March 2010 E-Current

E-Current
March 2010

In this Issue: Photo Contest Winner Announced [1] • The Accidental Photographer [2] • Valuing Coral Reefs [3] • NOAA Coral Reef Research Expedition [4]

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Xeniid soft coral, Anilau, Philippines by Dave Burdick

[6]

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

Feature Location: Mexico [9]
Comic Standards
[10] In Mexico, a CORAL microgrant funded the design, printing, and distribution of a waterproof "comic book" version of the Voluntary Standards for Marine Recreation. The book presents the voluntary standards to marine tourism operators in an engaging and memorable way. Copies of the comic book were brought to the International Coral Reef Initiative meeting in Monaco earlier this year, where they were a huge hit—many stakeholders attending the meeting now want to replicate the book in their own countries. Learn more about our programs in Mexico » [11]

Help the Reefs Quick Tip [12]
March 22 is World Water Day, a time to remember that all of the water in the world is connected through the water cycle. You can help to protect reefs by keeping toxic chemicals from entering your drains, soil, and sewers—they might eventually end up in the ocean!
More on our site » [13]

Coral Reefs in the News [14]

Participation Important for Healthy Marine Parks [15]
Source: ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies

Coral Loss Slowed, Reversed by Marine Protected Areas [16]
Source: Newswise

Diversity of Corals, Algae in Warm Indian Ocean Suggests Resilience to Future Global Warming [17]
Source: ScienceDaily

Cold Snap Killing Florida's Coral Reefs [18]
Source: AFP

Warming Water Spurs U.S. to Consider ESA Protection for 82 Coral Species [19]
Source: The New York Times

More News... [20]

E-Current Photo Contest Winner

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It's Renewal Time! » [22]
If you're a CORAL member, your 2010 membership renewal will be arriving soon. We hope you'll continue your support! If you're not a member, please join today. With a gift of $35 or more, you'll receive some wonderful benefits, and—more importantly—you'll be making an important contribution to coral conservation.

[23]	Photo Contest Winner Announced! [24] Congratulations to Dave Burdick from Guam, who is this month's winner of the E-Current Photo Contest. Dave's striking image of a xeniid soft coral colony was taken during a night dive in Anilau, Philippines, at a "muck" diving site—a term that belies the delicate beauty he was able to capture. Click below to download Dave's image as your desktop wallpaper and learn more about the photo contest. Download the image » [25]

[26]	The Accidental Photographer [27] Josef Litt never intended to become an underwater photographer. Then fate handed him a camera, and he got hooked. As this month's guest columnist, Josef shares some tips for beginning photographers and shows that it's possible to take beautiful underwater photographs without any high-end, expensive gear. Read the story » [28]

[29]	CORAL Weighs In on the Economic Value of Coral Reefs [30] CORAL's Conservation Programs Director, Rick MacPherson, was invited to present at the Sixteenth Katoomba Meeting in February. This meeting brought together professionals from around the world to discuss the economics of marine ecosystem functions and the potential for leveraging this value for conservation. Watch a short interview with Rick and listen to a podcast of his presentation about the complicated realm of ecotourism. Read the story » [31]

[32]	Follow NOAA's Coral Reef Research Expedition [33] The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has sent a team of marine scientists on a three-month expedition to Johnston Atoll, Howland and Baker Islands, American Samoa, Jarvis Island, Palmyra Atoll, and Kingman Reef. Follow their journey as they work to improve scientific understanding of coral reef ecosystems throughout the Pacific. Read the blog » [34]

* Just got a new laptop? Please consider donating your old one to CORAL! We're looking for a reliable and relatively recent laptop for our San Francisco office. Please contact Joanna at info@coral.org [35] if you might have a computer to donate. Thank you! *

* Photo Credits and Notes:
Banner Photo: Ribboned Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus polytaenia), West Papua Mar, Indonesia
Photographer: Jeff Yonover
Large Center Photo: Xeniid soft coral, Anilau, Philippines
Photographer: Dave Burdick
Left Side Photo: Voluntary standards comic books at the ICRI meeting in Monaco
Photographer: Ricardo Gomez

Links:
[1] http://www.coral.org/node/4530#story1
[2] http://www.coral.org/node/4530#story2
[3] http://www.coral.org/node/4530#story3
[4] http://www.coral.org/node/4530#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/caribbean/mexico
[10] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/mexico
[11] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/mexico
[12] http://www.coral.org/resources/guides_best_practices/for_everyone%2523faraway
[13] http://www.coral.org/resources/guides_best_practices/for_everyone%2523faraway
[14] http://www.coral.org/news/headlines
[15] http://www.coral.org/node/4512
[16] http://www.coral.org/node/4502
[17] http://www.coral.org/node/4499
[18] http://www.coral.org/node/4498
[19] http://www.coral.org/node/4493
[20] http://www.coral.org/news/from_the_media
[21] http://www.coral.org/wallpaper
[22] http://www.coral.org/membership
[23] http://www.coral.org/wallpaper
[24] http://www.coral.org/wallpaper
[25] http://www.coral.org/wallpaper
[26] http://www.coral.org/resources/photo_resources/photography_tips/the_accidental_photographer
[27] http://www.coral.org/resources/photo_resources/photography_tips/the_accidental_photographer
[28] http://www.coral.org/resources/photo_resources/photography_tips/the_accidental_photographer
[29] http://www.coral.org/node/4514
[30] http://www.coral.org/node/4514
[31] http://www.coral.org/node/4514
[32] http://asramp10.blogspot.com
[33] http://asramp10.blogspot.com
[34] http://asramp10.blogspot.com
[35] mailto:info@coral.org