I am writing to find out if any of your members would be willing to donate images for use in the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)'s new invertebrate/algae monitoring program. REEF is a non-profit organization that coordinates volunteer monitoring of marine life (mostly fishes). Scuba divers and snorkelers conduct visual surveys during their dives and report their sightings to a central database (www.reef.org/data/database.htm). We are starting a new program for invertebrates and algae in California and we need images to use in our training and outreach programs. Unfortunately we do not have the funds to pay image use fees, but we can provide a one-time tax-deductible donation credit of $50/image. Photographic credit will be given and we will do our best to prohibit unauthorized use.

Species that we are in need of images for are:
oarweed - Laminaria farlowii
southern sea palm - Eisenia arborea
northern sea palm - Pterygophora californica
red rock shrimp - Lysmata californica
southern staghorn bryozoan - Heteropora pacifica
northern staghorn bryozoan - Diaperoecia californica

I would very much appreciate it if you could distribute this request to photographers who might be willing to assist us in this effort.

Thanks in advance,
Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Ph.D. <</span>christy@reef.org>
Director of Science
Reef Environmental Education Foundation