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March 2009 E-Current
 E-Current
March 2009 |
In this Issue: Coral Smuggler Caught • It's a Wonderful, Wide World |
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Feature Location: Belize
Mooring Buoy Installation
 CORAL microgrants have funded three community-led mooring buoy programs that are drastically reducing anchor damage to Belize's reefs. In the photograph above, a mooring is being installed in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve by the Ambergris Mooring Masters, a group of local volunteers who are committed to protecting their coral reef resources. Along with active programs in Belize City and Placencia, this CORAL-funded program removes more than 25,000 anchors from Belize's reefs every year. Learn more about our programs in Belize »
 Help the Reefs Quick Tip
Add a CORAL badge or banner to your Web site, blog, MySpace, or Facebook pages, and encourage your friends to join our community. We’re working together to keep coral reefs alive and we need your help today. Spread the word!
More on our site »
The Tiny, Slimy Savior of Global Coral Reefs
Source: ABC News
Beating Poverty Could Save Coral Reef Fish, Report Says
Source: CNN
Taiwan Coral Reefs "Turn Black" with Disease
Source: Reuters
Long-Term Recovery of Reefs from Bleaching Requires Local Action to Increase
Source: Underwatertimes.com
What Is Killing the Coral? DNA Array Sheds Light on Coral Disease
Source: Underwatertimes.com
More News...
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E-Current Photo Contest Winner
The first day of spring is just a couple of weeks away, which means it's time to announce the winner of our March E-Current Photo Contest. Congratulations to Lucy Wu of Las Vegas, NV. Her image of a wire coral shrimp (Pontonides uncigar) taken in Indonesia's Komodo National Park is a magical reminder of the rich beauty that exists on our planet's coral reefs. Lucy's photo is now available to download as desktop wallpaper at www.coral.org/wallpaper.
In recognition of Lucy's abilities with an underwater camera, CORAL will be sending her a copy of Reef, a gorgeous photography book with accompanying DVD that features stunning coral reef images. To win your own copy of Reef, enter your best underwater photo in CORAL's E-Current Photo Contest; the next deadline is April 15, 2009.
If you need some tips for creating incredible underwater photographs, columnist Jeff Yonover shares his secrets for working with wide-angle lenses in his newest installment: It's a Wonderful, Wide World. And score one for coral reefs: Last month, a German man was arrested and charged for smuggling 40 tons of endangered stony corals into the United States. We agree that corals are beautiful, but they belong in our oceans—not on the black market.
As the days get longer and the weather starts to warm up, I hope you get a chance to spend some time outdoors. Even though we don't have coral reefs in San Francisco, any foray into nature reminds me of the importance of protecting our precious and fragile planet. That’s what inspires me to continue our fight to save coral reefs. Happy Spring!
Cheers,
Brian Huse
Executive Director
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Help Us Raise $150,000 Before June 2009 »
To build on our successes in Fiji and to create momentum for projects in Papua New Guinea, we've set a goal to raise $150,000 in the next four months. Please unite with us to protect our planet's precious coral reefs! |
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Stony Coral Smuggler Gets Caught
Two weeks ago, Gunther Wenzek was arrested and charged for importing endangered coral into the states and selling it. Wenzek, a German national, reportedly owns a company that sells coral to saltwater aquarium retailers. He was on his way to the Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida, when he was arrested at Washington’s Dulles Airport. Stony corals, like those smuggled by Wenzek, are the fundamental building blocks of coral reef ecosystems. As such, they are protected by international law. Read the story » |
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Are Your Underwater Photos Cover Worthy?
In his latest column, professional underwater photographer Jeff Yonover describes how to shoot those gorgeous images seen on scuba diving magazine covers. You know, the ones with the impossibly blue water, a vibrant coral reefscape, and a perfectly lit pelagic communing with a lone diver. Create your own stunning wide-angle shots by employing a few of Jeff’s simple tips. Read the column » |
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* Photo Credits and Notes:
Banner Photo: Bunaken, Indonesia
Photographer: Steve Turek
Left Side Photo: Mooring-buoy installation, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Ambergris Caye, Belize
Photographer: CORAL Staff
Photo Contest Winner: Wire coral shrimp (Pontonides uncigar), Komodo National Park, Indonesia
Photographer: Lucy Wu
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