Latest News about coral reefs

Weed-Eating Fish 'Help Protect Jobs, Livelihoods'

Sarah — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:29:05 -0600

Source: ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University
May 8, 2012

"Jobs, livelihoods and ecotourism industries can benefit from having a diverse supply of weed-eating fish on the world’s coral reefs, marine researchers say.

Rare, Blue Coral Found

Sarah — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:52:56 -0600

Author: Ron Vave
Source: Fiji Times
May 8, 2012

"Most hard corals in Fiji and the world are colourful on the outside but when cracked open or broken, will reveal a white skeleton.

One of the exceptions to this is the blue coral (scientific name: Heliopora coerulea), which has a blue skeleton inside, made of aragonite and iron salts which gives it its blue pigmentation.

Indonesia Struggles to Combat Shark Poaching in Protected Areas

Sarah — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:49:56 -0600

Author: Juliet Eilperin
Source: The Washington Post
May 7, 2012

"Local and regional authorities in Indonesia caught 33 poachers last week who had taken sharks, manta rays and sea cucumbers from a marine protected area that scientists have identified as one of the sea’s most important sites. But after confiscating their illegal catch and gear, the patrol officers had to let them go.

Pacific Reef Shark Populations Plummeting, Study Says

Sarah — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:50:20 -0600

Author: Matthew Knight
Source: CNN
April 28, 2012

"Humans are causing a steep decline in populations of reef sharks in the Pacific Ocean according to a new study by a group of international marine scientists.

The new estimates of reef sharks compared numbers around populated islands with those living near uninhabited ones. The results were sobering, say researchers.

Coral Reefs Are Being Decimated, All for a Few Gaudy Trinkets

Sarah — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:52:23 -0600

Author: Chris Sweeney
Source: Miami New Times
May 2, 2012

"Kate Lunz didn't know what to expect as she piloted her white Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission truck to the Port of Tampa in July 2010. The day before, customs authorities had called the 32-year-old, PhD-toting marine biologist and asked her to inspect the contents of two 40-foot shipping containers that had been sent from the Solomon Islands and pulled for investigation.

Disappearing Coral Reef Has Offshore and Onshore Impact

Sarah — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:46:47 -0600

Source: WPEC-TV CBS12 News
April 25, 2012

Police Join Fight

Sarah — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:56:33 -0600

Source: Fiji Times
April 30, 2012

"Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua has pledged support for shark conservation in Fiji.

He assured the Coral Reef Alliance, which sponsored the Police Rugby League team last month, that his officers would spread the message of shark conservation.

"The work of police officers now covers a wide range of issues, and one of importance is that of policing the environment," Brig-Gen Naivalurua said.

Weird Ocean Current May Create Coral Refuges

Sarah — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:52:02 -0600

Source: MSNBC
April 30, 2012

"Global warming is expected to have devastating effects on coral reefs, but recent research points to a few exceptions.

Warming in the equatorial Pacific may actually create refuges for corals around a handful of islands, even as it bleaches, or kills, corals elsewhere, suggests new research that predicts increased upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water in these places.

Worth More Alive

Malinda — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:22:34 -0600

Source: Fiji Times
April 20, 2012

"SHARKS play a big role in Fiji's economy and need to be saved from extinction to sustain it and the marine ecosystems they support.

This is the conclusion of a new analysis by the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the University of Western Australia.

The study - The Socio-Economic Value of the Shark-Diving Industry in Fiji found that shark-diving in 2010 generated $US42.2million ($F75million) into the economy and created jobs for local communities.

Doctors Develop Life-Saving Drugs from Coral Reefs

Malinda — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:18:02 -0600

Source: MSNBC
April 24, 2012

The kaleidoscope of life in the coral reefs under the turquoise waters of the Florida Keys is a magnet for tourists, but it's not just a pretty view.

The same chemistry that helps corals and sponges survive is also helping people fight cancer.

"What we're doing is taking advantage of that chemistry and turning those chemicals into drugs to save lives," said Stephanie Wear, director of coral reef conservation at the Nature Conservancy.

