the expedition’s scientists have been documentingthe plants and animals that inhabit the uncharted regions ofthe sanctuaries. REEF’s involvement in SSE missions began inyear one and has continued each year with fish surveys andassessments at numerous sanctuary sites.

This year’s missions, dubbed "Islands in theStream", explored protected and non-protectedcoral reef and hard bottom communities—the"islands" —of Belize, Mexico and the UnitedStates, as well as the currents—the "stream"—that connects the different habitats. The LoopCurrent, its associated gyres, and the Gulf Stream connectunderwater communities throughout the Gulf of Mexico, aswell as those in the western Atlantic along the coast of Floridaand Georgia. Beginning off the coast of Belize, the expeditionteam followed the clockwise "stream" along the eastern edgeof the Yucatan Peninsula, into the Flower Garden BanksSanctuary off Texas, continued downward along the westcoast of Florida, through the Florida Keys Sanctuary, and willcontinue up the east coast of Florida, and conclude off NorthCarolina in the Monitor Sanctuary.

REEF Director Laddie Akins took part during dives in two loca-tions in Mexico and in the newly established EcologicalReserves in the Dry Tortugas. The focus was to explore fishassemblages in these deeper areas of Mexico and to revisitsites from last year in the Tortugas Reserves. Lad’s first Mexico

dive was on the southern end of Chinchorro Bank. Over 75species of fish were documented including four potentiallyundescribed species. The second Mexico dive was on thesouthern end of Cozumel, at a site known to scuba divers asMaracaibo Reef. Forty-four species were documented in thisarea on a 5-hour dive to over 500 feet. Most notable in theMexico dives were the unique soft corals at 500 feet and thelack of grouper at depth.

The two dives in the Tortugas provided high contrast to theMexico dives. A 140-foot dive on the northwestern edge ofSherwood Forest in the Tortugas North reserve found anabundance of species that were not present at all in theprevious year. The change in species composition reflectedmostly planktivores including yellowtail reeffish, sunshinefish,school bass and chalk bass. Other researchers conductingwork in the area have expressed concern over nutrient ladenupwellings over the last year. The presence of these abundantplanktivores may well be a result of a change in currentpatterns and could lend stronger evidence to the theory.Numerous nets, lines and other shrimp trawling gear were alsofound draped over the corals on the short ledge. Heavy fishingpressure may well account for the low number of grouperspecies in the area.

The final dive in the Tortugas was a 5 hour 45 minute foray intothe Millers Ledge area of the Tortugas South reserve. Thirty-twospecies were documented, and the species closely reflectedprior year’s data. Abundant roughtongue bass dominated thefauna and many large scamp congregated around the top ofthe ledge. Red Snapper and Greater Amberjack were alsoseen, though less frequently than in the previous year. Thegreat abundance of grouper in this area strongly substantiatesthe establishment of the Tortugas Reserve

Data from these dives and other SSE fish survey dives conductedby Steve Gittings in Belize and Emma Hickerson in the FlowerGarden Banks and West Florida Shelf are now posted on theREEF website in the deep purple offshore sections of theGeographic report. Data will be used in establishing currentbaselines of these areas as well as for comparison to datacollected in future years. Online dispatches live video andaudio links, and chat rooms have enabled ocean enthusiaststo share in the aquanauts’ voyage of discovery. To followactivities of the Islands in the Stream SSE Missions, visitthe new NOAA website, NOAA Ocean Explorer, athttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/.

REEF Website Provides Members a Wealth of Resources

REEFREEF NOTESNOTES

by James P. Dalle Pazze, Esquire

Individual gifts to REEF by its members andother supporters are its lifeblood.There are no mem-bership dues and without donations REEF would beunable to sustain its operations. REEF takes greatpride in the extremely high percentage of its fundsthat go to its programs and activities. That successattests to the dedication of its staff and volunteersto the mission of REEF.

This article provides a summary of the morecommon types of charitable gifts available and thetax benefits they can provide to you. You shouldkeep in mind, however, that your primary reason forcontributing to REEF should be the benefit you willbe providing to the ocean environment and to thefurtherance of REEF’s programs and activities. Thetax benefits are important, but hopefully aresecondary to the goals and motivations that inspireyou to help REEF carry out its mission.

Opportunities for gifts to REEF, all of which canreduce your income taxes, include traditional gifts ofcash or personal property (such as computers andoffice equipment) as well as more sophisticatedarrangements that can provide significant economicbenefits to you and to REEF.

Cash Gifts. Gifts of money (by check, of course) areREEF’s most important source of support.You receivean income tax deduction equal to the amount ofyour gift.

Gifts of Equipment and other Personal Property. Giftsof computers, printers, photocopies, scanners, andother office equipment are very helpful to REEF andgenerate an income tax deduction for you general-ly equal to its value.

Gifts by Will. Gifts of money and of personal proper-ty can also be made by will. These gifts, of course,are effective at your death and so do not cost youanything during lifetime. But they are a huge bene-fit to REEF. There is no estate or gift tax on anyamount you leave to REEF, and so you are benefit-ing REEF while reducing your estate taxes.

