Latest News about coral reefs

Poachers Threaten Sanctuary

Joanna — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:57:58 -0700

Gilbert Bayoran
Source: The Visayan Daily Star
February 8, 2010

Sagay City, Philippines - The preservation of the 32,000-hectare Sagay Marine Sanctuary here may be a success for Sagaynons enjoying the abundance of its marine resources for more than 30 years now, but it also attracts fishermen from neighboring islands who employ illegal methods to catch fish in the area.

Investigators Target Illegal and Dangerous Dive Operators in Sanya

Joanna — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:05:38 -0700

Xu Shenglan
Source: Global Times
February 8, 2010

Sanya, Hainan Province, China - At least 50 percent of the dive operators in Sanya in Hainan Province are operating illegally and often fail to provide proper safety measures in the ocean, China News Service reported Sunday.

The Sanya Marine Fishery Agency said it is investigating and plans to rein in the disorderly and competitive water tourism business.

Oceana Welcomes CITES Call for Protection of Marine Species

Joanna — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:01:03 -0700

Source: Oceana
February 8, 2010

Cold Took Heavy Toll on Florida Wildlife

Joanna — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:40:35 -0700

Curtis Morgan
Source: The Miami Herald
February 6, 2010

Miami, Florida - The cold was simply brutal on many tropical plants and animals. Toxic iguana-sicles dropping into the mouths of unfortunate pooches was only the tip of the iceberg that descended for two weeks on South Florida.

Grounding of Ship Probed

Joanna — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:37:09 -0700

Rosemarie Bernardo
Source: The Honolulu Star Bulletin
February 6, 2010

The Coast Guard is investigating what caused a 734-foot merchant ship to run aground off Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor yesterday.

The Liberian-flagged VogeTrader became lodged on the reef in the entrance channel of the harbor at 7:25 a.m. The harbor pilot was on board the vessel as it was inbound when it went aground, the Coast Guard said.

Marine Reserve Gives Island Paradise a Second Lease on Life

Joanna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:11:27 -0700

David Challenger
Source: CNN
February 5, 2010

Apo Island, Philippines - "Welcome, welcome," call out local women holding colorful T-shirts and quilts as pump boats carrying tourists pull up onto the shell-lined beach. "Please look, we have many things to sell."

Wading ashore through the crystal clear water, visitors are immediately struck by an air of optimism and confidence that resonates throughout the island village community.

But it could have ended up being all so very different.

Claim Dive Crew Damaged Reef

Joanna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:04:16 -0700

Daniel Bateman
Source: The Cairns Post
February 5, 2010

Cairns, Australia - The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has confirmed it is investigating a complaint about a Cairns dive operator whose crew allegedly dragged an anchor through a healthy coral reef and tied a boat to a stack of live coral.

Three international tourists have released photographs of the devastation they saw the moment they emerged underwater, while their vessel was moored at Ribbon Reef 8, off Cape Flattery, earlier this week.

International Protection Needed for Coral Used in Jewelry – WWF, SeaWeb

Joanna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:54:26 -0700

Source: WWF
February 5, 2010

Geneva, Switzerland - Countries participating in a major endangered species trade conference in March must back better protections for red and pink coral, which are disappearing because of overfishing to make jewelry.

Bermuda: Coral Reefs Worth an Average of $722 Million Per Year

Joanna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:48:42 -0700

Source: The Bermuda Sun
February 4, 2010

Bermuda - The Department of Conservation Services within the Ministry of the Environment and Sports today released a study on the Total Economic Value (TEV) of Bermuda's Coral Reefs which shows that the annual value of the coral reef ecosystem averages $722 million, potentially amounting to $1.1 billion per year.

Florida's Big Chill May Have Hammered Corals Near Shore

Joanna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:40:37 -0700

Susan Milius
Source: ScienceNews
February 4, 2010

Rough weather is slowing efforts to survey the extent of Florida's first cold-weather coral bleaching event in 33 years. But reports so far find heavy damage in parts of reefs near shore.