Fishermen Using Explosives, Cyanide Destroy Some of Asia’s Most Spectacular Reefs, Divers Say

Malinda — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:08:25 -0600

Source: Washington Post
April 20, 2012

"Coral gardens that were among Asia's most spectacular, teeming with colorful sea life just a few months ago, have been transformed into desolate gray moonscapes by illegal fishermen who use explosives or cyanide to kill or stun their prey.

Sharks Can Only be Saved 'Through a United Front'

Malinda — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:01:45 -0600

Source: The National
April 18, 2012

"Governments in the region need to work together to establish a common policy to manage overfishing of sharks in the Arabian Gulf, scientists said. A report published this month recommends in-depth studies be carried out by environment agencies across the region to ascertain the extent of the damage.

"The way I see it, the Gulf is a tragedy," said Richard Peirce, one of the authors of the paper, which was published this month.

US Expedition Explores Mysterious Puerto Rican Reef

Malinda — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:58:10 -0600

Source: Fox News Latino
April 18, 2012

"A 12-foot hammerhead shark, an undersea canyon that suddenly plunges 900 feet and an enormous orange-and-brown barrel sponge are only a few things in an unexplored Puerto Rican reef that U.S. scientists are using sonar and submersibles to explore.

Two New Species of Coral Discovered

Sarah — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:11:27 -0600

Source: Taipei Times
April 7, 2012

"Two new species of shallow-water coral have been discovered just off the coast of Taiwan, but their natural habitat is being threatened by construction projects in the area, environmentalists said yesterday, urging the government to put greater emphasis on ocean conservation.

Coral Links Ice Sheet Collapse to Ancient 'Mega Flood'

Sarah — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:04:30 -0600

Source: ScienceDaily
April 3, 2012

"Coral off Tahiti has linked the collapse of massive ice sheets 14,600 years ago to a dramatic and rapid rise in global sea-levels of around 14 metres.

Previous research could not accurately date the sea-level rise but now an Aix-Marseille University-led team, including Oxford University scientists Alex Thomas and Gideon Henderson, has confirmed that the event occurred 14,650-14,310 years ago at the same time as a period of rapid climate change known as the Bølling warming.

Shark Fin Ban Gathers Steam in Maryland and Beyond

Sarah — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:00:33 -0600

Juliet Eilperin
Source: The Washington Post
April 1, 2012

"Not a single shipment of shark fins moved through the Port of Baltimore last year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But Maryland still may ban the sale and trade of the Asian delicacy, much to the ire of some fishermen and restaurant owners.

Ka Mo'olelo Moana: Sandmaking Parrotfish Have Interesting Lives

Sarah — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:56:50 -0600

Erin Iberg
Source: The Maui News
April 1, 2012

"Last month's article focused on sand: what it is and where it comes from. It is an interesting topic to know more about and is sure fun to think about when at the beach, ankle deep in the product of the parrotfish's hard work. The uhu, or parrotfish, is praised for being the proverbial sand factory, but it is worth mentioning that without one you may not have the other.

Corals 'Could Survive a More Acidic Ocean'

Sarah — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:50:28 -0600

Source: ScienceDaily
April 1, 2012

"Corals may be better placed to cope with the gradual acidification of the world's oceans than previously thought -- giving rise to hopes that coral reefs might escape climatic devastation.

In new research published in the journal Nature Climate Change, an international scientific team has identified a powerful internal mechanism that could enable some corals and their symbiotic algae to counter the adverse impact of a more acidic ocean.

Viral Disease -- Particularly from Herpes -- Gaining Interest as Possible Cause of Coral Decline

Malinda — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:52:25 -0600

Source: Physorg
March 28, 2012

"It appears the corals that form such important parts of marine ecosystems harbor many different viruses - particularly herpes. And although they don't get runny noses or stomach upset, corals also are home to the adenoviruses and other viral families that can cause human colds and gastrointestinal disease.

Cabo Pulmo's Fight to Save 'the World's Aquarium'

Malinda — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:44:12 -0600

Christine Delsol
Source: The San Francisco Chronicle
March 28, 2012