REEFJAM - Celebrate the Reef!

Reef Jam 2012 Flyer

Melanie — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:58:11 +0000

Click here to download and print the Reef Jam 2012 flyer (8.5×11)

Click here to download and print the Reef Jam 2012 poster (11×17)

Thanks for helping spread the word!!!

What to Expect (click)

Melanie — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:29:55 +0000

Come out to our 5th musical fundraiser to Celebrate the Reef!

Shake your banna to live music by:
2:00 – 4:00 – Kurt Schindler, island vibes meets alternative rock
4:00 – 5:30 – High School “Reef Rap” competition
6:00 – 10: – Fyah Train, high energy reggae

St. Croix Environmental Association will be organizing TONS of FREE GAMES AND ACTIVITIES for kids and families in the Reeftivity Zone including
1:00 – 2:00 Sand Sculpture Contest
2:00 – 3:00 Snorkel Clinic
3:00 – 4:00 Dissections – Squid, Lionfish & Tilapia
4:00 – 5:30 Reef Rap on the main stage
5:45 – 6:00 Beach Clean Up

Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Adult and Kids Kayak Races
HUGE Raffle Prizes (generator anyone???)
Lionfish Derby (pre-registration by May 25th required call STXEEMP at 340-718-3367 for details)

Fun and informative booths from community organizations like

St. Croix Recycles
The Nature Conservancy
Bushtribe Eco Adventures
Friends of the St. Croix East End Marine Park
STXEEMP – EcoVan
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge
Teres Veho Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Coral Conservation Corp

This GUARANTEES to be the biggest and best Reef Jam yet, so
STAY TUNED TO FACEBOOK AND OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS!!!

$5 Basic Entry

$30 Entrance Package
Package includes: entrance, 2012 T-shirt, recycled Reef Jam tote, and a reusable Reef Jam cup

No coolers please!

Reef Jam is a grass-roots, non-profit organization with a mission to “encourage marine conservation and stewardship through community education and outreach.” All proceeds from the annual musical fundraiser will be used to support local marine education and conservation efforts on St. Croix.

If you want to learn more, be a food vendor, volunteer or make a donation to Reef Jam, please contact Janelle Schindler at 643-6095 or email ReefJamSTX@gmail.com. You can also check our website, www.ReefJam.com and follow us on Facebook.

Reef Jam is sponsored through generous support from Bellows International, Coors Light, H&H Tire, West End Water Sports, The Buccaneer, KSS Entertainment, Gallow’s Bay Hardware, Above the Cliff, Kurt&Janelle Schindler, Melanie L. Feltmate and Rhythms at Rainbow Beach.

Reef Jam is a project of St. Croix Environmental Association

Reeftivity Zone Schedule (click)

Melanie — Sat, 12 May 2012 20:12:32 +0000

Lynnea Roberts, Education Coordinator of St. Croix Environmental Association has lined up another out-of-this-ocean, fun-filled, family Reeftivity Zone, and it’s all FREE!!!

In the middle of a tilapia dissection - COOL!

1:00 – 2:00 – Sand Sculpture Contest-Bring your tools to create fun and unique scupltures

2:00 – 3:00 – Snorkel clinic for school-aged children to adult - Beginners to experienced welcome – gear, instruction and lifeguard provided

3:00 – 4:00 – Squid & Tilapia dissections - Who said “Gross!” and “Cool!” can’t be in the same statement? We’ll look at the inards of these marine creatures and learn fascinating details about their body structures

4:00 – 5:30- Reef Rap- On main stage. A high energy high school competition where students perform original songs about the coral reef.

5:45 – 6:00 – Beach clean-up

Kayaking at Reef Jam

Janelle — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:19:26 +0000

Bush Tribe- Kayaking Races For All Ages! Bush Tribe will be organizing a race at Reef Jam with prizes for winners. Get your face painted at their information booth and learn more about Eco-Adventures.

Kayaking is a wonderful way to enjoy our waters without having any negative impact on the environment. Bush Tribe offers adventure packages on St. Croix where you can snorkel, kayak the bio-luminescent bay, or take a guided hike. Visit their website at bushtribe.com.

$10.00 minimum donation for Kayaking Race with cool prizes!

1:00 -2:00 Face Painting

2:00 -4:00 Kayaking Race

4:00 Prizes Awarded

Raffle Prizes

Janelle — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:04:59 +0000

This year we have some great prizes for you!