To make such a gift, all that is needed is lan-guage in your will similar to this: "I give andbequeath to Reef Environmental EducationFoundation of Key Largo, Florida, for its general use,the sum of ____________ dollars." If you prefer thatyour gift be used for a particular program, thefollowing language is appropriate: "I give andbequeath to Reef Environmental EducationFoundation of Key Largo, Florida, for use in its [FishSurvey Project] if it is in operation at the time of mydeath, otherwise for its general use, the sum of_________________ dollars."

Charitable Trusts. Two types of trusts are availablethat allow you to make donations to REEF whilekeeping a significant economic advantage foryourself and your family members. The first is a chari-table remainder trust. You make a gift to the trust

which then pays you (and such family members asyou might choose) an annuity each year (or morefrequently) for the rest of your lifetime or for a setnumber of years if you prefer. At the end of the timeperiod, the trust terminates and whatever remains init goes to REEF. You get a substantial income taxdeduction in the year you fund the trust (generatingeven more savings for you) and the cash or proper-ty you put into the trust will escape estate and gifttaxes.

While this technique is a win-win for you and forREEF, it is especially valuable if you have stocks thathave appreciated greatly and would generate alarge capital gains tax if sold. The trust is tax-exemptand can sell the stocks without any tax, leaving allof the proceeds available to generate a largerreturn for you than the stock has been paying.

The charitable lead trust is the mirror image ofthe charitable remainder trust. You contribute cashor other assets to the trust and it pays an annuity toREEF for the number of years you select. At the endof that term, the assets in the trust are distributed toyour family members as you instructed when youcreated the trust.

The charitable lead trust is a great technique ifyou have a large sum you want to leave to childrenwho are too young to handle it today. The trust canallow you to provide a huge benefit to REEF, giveyou a significant income tax deduction each year,and then give the funds (assets) to your childrenonce they are older.

You can create these two types of charitabletrusts either during your lifetime or at your death (byutilizing your will). Each method has specific advan-tages in addition to those discussed above. If youare interested in creating a charitable remaindertrust or a charitable lead trust for REEF, please con-tact Laddie Akins at REEF Headquarters.

Bargain Sales. A type of charitable gift that is sur-prisingly straightforward but immensely helpful tocharities such as REEF is the bargain sale. This is sim-ply a sale of property to REEF at a reduced price.The amount of the price below fair market value isthe amount of your contribution and is deductible.

The following is an example of a typical bargainsale. You own land that you bought for $200,000and which is now worth $300,000. You sell it to REEFfor $200,000, put the $200,000 in your pocket, pay notax on the sale (because you sold it for the sameamount as you originally paid for it), and get a$100,000 income tax deduction to boot!

The advantage to REEF is that it gets propertyworth $300,000 for a price of $200,000. REEF canthen either keep and use the property or sell it andkeep the "profit" (in this case, $100,000) for its generaluse. This technique is used usually for either realestate or big ticket personal property items such ascomputers, boats, or cars.

Charitable Gift Annuities. A charitable gift annuity isa gift of money or property in return for annual pay-

CONTRIBUTIONS TO REEF – HOW YOU CAN HELPCONTRIBUTIONS TO REEF – HOW YOU CAN HELPments by the charity back to the donor, usually forthe balance of his or her life. This provides thedonor with some economic return, and is particularlyhelpful where the gift is property that is not generat-ing much, if any, income to the owner. The charitycan sell the property without tax. The amount ofthe donor’s income tax deduction is equal to theamount of money (or fair market value of the prop-erty) given to REEF minus the value of the annuity tobe paid to the donor. The value of the annuity iscalculated based upon the age of the donor andthe amount of each annual payment he or she willreceive from REEF.

Gifts of Remainder Interests. A useful but unusualgift is a gift of a remainder interest. This is a gift ofproperty that is "made" today but is actually"delivered" at the time of your death. You continueto own and use the property until your death, butat that time it automatically goes to REEF.

So how is this any different than a gift made inyour will? The difference is that this gift is completewhen you sign the papers, whereas a gift in your willis not effective until your death and can bechanged or revoked by you at any time until then.Your benefit for a remainder interest gift is twofold:you get an income tax deduction today, usuallyequal to a very high percentage of the property’svalue (and so save substantial income taxes today)and the property avoids estate and gift taxes atyour death.

Pooled Income Funds. A pooled income fund is acollection of donations from many different donorsthat is held by the charity. The charity pays interestback to the donor based upon the amount thedonor gave and the investment performance ofthe fund. In addition to the payments you getback from REEF, you get an income tax deductionequal to the actuarial value of your gift to the fund.

One of the big benefits of the pooled incomefund is its simplicity. The creation of the fund is (orhas been) done by the charity. REEF is in theprocess of establishing a pooled income fund. Formore information, please call Laddie at REEFHeadquarters.

Not all of the benefits noted in this article are equal-ly applicable to all individuals. For example, differ-ent individuals are in different tax brackets, someindividuals do not itemize deductions, and theestate tax is not applicable to all estates. Consultyour own tax advisor whenever you have questionsin this regard.

