April 2009 E-Current

E-Current
April 2009

In this Issue: CORAL Celebrates Earth Day [1] • Join Us on YouTube [2] • Key West's Shrinking Fish [3] • Raffle Winners Announced [4]

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visit coral.org [7]| donate [8]

Feature Location: Fiji [9]
Namalata Village, Kubulau
[10]In the Kubulau District of Fiji, eleven villages have come together to protect their coral reef resources by establishing the Namena Marine Reserve and several tabu (prohibited) areas. The people of these small communities depend on their reefs to produce income from fishing and tourism, provide protection from damaging storms, and put food on their table every day. Learn more about our programs in Fiji » [11]

Help the Reefs Quick Tip [12]
Enter the CORAL E-Current Photo Contest and join an active community of underwater photographers who are working with CORAL to save our planet’s coral reefs. Because most of us don’t live near reefs or depend on them for food, livelihood, or protection from storms, it’s easy to forget how valuable reefs are. By capturing the vibrancy of living, thriving coral reefs in photographs and videos, underwater photographers and videographers provide all of us with stunning reminders of what’s at stake.
Learn more on our site » [13]

Coral Reefs in the News [14]

Coral Reefs May Start Dissolving When Atmospheric CO2 Doubles [15]
Source: Source: Carnegie Institution for Science

"Fat" Corals Make Better Survivors [16]
Source: ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies

New Deep-Sea Coral Discovered on NOAA-Supported Mission [17]
Source: NOAA

Despite Wide Support from Scientists, Coral Reef Bill Has Some Detractors [18]
Source: EarthNews

Extensive Coral Reef Damage Revealed in Ship's Grounding [19]
Source: Honolulu Star Bulletin

More News... [20]

Dear Friends,

We're just a couple of weeks away from the 39th anniversary of Earth Day. As individuals, organizations, and governments around the world turn their attention to the environment this April 22, we'd like to focus that attention on our precious oceans. After all, the oceans make up 71 percent of the Earth—and while coral reefs cover less than 1 percent of the oceans, they are essential ecological support systems for nearly 25 percent of all marine fish species.

In this edition of E-Current, we share the story of the first Earth Day in 1970, announce the launch of our new online community on YouTube, reveal some fascinating research that looks at vacation photos to track fisheries declines, and congratulate the winners of our San Francisco Ocean Film Festival raffle.

Since Spring is a time of new beginnings, why not take this opportunity to share your passion for coral reefs with a friend. Forward this issue of E-Current to someone who loves the ocean and help us recruit more members for our grassroots conservation team. Thanks for your help and for your ongoing support.

Brian Huse

Cheers,

Brian Huse

Brian Huse
Executive Director

[21]Help Us Raise $150,000 before July 2009 » [22]
To build on our successful programs in Fiji and to create momentum for projects in Papua New Guinea, we need to raise $150,000 in the next three months. Please unite with us to protect our planet’s magical coral reefs and make a gift today!

[23]	CORAL Celebrates Earth Day [24] On the first Earth Day, 20 million Americans rallied in support of a healthy and sustainable planet. This year, 1 billion people will participate in Earth Day activities around the world. CORAL is on the front lines of the environmental fight, and we need your help to win. Read the story » [25]

[26]	Join CORAL on YouTube [27] Subscribe to the new CORAL page on YouTube. We’ll be posting videos and recommending cool clips from other people and organizations who care about coral reefs. Read the story » [28]

[29]	The Fish That Got Away [30] Loren McClenachan, a graduate student at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, analyzed hundreds of historical photographs taken of charter-boat passengers and their trophy fish in Key West, Florida. The photos show that the average size of sport fish caught since 1956 has declined substantially. Read the story » [31]

[32]	SFOFF Raffle Winners Announced [33] Thanks to everyone who stopped by the CORAL table at the sixth annual San Francisco Ocean Film Festival. We look forward to welcoming the raffle entrants to our passionate community to save coral reefs, and we offer big congratulations to Jean Stringer and Alexandra Sangmeister, whose names were chosen in the drawing. Read the story » [34]

* Photo Credits and Notes:
Banner Photo: Yellow Holothurian (Cucumaria miniata), Indonesia
Photographer: Steve Turek
Left Side Photo: Sunday brunch, Namalata Village, Kubulau District, Fiji
Photographer: Julie Bennett
Story Photo: Charter Boat Passangers, Monroe County Library

Links:
[1] http://www.coral.org/node/4110#story1
[2] http://www.coral.org/node/4110#story2
[3] http://www.coral.org/node/4110#story3
[4] http://www.coral.org/node/4110#story4
[5] http://www.coral.org
[6] http://www.coral.org
[7] http://www.coral.org
[8] https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=22995
[9] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/asia/pacific/fiji/our_projects
[10] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/asia/pacific/fiji/our_projects
[11] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/asia/pacific/fiji/our_projects
[12] http://www.coral.org/resources/photo_contest
[13] http://www.coral.org/resources/photo_contest
[14] http://www.coral.org/news/headlines
[15] http://www.coral.org/node/4098
[16] http://www.coral.org/node/4096
[17] http://www.coral.org/node/4094
[18] http://www.coral.org/node/4084
[19] http://www.coral.org/node/4077
[20] http://www.coral.org/news/from_the_media
[21] http://www.coral.org/donate
[22] https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=22995
[23] http://www.coral.org/node/4109
[24] http://www.coral.org/node/4109
[25] http://www.coral.org/node/4109
[26] http://www.coral.org/node/4111
[27] http://www.coral.org/node/4111
[28] http://www.coral.org/node/4111
[29] http://www.coral.org/node/4112
[30] http://www.coral.org/node/4112
[31] http://www.coral.org/node/4112
[32] http://www.coral.org/node/4113
[33] http://www.coral.org/node/4113
[34] http://www.coral.org/node/4113