Source: The Environment News Service
May 7, 2010

Haiti's overlooked coral reefs could help feed thousands of undernourished Haitians finds a post-earthquake assessment by scientists from Reef Check. With headquarters in Los Angeles and volunteer teams in more than 90 countries, the nonprofit organization works to improve reef health worldwide.

Although Haiti is an island country surrounded by coral reefs, most experts have assumed that Haiti's reefs were destroyed long ago, says Reef Check Director Dr. Gregor Hodgson, a coral reef ecologist who led the underwater survey.

But Hodgson and his survey team found resilient, healthy reefs. "Surprisingly, there was no evidence of direct earthquake damage to reefs just a few yards offshore of heavily damaged hotels," he said.

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