If you would like to know more about any ofthese giving opportunities, please email Laddie(lad@reef.org) or Leda (leda@reef.org) or callREEF headquarters at 305-852-0030. They will behappy to help you learn more about plannedgiving as you consider ways to help REEF. They willalso be glad to speak with your tax advisor aboutany questions he or she has. Reprints of this Articleare available from REEF.

In addition to housing our database, the REEF Website featuresmany online resources that we want you to know about-• Member Forum with Member Articles, Fish of the Month,

Favorite Fish Spot features, the Field Survey Log, IdentificationArticles, and a Cool Fish Sighting page*

• Data Reports that include summaries of your data, geographicdata, species distributions, comparisons among areas, anddiversity

• Discussion Board• Fish Gallery and Quizzes• Online Store where you can securely purchase ID books, REEF

gear and survey materials

Have you been to www.reef.org lately? As REEF’s Web presence,we are continually adding to and improving the content of oursite to better serve you, our members. Just over a year ago, REEFlaunched its revamped site and new data reporting programs.And now we want to hear from you. If you haven’t already,please take time to explore the site and then let us know whatyou like, suggestions for additions, what you think about the datareports, and any other comments you may have. Please sendthem to webmaster@reef.org. Thanks!

*We are always looking to add new features to our MemberForum. Please consider writing up your favorite fish spot or a fish-watching experience. We look forward to hearing from you.!!

REEF 2002 Trip ScheduleREEF Field Surveys are your opportunity to take a vacation thatcounts! These week-long diving adventures are not only fun, buteducational and environmentally important. And there is nobetter way to improve your fish identification skills.

Dates, lodging and diving accommodations are given for eachtrip. Prices do not include airfare. An additional $200 REEF fee willbe added to each trip to cover the cost of the trip leader(s),seminars, and survey materials needed throughout the week.The $200 REEF fee is tax-deductible since REEF is a nonprofitorganization.

Visit the REEF website for the complete schedule or contact theREEF office. You can call Dive Reservations, Inc. at 888-363-3345(toll free) or e-mail them at reef@diveres.com to learn moreabout a specific trip or to reserve a spot.

REEF Field SurveysFebruary - MauiMarch - Grand Cayman (East End)April - Long Island, Southern Bahamas

with Stella MarisMonterey Bay 4 day weekend

May - Chinchorro Bank, Mexico with Maya Ha

June - GuanjaJuly - Little Cayman with Southern Cross Club

Flower Garden Banks NMS Research Expedition

August - Midway Island, NW Hawaiian IslandsKey Largo, coral spawning

September - British ColombiaVenezuelaChannel Islands NMS with Truth Aquatics

October - Baja, Mexico with Don JoséNovember - Grenada

REEF Discovery TourNovember - Puerto Rico, led by Paul Humann

FIELD SURFIELD SURVEY & STVEY & STAATIONS TIONS

USA and Canada Field StationsCaliforniaRiverside - Scuba Schools of America 909-689-2422ConnecticutNew England Ski & Scuba LLC 860-872-0013FloridaBonita Springs – Eagle Ray Dive Center 941-992-2237Islamorada – Lady Cyana Divers 800-221-8717Juno Beach - Marine Life Center 561-627-8280Key Largo- Diver’s Direct Outlet 305-451-8034Key Largo – Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort 305-451-3595Key Largo – Horizon Divers 305-453-3535Marathon – FL Keys Nat'l Marine Sanctuary 305-743-2437Riviera Beach – Jim Abernethy Adventures 561-691-5808HawaiiHonolulu - Midway Phoenix Corporation 808-599-5400Kailna.Kona – Eco Adventures 808-329-7116LouisianaNew Orleans – 504-276-4887REEF Field Station of Northern Gulf of MexicoMichiganAnn Arbor – Huron Scuba Adventures 734-994-3483MinnesotaRochester - MDC Sports 507-288-8802New JerseyBelle Mead - The Scuba Connection 908-359-1250New MexicoSante Fe - Akumal Dive Adventures 505-992-3333TexasLancaster – Island Time 972-227-6678WashingtonSan Juan – Emerald Seas 360-378-5040Vancouver - Thunder Reef Divers 360-573-8507Vancouver - Ocean Odyssey Scuba Center, Inc. 360-883-2621Canada, AlbertaLethbridge – Anderson Aquatics 403-328-5040Canada, British ColombiaVictoria – Living Oceans Society 250-920-0733

