Free Reef Fish Coloring Sheets

Want to get your budding marine biologists interested in marine life and conservation this summer. You can start with these FREE reef fish coloring sheets. Each sheet has important tips on the back for Reef Etiquette or other Tips for Protecting Coral Reefs. And they include nearly all the fish you will see when snorkeling on Kauai.

Where can you get these coloring sheets? Visit Lucid Publishing's website and leave our email address behind and they will send you a link to the free download. It's that simple! Don't forget to check out their award winning title, The Complete Hawaiian Reef Fish Coloring Book, a must have for summer vacation. You can't imagine all the color combinations that your kids will come up with!

Yellowtail Coris

Photo: Yellowtail Coris, Marty Wakat

The Yellowtail Coris is a beautiful fish! Lucky for you it is easy to spot at many locations on Kauai. The electric blue spots and the bright yellow tail are the dead giveaway for identification. The irregular green bands break up the rosy colored face. I love this fish! The Yellowtail Coris is especially common at South Shore Snorkel spots like Lawai Beach and Poipu Beach Park. So, be sure to look for it.

Photos: John Coney, UHH MOP

Did you know that there are many different color phases for this fish? Like most wrasses, there are color differences between males, females and juveniles. And there are even some variation in color among adults of the same sex. The juvenile (below right) looks nothing like its parents! In fact, the juvenile is often mistaken for a Clownfish. However, there are no Clownfish in Hawaii. Notice that the body of the juvenile is elongate, unlike the more oval shape of the Clownfish, and there is no anemone associated with this wrasse.

So, the next time you go snorkeling on Kauai, look for the Yellowtail Coris. Take some nice photos and send them in, maybe I will feature them on this site.

Did you know that there over over 20,000 species of fish in the sea?

Photo: Steve Jurvetson, flickr, CC-BY

Did you know that 25% of the species found in Hawaii are found nowhere else in the world. Hawaii's species are unique because the island chain is so isolated. Take some time to get to know Hawaii's fish!

World Oceans Day is June 8th, 2012

Photo:Claire Fackler, NOAA NMS

On June 8^th communities around the globe will celebrate World Oceans Day as an opportunity to learn more about our ocean and take action to help conserve it. This year the celebration is bigger than ever with hundreds of family-friendly events at aquariums, zoos, museums, exciting online events, and strong prospects for a new youth movement to protect the ocean!

"A record number of aquariums, zoos, and museums are providing ways on World Oceans Day for their visitors to get inspired and take personal action to help our world's ocean," said Bill Mott, director of The Ocean Project. “World Oceans Day provides an opportunity for people across the country and around the world to celebrate our ocean connections, do more for ocean conservation, and learn more about our ocean!"

World Oceans Day coordinator, Alyssa Isakower, commented, “The worldwide response has been more enthusiastic than ever. June 8^th provides a chance for the world to rally for a generation of ocean advocates who go beyond raising awareness and take real action for ocean protection.”

Here are some events that are happening locally:

Photo: Claire Fackler NOAA, NMS

 There will be a Reef Check training tonight, June 6^th at the Anahola Neighborhood Center from 4-7pm. A reef ecology class will be given, followed by the survey methodology of Reef check.

Thursday June 7^th will be the Eyes of the Reef training at the St. Regis Princeville by Paul Clark of Save Our Seas from 4 - 6pm. On the West Side, Hanapepe Library is hosting a Free Family Film night featuring “Dolphin Tale”.

Friday June 8^th, for World Ocean's Day there will be a Reef Survey, Reef clean up, and shoreline clean up at Puu Poa beach in front of the St. Regis Princeville hotel.

Local Author, Monika Mira is offering her new Kindle Book, “Hawaii’s Green Sea Turtles” as a FREE download on Amazon, Friday June 8^th. She also offers free shipping on her eco-friendly, educational title, The Complete Hawaiian Reef Fish Coloring Book. Visit her website and you can also receive FREE reef coloring sheets that give tips on reef conservation and reef etiquette.

On Saturday, June 16^th, the Friends of the Hanapepe Library is hosting a World Oceans Day Fair. This is a family friendly event with lots of kid’s activities. 

You can help protect ocean resources by getting involved with one of your local Ocean Conservation Organizations. On Kauai, Malama na Apapa, Save our Seas and Surfrider Kauai Chapter are always organizing events to help protect our resources. Get involved.