Latest News about coral reefs

Great Barrier Reef Corals Unveil Sea Level and Climate Changes

Joanna — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:44:54 -0600

Source: PhysOrg.com
July 30, 2010

Groundbreaking preliminary findings from the Great Barrier Reef show climate change has not been smooth and continuous but may have been characterised by several rapid changes.

A team of international scientists, including Dr Jody Webster from the University of Sydney, have taken part in a groundbreaking voyage to the Great Barrier Reef between February to April this year to acquire fossil coral reef cores from the edge of the continental shelf.

Climate Report Shows Earth Has Heated Up over 50 Years

Joanna — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:39:45 -0600

Gautam Naik
Source: The Wall Street Journal
July 29, 2010

A new assessment concludes that the Earth has been getting warmer over the past 50 years and the past decade was the warmest on record.

The State of the Climate 2009 report, published Wednesday as a special supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, was compiled by 300 scientists from 48 countries and drew on measures of 10 crucial climate indicators.

UMS Marine Scientists Discover Widespread Coral Bleaching In Sepanggar Bay

Joanna — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:36:16 -0600

Newmond Tibin
Source: BERNAMA
July 29, 2010

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) scientists have discovered widespread coral bleaching in Sepanggar Bay, off Sabah waters.

In disclosing this, UMS Director of Borneo Marine Research Institute Prof Dr Saleem Mustafa said such activities deserved serious attention due to its implications on marine biodiversity and coral reef fisheries in the state's waters.

Florida Declares Open Season on Lionfish

Joanna — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:30:36 -0600

Pascal Fletcher
Source: MSNBC
July 28, 2010

Miami, FL - As thousands of Floridians take to the sea to hunt for spiny lobster in the state's two-day mini-season, they are being warned by authorities not to catch under-size specimens or exceed strict catch quotas.

Warming of Oceans Will Reduce and Rearrange Marine Life

Joanna — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:27:04 -0600

Jess McNally
Source: Wired
July 28, 2010

The warmth of the ocean is the critical factor that determines how much productivity and biodiversity there is in the ocean, and where.

In two separate studies, researchers found that warming oceans have led to a massive decline in the amount of plant life in the sea over the last century, and that temperature is tightly linked to global patterns of marine biodiversity.

Malaysia May Close More Dive Sites Hit by Coral Bleaching

Joanna — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:45:17 -0600

Source: AFP
July 28, 2010

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Malaysia may close three more popular dive sites in the South China Sea which have been hit by coral bleaching blamed on global warming, an official said Wednesday.

Last week authorities announced the closure of nine dive sites on the tropical islands of Tioman and Redang until the end of October in an attempt to relieve stress on the fragile marine ecosystems.

Scientist Excited by Rare Coral Find in the Marshall Islands

Joanna — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:40:48 -0600

Source: The Herald Sun
July 28, 2010

AN Australian scientist has discovered what could be the world's rarest coral in the remote North Pacific Ocean.

The Pacific elkhorn coral was found during underwater surveys at Arno atoll, in the Marshall Islands, by coral researcher Dr Zoe Richards of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoECRS).

Low Water Quality Affects 25% of Reef

Joanna — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:30:52 -0600

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
July 28, 2010

Low water quality is affecting almost a quarter of the Great Barrier Reef, a new study shows.

The 10-year study carried out by the Australian Institute of Marine Science found 22 per cent of the Great Barrier Reef - almost 650 reefs - did not meet water quality guidelines.

The study found reefs with poorer water quality suffered a loss in coral biodiversity and an increase in seaweed cover.

Scientists Test Moreton Bay as Coral "Lifeboat"

Joanna — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:00:13 -0600

Source: The University of Queensland
July 26, 2010

An international team of scientists has been exploring Moreton Bay, close to Brisbane, as a possible ‘lifeboat' to save corals from the Great Barrier Reef at risk of extermination under climate change.

In a new research paper they say that corals have been able to survive and flourish in the Bay, which lies well to the south of the main GBR coral zones, during about half of the past 7000 years.

New Methods to Bring Life to Dead Corals

Joanna — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:56:08 -0600

Source: AsiaOne News
July 25, 2010

Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia - The coral bleaching which had forced the closure of some diving sites could be a blessing in disguise.

It could even be a launch pad for research into minimising the effects of global warming, ecosystem management and bio-medical field.