Overseas Field StationsArubaParadera - Windie’s WaterSport 297-87-2281BahamasNassau – Custom Aquatics 242-362-1492BelizeM/V Wave Dancer (Peter Hughes Diving) 800-9DANCERSeasports Belize 501-2-35505BermudaBermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo 441-293-2727BonaireKralendijk- Buddy Dive Resort 599-717-5080Kralendijk – Plaza Resort Bonaire 599-717-2500Kralendijk – Green Submarine 599-717-2929Kralendijk – Sand Dollar 800-288-4773British Virgin IslandsTortola – Baskin in the Sun 284-494-2858Cayman IslandsLittle Cayman - Southern Cross Club 345-948-1099HondurasUtila – Utila Lodge Resort 504-425-3143MexicoCozumel - Aqua Safari 529-872-0101La Paz - Baja Quest 521-123-5320Chinchorro – Maya Ha 529-831-0065Netherland AntillesCuracao – Curacao Sea Aquarium 0599-9-461-6666Puerto RicoCulebra – Reeflink Divers 787-742-0581Rincon - Oceans Unlimited 787-823-7436Turks and Caicos M/V Wind Dancer (Peter Hughes Diving) 800-9DANCERM/V Sea Dancer (Peter Hughes Diving) 800-9DANCERProvidenciales - Big Blue Unlimited 649-946-5034US Virgin IslandsSt Croix – St Croix Ultimate Blue Water Adventures 340-773-5994St Thomas – Aqua Action Dive Center 340-775-6285VenezuelaPuerto La Cruz - Horisub 58-81-814878Los Roques – M/V Antares (Peter Hughes) 800-9DANCER

REEF’s Field Survey to Utila in June 2001.

Field Stations are instrumental as a center for dissemination ofREEF information and materials. Field Stations regularly promoteand teach Fish Identification Courses, organize dives builtaround fish watching and taking surveys, promote REEF mem-bership, and serve as a distribution center for REEF materialsand survey forms.Visit the REEF website for direct links and more information onREEF’s Field Stations.

REEF’s Discovery Tour to Bonaire in July 2001.

Visit the online Field Survey Log to read past trip reports:www.reef.org/member/forum/fslog.htm

J

REEF members Bob Grist, Doug Harder,and George Owens enjoying themselves

on the Belize Field Survey.

Glover's Reef, Belize Field Survey Participants- Capt. Pete, Doug Harder, George Owens,

Ralph Dickerson, Cathy Coughlin, SusanCable, Diana Reischel, Norris Boone, Bob

Grist, and Christy Semmens.

SURSURVEYVEY NUMBERSNUMBERSTWA(Tropical Western Atlantic)

Over 100 Laddie Akins (715)Linda Schillinger (585)Joe Thomas (457)Deena Wells (448)Leslie Whaylen (445)Christy Semmens (393)Jean Kirkpatrick (378)Cathy Coughlin (356)Sheryl Shea (310)Emily Schmitt Lavin (300)John Pitcairn (300)Peter Leahy (274)Edwin Steiner (271)Monty Doyle (256)Brice Semmens (237)Judie Clee (237)Clive Petrovic (234)Ken Deaver (228)Ken Marks (224)Elaine Morden (221)Joyce Schulke (211)Patricia Ayers (195)Ann Knollenberg (190)Carol Lorenz (185)David Preston (184)Jessica Armacost (173)Tom Isgar (171)Darlene Gehringer (169)Jerry Ligon (163)Will Ruggles (163)Douglass Rankin (162)Bruce Purdy (159)Doug Rorex (156)Julie Overing (149)Randy Keil (135)Linda Baker (134)Clint Whitaker (127)Barbara Modafari (121)Betsy Saunders (116)Douglas Harder (116)James Brooke (113)Pamela Bezuidehout (107)Bob Bishop (106)Cindy Snell (105)Jim Morabito (104)Kathie Comerford (100)Don Buck (100)

Over 50Hilary Harder (99)Currier Randall (98)Carol Reichert (98)Denise Mizell (97)Margaret Cowin (96)Mark Kaehler (95)Tracy Siani (93)Chris Koepfer (91)Kitty Philips (89)Dr. Stephen Gittings (88)Carol Whitaker (88)Andy Dehart (87)Shelley Tyre (85)Jim Modafari (84)Kathleen Scott (83)Greg Bunch (82)Dave Grenda (82)Kirsten Bassion (80)Pamela Cefaratti (80)Jean Gasen (77)Robyn Osborn (77)Kern Spencer (77)Paul Humann (76)Tony Sebastian (76)Lorraine Sommer (76)Cheri Arnold (75)Neil Ericsson (75)Connie Bishop (74)Kris Wilk (74)Scott Fowler (71)Rick Halpern (70)Lauren Penner (69)Karen Garcia (69)Karen Florini (66)Dave Downs (64)Monica Vega (63)Connie Dolan (62)Janet Earnshaw (62)Jacquie Tinker (61)Ditte Preker (60)Gail Tomei (60)Edgar Tomei (60)Robert Antonelli (59)Marjorie Nelson (59)Rhian Lewis (58)Cassandra Weith (58)Ralph Dickerson (58)Charles Hersey (58)Richard Hitt (58)Corinne Halberg (58)Pug Pugliese (57)Anthony Kajfez (56)Brenda Hitt (56)Anna Deloach (55)Woody Brooks (53)

Brenda Berliner (53)David Mulvey (53)Chuck Jirka (52)Jane Rorex (52)Michael Phelan (52)Audrey Smith (52)Noreen Downs (52)Julie Dutcher (52)Glen Thiel (51)Jonathon Tromm (51)Tracy Hamilton (50)Over 25Robert Winters (49)Jonathan Edwards (48)Donella Wilson (47)Sara Thomas (47)Sandra Percell (47)