Hawksbill Turtles - Keepers of the Coral

Joanna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:33:01 -0700

Rainer von Brandis
Source: People & the Planet
February 4, 2010

Better known for the aesthetic qualities of its shell than for the role it plays in maintaining coral reef ecosystems, the hawksbill sea turtle is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. In view of this status, hawksbills have been the focus of numerous research projects in recent years, and while much has been learned about them when nesting, studying them in their aquatic environment has proven far more challenging.

Diving for Cures

Joanna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:28:50 -0700

Samara Freemark
Source: The Environment Report
February 4, 2010

Making medicine from things found in nature isn't a new idea. Think, aspirin—which originally came from the bark of willow trees. Now drugs derived from ocean animals are slowly making their way onto shelves. Samara Freemark talks to a researcher who helps get them there:

UN Turns to Forensic Science to Help Combat Illegal Fishing

Joanna — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:21:13 -0700

Source: UN News Centre
February 1, 2010

Forensic science, more often associated with solving murders in prime time television crime series, is now helping the United Nations fight illegal fishing, fraudulent product substitution and false documentation that not only cheat consumers but also endanger fish stocks and threaten livelihoods in developing countries.

Fish Caught Evolving into Three Different Species

Joanna — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:44:02 -0700

Emily Sohn
Source: Discovery News
February 1, 2010

The King demoiselle is not just one type of fish, but three distinct groups that recently split from each other, according to a new study.

By essentially catching one species in the process of turning into three, the study suggests that conservation efforts might be failing a variety of species that have yet to be identified.

NOAA to Give Lab $5 Million to Continue Project

Joanna — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:33:21 -0700

Helen Altonn
Source: The Star Bulletin
February 1, 2010

Honolulu, HI - A $1 million-a-year grant has been awarded to the University of Hawaii Kewalo Marine Laboratory for five years by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to work with Pacific islanders on land-sea interactions and damage to coral reefs, recreational and fishery resources.

Marine Parks Being Trespassed

Joanna — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:27:47 -0700

Taufiq Md Daud
Source: New Straights Times
January 31, 2010

Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia - Cases of fishing boats trespassing into marine parks are on the rise, with six cases recorded this month compared with 19 last year.

State Marine Parks Department director Abdul Jamal Mydin said the boats were mostly registered in other states.

He said these boats went into Terengganu's marine parks restricted zones to take advantage of the richer catch there.

A Tonne of Live Coral Seized at Airport

Joanna — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:50:23 -0700

Alice McKeegan
Source: The Manchester Evening News
January 27, 2010

More than a tonne of live rock coral, which was being illegally imported into the country has been seized at Manchester Airport.

In one of the largest ever seizures of the endangered species, the coral was discovered in air freight which had been flown more than 7,000 miles from Indonesia.

NOAA Award to Support Community Efforts to Protect Pacific Coral Reefs

Joanna — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:46:48 -0700

Source: NOAA
January 27, 2010

NOAA awarded the University of Hawaii at Manoa Kewalo Marine Laboratory a $199,996 grant to address the effects of land-based sources of pollution on coral reefs in the Pacific. The money will fund the first year of a five-year, $1 million dollar project.

Coral in Florida Keys Suffers Lethal Hit from Cold

Joanna — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:01:12 -0700

Curtis Morgan
Source: The Miami Herald
January 27, 2010

Miami, FL - Bitter cold this month may have wiped out many of the shallow water corals in the Keys.

Scientists have only begun assessments, with dive teams looking for "bleaching'' that is a telltale indicator of temperature stress in sensitive corals, but initial reports are bleak. The impact could extend from Key Largo through the Dry Tortugas west of Key West, a vast expanse that covers some of the prettiest and healthiest reefs in North America.

Fishing Restrictions Trigger Landmark Sea Turtle Nesting Season

Joanna — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:00:44 -0700

Source: ABC News Australia
January 26, 2010

Queensland, Australia - Queensland marine researchers say restrictions imposed on the fishing industry have triggered a landmark nesting season for Bundaberg's endangered sea turtles.

About 400 loggerhead turtles have laid eggs at Mon Repos, near Bundaberg, since November last year.

Dr Col Limpus, from the state Department of Environment and Resource Management, says more turtles are reaching the breeding age of about 30 years.