For ONLY$5 you could win…

Generator- Donated by Gallows Bay Hardware

Includes 8-120V outlets, 12V DC auto/marine battery charger jumper cables, 12V battery charging plugs and cables, 12V cell phone charging/automobile accessory adapter, and a L14-30 240V twist lock receptacle
13 HP (401cc) engine
3 year or 300 hour limited warranty with 24/7 tech support
Maintenance free brushless alternator with low harmonic distortion provides clean power
Backlit digital diagnostics displays: voltage, frequency, accumulated run time, and maintenance alerts.
Never-go-flat wheels and integrated handle bars
Low oil shutdown, low oil warning, change oil reminder message
12V jumper cable plug and cables
Fast acting breakers
Oversized muffler and vibration dampeners for quiet operation
11 hr run at 50% load

Two Round-trip tickets on Seaborne Airlines- Donated by Seaborne Airlines

Week End stay at the Palms at Pelican Cove- Donated by the Palms at Pelican Cove

$50.00 Gift Certificate to Dashi- Donated by Dashi

2 Passenger Sunset Sail- Donated by Bilinda Charters

1/2 Day Sail for Two- Donated by Big Beards

Pendant, Earring, and Bracelet from the Reflections collection at Cruzan Gold- Donated By Cruzan Gold

$25.00 Gift Certificate from Off the Wall- Donated by Off the Wall

2-$20.00 Gift Certificates from Eat at Cane Bay- Donated by Eat at Cane Bay

$50.00 Gift Certificate from Gone Tropical- Donated by Gone Tropical

Bottle of Single Barrel CruzAn Rum - donated by Cruzan Rum

$50.00 Gift Certificate from BushTribe- Take an Eco-adventure tour Restrictions apply- Donated by BushTribe

Snorkel trip for 12 from Dive Experience- Donated by Dive Experience

2- Tickets on Cape Air- Donated by Cape Air

Volunteer Sign Up Party!

Melanie — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:19:36 +0000

Sunday April 15th from 3-8pm at Rhythms at Rainbow Beach!

Come enjoy live music by Kurt Schindler, raffle prizes, Vote for Martin’s Chest Contest! And much more.

It’s ON! The FIFTH Annual REEF JAM will be Sunday, May 27th!!! (click)

Webmaster — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:32:06 +0000

Come to Rhythms at Rainbow Beach on Sunday May 27^th from 1-10pm for REEF JAM, the biggest celebration of coral reef and the marine environment in the V.I.!

Reef Jam is hosting its fifth annual event to “encourage marine conservation and stewardship through community education and outreach.” For only $5, attendees get to listen to live music, enter in to tons of raffles throughout the day, as well as a whole line-up of FREE reef-related activities for the whole family in the Reeftivity Zone!

Lionfish Derby (click for more information)

Melanie — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:25:23 +0000

Being sponsored by Friends of the St. Croix East End Marine Park

Please call 340-718-3367 with questions

Download/print the Derby poster and help spread the word!

REEF JAM 2012 LIONFISH DERBY

Coordinated by

The Department of Planning and Natural Resources

Benefiting Reef Jam & Friends of the STXEEMP

“Taming the lion in the USVI Seas”

Derby Details:

Help tame our USVI seas by participating in the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) first Lionfish Derby and Lionfish “Cuisine Sampler”which will help control this invasive species population. There is a $15 registration fee per participant (includes entry to Reef Jam).

Participants will not be considered registered until waiver and entry forms have been signed and registration fee is paid.

Participants’ meeting at Luncheria Courtyard from 5:30pm to 6:30pm is encouraged for all participants. There will be a briefing on safe collection and handling procedures for lionfish. *Each participant must fill out a liability waiver and submit it before or at the Derby Participants’ meeting.
You may dive and/or snorkel while hunting.
Lionfish may be taken by pole-spear, slurp gun,or hand net. No chemicals are to be used.
- Fishing must be done in accordance with territorial and federal fishing rules and regulations (i.e. NO fishing in NO-TAKE areas of the St. Croix East End Marine Park; NO fishing, extraction or possessionwithin Buck Island boundaries).
- Lionfish caught must be kept on ice in a cooler to preserve the fish and also to neutralize the venom. It is up to the hunters to cut the poisonous dorsal spines off and count the lionfish before presenting them to the judges.
- All lionfish must be caught the day before and the morning of the Derby. DPNR reserves the right to use the lionfish for the cook-off taste sampler at Reef Jam. In the event of a tie, the winning participant will be determined by the earliest recording of its lionfish at the Scoring Station.
- The Lionfish Derby is an honor system tournament; anyone found violating Derby Rules will be disqualified from receiving any prize.
- Proceeds will benefit Reef Jam and the Friends of the St. Croix East End Marine Park.

For more information please contact the St. Croix East Marine Park at 340-718-3367 or

the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 340-773-1082

***Remember, their spines are poisonous, so BE CAREFUL!!!

RULES:

ALL participants must be registered by Friday, May 25, 2012 (one person per registration)

Derby starts at 6:00 am Saturday, May 26^th and ends at 12:30 pm Sunday, May 27^th
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST ARRIVE AT REEF JAM FOR WEIGH IN BETWEEN 1 PM AND 3 PM
No fish will be weighed in after 3 pm
All fish MUST be brought on-site to Reef Jam on ice, in cooler, or in an ice bag.
NO FROZEN LION FISH WILL BE ACCEPTED
ALL territorial and federal laws and fishing rules and regulations apply
MUST BE pre-registered and Entrant must be present at Reef Jam to qualify for winning prizes!