Dennis Schneider (46)Todd Aikins (46)Cristi Korbeck (44)Joseph Froelich (44)Walter Briney (43)Peter Rennemann (43)Sanford Robbins M.D. (43)Eric Riesch (42)Lillian Kenney (41)Steve Ganon (41)Kathy Aguilar (41)Robert Grist (39)Mike Chambers (39)Robert Burnett (39)Patricia Chandler (38)Emma Hickerson (38)Shawn Edwards (38)William Horn (38)Ann Outlaw (38)Joe Meyer IV (38)Denny Lutz (37)Donna Gerrard (37)John Kelly (37)James Vaughn (37)Michele Vaughn (37)Linda Meyer (37)Mark Springer (36)Ed Gerrard (36)Wade Bevier (36)Robert Draper (36)Wes Nicholson (36)Kathleen Gunderson (35)Jo Ann Nucifora (35)Muns Farestad (34)Lynn Hubert (34)Kandie Vactor (34)Jeana Hodges (34)Brett Sussman (33)Gibran Tuxpan (33)Joseph Thomas (32)Melissa Keyes (32)Kevin Buch (32)Eddie Gerrard (32)Jill A. Mashburn (32)Jose Kirchner (31)Robert Schauer (31)Karel Cantelar Ramos (31)Arnold Walker (31)John Stuart (31)Steve Boutelle (30)Kevin Henke (30)Tim Gurney (30)Mark Bailey (30)Tony Ramirez (30)Beth Bruton (30)Jesse Meyer (30)Gijs Van Hoorn (30)Katia Pronzati (30)Melody Hamilton (30)Gary Lenning (29)Ronald Moss (29)Mark Messersmith (29)Van Duncan (29)Cathy Springer (28)

Bob Bonanno (28)Edward Sullivan (28)Denny Howley (28)Stephen J Vinitsky (28)Sascha Steiner (28)Barbara Kirchner (28)Patricia Pachuta (28)Roxanne Chavanne (27)Cassandra Warn (27)Kathy Bonanno (27)Keith Phillips (27)Gustavo Vazquez (27)Christy Sims (27)Bryan Nichols (27)Pete Wyman (26)Blair Bertaccini (26)Rebekah Moore (26)Claudia Campos (26)Matthew S. Kendall (26)Leda Cunningham (26)Jeffrey Nehms (26)Belal Hansrod (26)Lisa Canty (26)Mark Mcalpin (26)Lana Smithson (26)John Lane (26)Jessica Lorek (25)Sharon Stockholm (25)Roger Stockholm (25)Susan Siegel (25)Kathleen Wean (25)Kristi Klomp (25)Roger Wiandt (25)Matt Hoelscher (25)Randy Holley (25)Dillon Harder (25)

PACIFIC

Over 100Rachid Feretti (141)

Over 50John Williams (86)Kirby Johnson (60)

Over 25Matthew Dowell (36)John Wolfe (29)Sarah Tamblyn (29)Kurt Steinbach (28)Christy Semmens (25)

TEP(Tropical Eastern Pacific)

Over 25Richard Baker (45)Kandie Vactor (38)

Reminder: please fill out surveys in pencil only and erase thoroughly

!!BRONZE SUSTAINERS($100 or more)NANCY ABELBARBARA ABELESDANA AFRICAMARY ALEXANDERROGER ANDERSONROBERT ANTONELLIBRUCE ASMUSSENKEN BAILEYBARRY BAINMARY LYNN BALLANTINEDAVID BARRBARBARA BAUCOMMICHEL BAUMEISTERCHRIS BEAMERDOUG BECKERIRA BELLRUSS BERGERDENNIS BERNIERPAUL BILODEAUBOB BISHOPDAVID BISHOPKENT BLUMBERGMARK BOARDMANMARK BOEHMNORRIS BOONEALLEN BOORSTEINCHRISTIN BOYDEDWIN BOYNTONMARGARET BRADLEYPHILLIP BRADLEYCHRIS & MARLA BRANASBECKY BRENNERWENDY BRODYANN BROOKEBETH BRUTONMICHAEL BRYANTDON BUCKSTEVEN BUNNJOHN BURDAKINW.D. BURROWSANGUS CAMPBELLKAREN CAMPBELLLYNN CAREYWAYNE CAWTHORNBEV CHADWELLMIKE CHAMBERSSTEPHEN CHANDLERALBERT L. CHAPINPARK CHAPMANANDREW CHESSONDOUGLAS O. CHINNRICHARD CHINNCHRIS CLARKWILLIAM S. CLINEROBERT COAKLEYJEFFREY CONEFRED CORNCOY CORRELLJOSEPH COULTER IIIBOBBY CRAVENWILLIAM CRAWFORDJONATHAN CREIGHTONBRUCE CUNNINGHAMMICHAEL DALEIDENSUSAN DASHERDAWN DAVISKENNETH J. DAVISBRUCE DICKSONCHARLES S. DIEDERICHROBERT DONALDSONMONTY DOYLEPIETER DYKEMABARBARA EATONDONN ELLERBROCKNEIL ERICSSONNAOMI ESMONDENA EVANSDON EVANSKEVIN FAGERMARTIN FARBER