Coral Reef Monitoring and Management Project Launched

Joanna — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:49:43 -0600

Source: The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer
July 23, 2010

A six-month sustainable coral reef monitoring and management project focusing on St. Kitts and Nevis was officially launched on Thursday, July 15, at the National Museum in downtown Basseterre. The event was coordinated by the Youth Arm of the St. Christopher National Trust.

Jeff Greene Denies His Anchor Damaged Belize Reef

Joanna — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:18:40 -0600

Adam C. Smith
Source: The Miami Herald
July 23, 2010

On a Tuesday morning five years ago, Summerwind, a three-story, 145-foot luxury yacht, maneuvered above the celebrated barrier reef that lines the coast of Belize.

There it dropped anchor -- and plunged into controversy over severe damage to a coral reef system officially recognized by the United Nations as one of the world's most magnificent and irreplaceable treasures.

Authorities to Protect Coral Reef in Tamil Nadu's Gulf of Mannar

Joanna — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:15:01 -0600

Source: Sify News
July 23, 2010

Authorities at the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (GMMNP) in the Indian Ocean, situated on the Tamil Nadu Coast, will set up sea buoys to demarcate the national park, and protect coral reefs and marine life.

Unique Coral Reef Spurs Mexico Tourism Battle

Joanna — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:46:19 -0600

Sophie Nicholson
Source: AFP
July 22, 2010

Cabo Pulmo, Mexico - A 20,000 year-old coral reef, the only one in the Gulf of California, is at the center of a dispute over a huge tourist development which could draw thousands to a remote part of Mexico.

At the moment, most only hear about Cabo Pulmo, where pristine beaches meet a turquoise sea, by word of mouth.

Malaysia Closes Diving Reefs to Save Coral

Joanna — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:34:34 -0600

Barney Henderson
Source: The Telegraph
July 22, 2010

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Twelve reefs that attract half a million tourists from around the world annually are now closed to divers and snorkellers until the end of October to allow the corals to recover from bleaching caused by warmer seas.

Research Aims to Repel Sharks to Prevent Deaths

Joanna — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:02:36 -0600

Source: ABC News Australia
July 19, 2010

Perth, Australia - A research team is exploring ways to prevent sharks from being accidentally killed in commercial fishing operations off WA.

The study, led by the University of Western Australia, is trying to understand sharks' nervous system better, to develop ways to repel them from fishing gear.

The research will be carried out off the WA coast, including areas in the South West and further north in Ningaloo.

Obama Launches Policy to Protect Oceans

Joanna — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:18:33 -0600

Julie Pace
Source: The Associated Press
July 19, 2010

Washington, D.C. - The Obama administration on Monday announced a new national policy for strengthening the way the U.S. manages its oceans and coasts, and the Great Lakes.

Officials said the framework is needed now more than ever following the massive Gulf oil spill.

Coral Reefs Suffer Mass Bleaching

Joanna — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:32:55 -0600

Richard Gray
Source: The Telegraph
July 18, 2010

Coral reefs are suffering widespread damage in what is set to be one of the worst years ever for the delicate and beautiful habitats.

The phenomenon, known as coral bleaching because the reefs turn bone white when the colourful algae that give the coral its colour and food is lost, has been reported throughout south east Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.

Shipping Companies Fight $6 Million Fine for Damaging Reef off Lauderdale

Joanna — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:30:06 -0600

David Fleshler
Source:The Sun Sentinel
July 18, 2010

An environmental accident off the Fort Lauderdale coast has generated a legal fight between state regulators and two foreign shipping companies.

The Spar Orion, a 623-foot cargo ship carrying powdered cement, ran aground north of Port Everglades early on the morning of May 17, 2006, smashing part a coral reef.

University Project Points to a New Way of 'Finding' Nemo: Breed Them

Joanna — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:27:33 -0600

Source: UnderwaterTimes.com
July 18, 2010

Townsville, Australia - A world-leading project at James Cook University is breeding popular marine ornamental fish such as the Coral Sea Lyretail Blenny, the Banggai Cardinalfish and various Clownfish.

Dr Chaoshu Zeng, who leads JCU's Tropical Aquaculture
Research Group in the School of Marine and Tropical Biology, said the group had developed pioneering marine ornamental captive breeding techniques.