Prizes for:

Most lionfish caught
Biggest lionfish (length)
Smallest lionfish (length)

REGISTER AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

ANCHOR DIVE CENTER	CANE BAY DIVE SHOP	DIVE EXPERIENCE
N2theBLUE	SCUBA	STXEEMP OFFICE

Lionfish Biology and Venemology

Understanding of Risk

Overview

Lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) are members

of the scorpionfish family native to the Indo-Pacific. They are now also found in waters throughout the Western Atlantic from Rhode Island through the Bahamas, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish are predators reaching a size of more than 470 mm and reproducing year-round in the southern portion of their Atlantic range. They also posses venomous spines and potentially present both ecological and human health risks. Significant study, public education/outreach and control efforts are now being planned and implemented throughout the region.

Venemology

Lionfish spines, like those of many other scorpionfishes, contain venom. Spines located within the dorsal, ventral, and anal fins contain venomous tissue along the length of the spine. A sheath or ski

n covers the spine and glandular tissue which, when exposed in the act of punctu
re, releases venom into the wound. Severities and reactions to stings can vary, however lionfish stings are not known to be lethal. Reactions to venom typically include localized, moderate to severe pain and swelling, which normally subsides within hours and with first-aid treatment. Complications or increased severity of reactions could result from allergic reactions or severe punctures. Heat and time reduce the effect of this venom. As with any wound, cleaning and sterilization of the affected area is important to prevent infection.

Participation

There is a likelihood of coming in contact with a lionfish during this activity (Lionfish Derby) and therefore the possi
bility of being stung. All contact with lionfish, direct or otherwise, is voluntary in nature as is participation in this project, knowing the venomous nature of the subject.

Acknowledgement

I understand these risks and am willing to take part in the Lionfish Derby anyway, and indicate such acceptance through my initials on the Lionfish Derby registration form.

Quick Lionfish Facts from Reef.org

Invasion history

Two visually identical species of lionfish were introduced into the Atlantic via the US aquarium trade beginning in 1980’s
Lionfish invaded range is NC to South America including the Gulf of Mexico
Lionfish have established throughout most of the Caribbean in less than 3 years (first reports outside of the Bahamas in 2007)

Biology

Lionfish may live longer than 15 years reaching sizes exceeding 47cm (~20 in.)
Lionfish inhabit all marine habitat types and depths (shoreline to over 600’)
Lionfish possess venomous spines capable of deterring predators and inflicting serious stings and reactions in humans
Lionfish become sexually mature in less than 1-year and spawn in pairs
In the Caribbean a single female lionfish can spawn over ~2 million eggs/year
Reproduction occurs throughout the year about every 4 days
Lionfish eggs are held together in a gelatinous mass
and are dispersed at the ocean’s surface by currents, where their larval duration is ~30 days

Ecology

Lionfish can reach densities over 200 adults per acre
Lionfish are generalist carnivores that consume >56 species of fish and many invertebrate species, with prey exceeding half the lionfish’s body size
Many lionfish prey are commercially, recreationally, and ecologically important
Lionfish populations can consume > 2.1 kg (4.5 lb) of prey/ hectare/day
On heavily invaded sites, lionfish have reduced their fish prey by up to 90% and continue to consume native fishes at unsustainable rates
Native predators exhibit avoidance for lionfish
Lionfish have very few parasites compared to native species
Lionfish exhibit site fidelity

Control

Lionfish are edible and considered a delicacy
***NOTE: Recent studies have shown that lionfish may have ciguatera, so please take caution until more conclusive studies come out
Local removal efforts can significantly reduce lionfish densities

Stand Up Paddle Boarding at Reef Jam (click)

Melanie — Tue, 24 May 2011 10:09:32 +0000

Teres Veho to bring -Stand Up Paddle Board demonstrations, lessons and races!

Stand Up Paddle Boarding is a fun and easy sport that originated in Hawaii. With a growing community in the USVI and the need for additional sustainable recreational activities, Teres Veho is one of the few operators on island that offer Stand Up Paddle Board Experiences. You can see them at Limin Beach Cantina, around the Pier, Altoona Lagoon etc. They offer lessons, daily rentals, SUP Fitness, customized SUP Safaris and SUP Parties for kids/adults.

Come to Reef Jam, Celebrate the Reef by trying out a fun yet sustainable activity and get more info on upcoming SUP events on St. Croix.

*Sign up is required due to limited number of boards.

*Kids will be required to take a short lesson prior to getting on the board.

Big Thank You (click)

Janelle — Fri, 06 May 2011 00:09:44 +0000

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors and supporters!

Reef Jam would like to thank our sponsors, donors and volunteers. We appreciate all your support!