LIZ FINLAYMIKE FINLAYGARY FINNJAMES L. FOGHTCHARLES FRIERSONDR. JULIAN FUERSTMICHAEL GAGLIANODR. BARRY GALISONKAREN GARCIALYDIA GARVEYDARLENE GEHRINGERFRED GENTRYROBERT GERZOFFANNE C. GIBSONLARRY A. GILBERTBOB GILLMANDR. STEPHEN GITTINGSBARBARA GOLDSTEINWILLIAM GOODALLPATRICE GOUVEIAASTOR GREENDON E. GREGORYJONATHAN GROSSTHOMAS GRUBBSDAVE HAGEMEIERCORINNE HALBERGSEYMOUR HALBERGDON HALLMICHAEL HANEYL.G. HANLEYGARY HARTSTEINDAVE HAUPTC. KEITH HAYDENGORDON HENDRICKSONCALVIN HILLKEITH HILLMARTA HILTONBRENDA HITTDIANE HOFBAUER DAVIDSONJAN HOFFMANCLARK G. HOGSETT JR.HUGH HOLLANDJERRY HOPKINSHARRY HOSTETLERGEORGE HOULDITCHWILLIAM HOWELLBERT HUBBYJOHN HUDSONTIM IAGUILLIFRED IMMERMANCLARENCE W. JANC. BRADFORD JEFFRIESJEFFREY JEWETTDAVID JOHNSONEDWARD JOHNSONDEBRA JOHNSTONBLAIR JONESBRANT JONESJOYCE KAYJAMES KEANEDEXTER KELLYTERRI KELLYMAJA KIETZKEBETH KLOPMANLOIS KONGJULIUS KOREIN ALISON KRUKBETH KRUSE KLOPMANROSEMARY KURTTICLAY LAFFERTYBOB LAMBERTONYVONNE LANINGJOHN LANZMICHAEL LAZARLINDA LE COMPTEPETER LEAHYMARIE LEBOEUF-BROM-LEYRUSSELL LEISNERBEVERLY LEONARDHELAINE LERNERJOANNE LIGHTNERGEORGE LINDLEY

BARRY LIPMANMARIA LOPEZCLOTILDE LUCECHIP LYNCHJAMES MAHONHERMAN MARGGRAFFJEFF MARTINTHOMAS MAWNSHARON MAYNARDJOHN MCGINNISTOM MCGOVERNWAYNE MCNABBRUCE MCNEILDIANA MCQAHAENANETTE MELLGRENALICIA MERELVICKI MILLSCHRIS J. MIMIDISBARBARA MODAFARISTEVE MONOSSONHARLEY MOODYJIM MORABITOALLEN MORRISJOHN MULDERDAVID NANK M.D.JAY NEWBYLEWIS NEWMARKDAVID M. NICKLENICHOLAS NOMICOSROBERT OTTENSJOSHUA PADDOCKJOHN PEEBLESRICK PELTIERMARY PIELFRED POLLACKJOE POMENTOVALORIE POWERSRICK RABELOU RADENHAUSENLAURIE RAIMERANN RAMSAYDOUGLASS RANKINGINA RAZETEROBERT REIDRICHARD RETHORSTCHRISTOPHER RIDDERMARK ROBBINANTHONY RODGERSDR. PAMELA ROEDAVID ROSESID ROSENJULIE ROSENFELDCAROL ROSSWILL RUGGLESJAY SALZMANDAVID SAYLESJEFF SCHEERSEBASTIAN SCHULHERRFRED SCHWETTMANNNANCY SEFTONROBERT E. SERVISART SHEALYJOHN SHUMATELARRY SIMPSONJAMES A. SINGLETON IIIJOHN SMITHSHERRILL SMITHSPENCER A. SMITHMAUREEN SMITTDAVID H. SOLOMON DDSSUZANNE STATONALISON STENGERDARCY STOTTLEMYERAUDREY STROJNYJOHN STUARTCYNTHIA SULLIVANKATHLEEN SULLIVANLAURA TAICHMANJOSEPHINE TEMPLETONMARGARET TERHARALAN THAYERJAMES THOMASJEFFREY TONN

NICHOLAS TORREJANET TREERRICHARD TRIMPIJIM VAZQUEZDANA VIHLENELIZABETH WAGNERLARRY WALKERDR. JOHN WARETOM WATSONJAMES WATTSVALERIE WHITINGTOM R. WICKSJ.F. WILSONJONATHON WILSONCLIVE R. WOODMARJORIE WYATTANNE YOUNGSTROMJACK ZERCHERDON ZIPERMAN

SILVER SUSTAINERS($250 or more)

CHERYL ARSCOTTRALPH DICKERSONMARTIN GIESECKEBRIAN HEATHMURRAY KILGOURDAVID MATTHEWSJOHN MCDONALDKITTY PHILIPSKEN PUGLISIPAMELA ROBERTSDOUG ROREXELLIOTT ROSSANTHONY RUELINDA SCHILLINGERA COLLADO SCHWARZPAUL WALUKEWICZDAVID WELLSSTUART E. WUNSH MDDICK ZINGULA

GOLD SUSTAINERS($500 or more)

PATRICIA AYERSMARK BACHMANNBRENDA BERLINERCLAY BIBERDORFWALTER BRINEYSHARON CHANDLERFRED INGHAMPATRICIA ORRNEAL RAKOVGREGORY ROCHE

PLATINUM SUSTAINERS($1000 or more)

DARCY CHARLIERMINDY COOPER-SMITHKEN DEAVERNED & ANNA DELOACHSTEVEN DINGELDEINMUNS FARESTADCARL FROSTDAVID HERROPAUL HUMANNBOB & JEAN KIRKPATRICKFRED MCCONNAUGHEYJOE & LINDA MEYER IVOLE & SHEILA PELOSOFEODOR U. PITCAIRNJOHN PITCAIRNDAVID PRESTON &CAROL LORENZWILLIAM SHEPPARDKENNETH SINIBALDIHILTON C. SMITH JR.ED & DORIS STEINERANNE WALTONDON & CAROL WHAYLEN

THANKTHANK YOUYOU

Above contributions are from 9-1-2000 to 9-1-2001. Please let us know if you find our records in error.

2001 GAFC partners/ sponsorsArizonaDesert DiversDesert Dolphins Dive ClubSan Carlos Yacht ClubSonoran Sea AquariumThe Dive shopArkansasCrawdaddy Scuba5-Star DiversBonaireBon-Bini Dive / Lions Dive ResortBuddy DiveHabitat Harbour VillagePlaza ResortSand Dollar ResortCanadaREEFNetCaliforniaCatalina Conservancy Research DiversChannel Islands National Marine SanctuaryDive N’ Surf Dive TeamDiving LockerMonterey Bay Sea Otter Dive ClubMonterey Bay National Marine SanctuarySan Diego Oceans FoundationUnderwater EndeavorsWest LA Sports Chalet Dive ClubColoradoOdyssey DivingFloridaAmy Slates Amoray Dive ResortCapt’n Corner Key WestDiga Dive ClubDive Pro’sDixie DiversDivers DirectFlorida Keys Community CollegeFlorida Keys National Marine SanctuaryGumbo Limbo Nature CenterHorizon DiversKey West Diving SocietyLloyds Baileys ScubaOrganization for Artificial ReefsOcean Watch FoundationREEF Field Station of the Northern Gulf of MexicoScuba AdventuresScuba Tech of Northwest FloridaScuba QuestTackle ShackThe Dive Center of SebastianTom IsgarGeorgiaAtlanta Reef Dwellers Scuba ClubIsland Dive CenterHawaiiEd Robinson’s DivingHawaiian Islands Humpback Whale NationalMarine SanctuaryKohala DiversMaui Dreams Dive CompanyMaui Ocean CenterMike Severn’s DivingOcean Sports, Inc.Pacific DiveProject S.E.A. LinkTrilogy ExcursionsLittle CaymanSouthern Cross ClubMassachusettsNew England Aquarium Dive ClubStellwagen Bank National Marine SanctuaryStellwagen Bank NMS Dive TeamMexicoAqua Safari, CozumelMichiganHuron ScubaNew HampshireUnited Divers of New HampshireNorth CarolinaAquatic SafariNorth Carolina Aquarium at Fort FisherOregonPacific Dive ClubPacific WatersportsPuerto RicoBuccaneer Diving TeamSouth CarolinaCharleston ScubaSouth Carolina AquariumTexasFlower Garden Banks National Marine SanctuaryWashingtonClub Paradise Oregon Scuba DiversEdmonds Underwater ParkFifth Dimension Dive CenterOcean OdysseyOlympic Pennisula Hammerheads Dive ClubPoulsbo Marine Science CenterTagert’s Dive LockerThunder Reef Divers

JJSurveying Coral Reef Fishes - $12A manual for data collection, processing and interpretation of fish survey information for the tropical northwesternAtlantic - a useful tool for any volunteer, this manual assists both the amateur and professional in contributing to the study of marine life.Code BKA

Reef Fish Identification Book - $39.95Florida, Caribbean and Bahamas, 2nd edition, a fish ID bookdesigned for divers, includes 670 photographs of 494 species.Code BKB

Reef Creature Identification Book - $37.95Florida, Caribbean and Bahamas - 478 color photographsillustrate the most common marine invertebrates sighted by divers.Code BKC

Reef Coral Identification Book - $32.95Florida, Caribbean and Bahamas - 375 color photographs will help you sort a stony coral from a gorgonian.Also includes 100 color photos of marine algae.Code BKD

Snorkeling Guide to Marine Life - $32.95 Florida, Caribbean and Bahamas - 280 color photos illustrate marine life seen in 15 ft. or less of water including corals, fish and invertebrates.Code BKE

Reef Fish Behavior Book - $39.95 Florida, Caribbean and Bahamas, has 475 marine life photos,many capturing spectacular fish behaviors never before documented. Chapters, including reproduction, life cycles,feeding, colors, camouflage and many more, help divers learn where and when to observe many of the most dramatic behaviors.Code BKF

Reef Fish Identification Galapagos - $34.95A comprehensive fish identification guide for the Galapagos Islands - the world's most spectacular natural aquarium. 260 beautiful color plates display the famous archipelago's fabulous fish life. This guide can also be used for Gulf of California divers.Code BKG

Coastal Fish Identification - $32.95California to Alaska - a comprehensive fish identification guide for the West Coast of North America.Over 250 colorful photos.Code BKH

In-a-Pocket Guides - $10 These new waterproof guides are a companion to Reef Fish Identification and fit right into your BC pocket! Contains over 100 color photos."Fish-In-a-Pocket" (Code FIP) and "Creature-In-a-Pocket" (Code CIP) available.

Reef Fish Identification CD-ROM - $39.95The ultimate fish ID learning tool with more than 1,600 images,interactive fish ID learning games, scientific pronunciation,virtual dives, fish finder, log book and more.Code CDF

Books and CDsBooks and CDs

REEF has an online store where youcan order supplies !

Visit www.reef.orgVisit www.reef.org..

Survey MaterialsSurvey MaterialsGet ready to count fish on your dive vacation!

REEF Starter Kit - $25 The basic kit for all fish-watchers. Contains REEF Underwater slate, waterproof fish ID card, underwater Fish-in-a-Pocket booklet,BC Tag,1 waterproof log sheet and 2 REEF ScanformsCode SKCAvailable also for Pacific area (with fish id card) - $15Code SKPTropical Eastern Pacific (with fish id card) - $15 Code SKTHawaii (with fish id card) - $15Code SKHNortheast (with fish id card) - $15Code SKNE

Survey Slate and Fish ID Card - $10.95Yellow fish ID slate has 60 spaces to list fish sightings and blank profiles to sketch "mystery fish". Includes attachable pencil and waterproof fish ID card with 30 photos of commonly sighted fish.Code SL

Underwater Paper - $0.60One sheet of double-sided waterproof paper - good for 2 surveys. Please specify region.Code UWP

REEF T Shirts - $15100% cotton T-shirt displaying the REEF logo on the back, underscored by "We Speak Fish". Sizes: M, L, XL Code CLT

*NEW* REEF Golf Shirts - $35100% heavyweight cotton pique short sleeved light blue with REEF logo embroidered on front. Sizes: M, L, XL Code CLG

REEF Caps - $15Six panel, 100% cotton deluxe pigment-dyed cap with embroidered REEF logo on front and "We Speak Fish" in semicircle over back opening. Available in 3 color combinations: Forest crown with Sand visor, Khaki crown with Forest visor, Khaki crown with Navy visor.Please specify color choice when ordering.One size fits all.Code CLC

OrOrder Infder Inforormamationtion

Code Description Quantity Price

____ _________________ ________ ______ ____ _________________ ________ ______ ____ _________________ ________ __________ _________________ ________ ______

Subtotal ______

Florida Residents add 7.5% Sales Tax: ______

Add $4.50 Shipping & Handling ______(plus $1 each additional item)

Total ______

Name_______________________________________________

Address_________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Email_____________________________

Phone ____________________________

Mail to: REEF, P.O. Box 246, Key Largo, FL 33037 or e-mail: reefHQ@reef.org

Reef Creature/Coral Identification CD-ROM - $39.95Learn to identify more than 500 reef creatures and corals as well as pronounce their names! Interactive learning games and more than 2,300 spectacular images add to the fun of this long-awaited CD-ROM.Code CDC

* NEW * 2nd EditionReefNet Fishes of the Caribbean and Adjacent Waters - $64.95More than 200 video clips, 1400 photographs,descriptions of nearly 500 species, and a customizable slide show.Code CDF2

REEF Caps - $15Six panel, 100% cotton deluxe pigment-dyed capwith embroidered REEF logo on front and "WeSpeak Fish" in semicircle over back opening.Available in 3 color combinations: Forest crown with Sand visor,Khaki crown with Forest visor,Khaki crown with Navy visor.Please specify color choice when ordering.One size fits all.Code CLC

OTHER REEFOTHER REEF

GEARGEAR

A For any communications contact REEF at: P.O.Box 246,Key Largo,Florida 33037 305-852-0030 • www.reef.org • e-mail: reefhq@reef.orgIf y If you w ou would lik ould like to help the r e to help the reefs and f eefs and fishes ishes,,please send in the coupon belo please send in the coupon beloww

with y with your m our much a uch appr pprecia eciated and tax deductible contr ted and tax deductible contribution! ibution!

I want to help REEF with its 2001 urgent preservation program! Please put my tax- deductible contribution to immediate use to extend your fine program to more areas to save the reefs we love.

_____ $20 _____ $30 _____ $100_____ $Other _____ $1000 Sustainers Club

Name _____________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________

City________________ State_________ Zip____________

Please charge my _____ VISA _____ M/C _____ Discover

acct # ___________________________ exp date ______

signature _________________________________________ phone # ________________________

P.O. Box 246Key, Largo, Florida 33037

Nonprofit Org.US POSTAGE

PAIDKEY LARGO, FLPERMIT NO. 57

REEFNOTES is printed courtesy of The Nielsen Comapny in Kentucky