Published on Coral Reef Alliance (http://www.coral.org)
June 2010 E-Current

E-Current
June 2010		 In this Issue: New CORAL Videos [1] • Logo Design Contest [2] • The Danger of Offshore Drilling [3] • Coral Protection Helps Fisheries [4]
Coral Reef Alliance [5] Ribboned Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus polytaenia), West Papua, Indonesia [6]
visit coral.org [7]| donate [8]

Feature Location: Indonesia [9]
Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti)
Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) [10] The tiny pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) is one of the world’s most effectively camouflaged animals. Growing no larger than 2.4 cm (about 1 inch), it has evolved to closely resemble its gorgonian coral hosts. Pygmy seahorses share an unusual trait with other seahorse species: it is the father that bears the unborn young. This pygmy seahorse was photographed in Indonesia.
Learn more about our programs in Indonesia » [11]

 

> Help the Reefs Quick Tip [12]
Father's Day is coming up! A CORAL membership or a copy of the beautiful photography book Reef would make a great gift for an ocean-loving dad.
More on our site » [13]


Coral Reefs in the News [14]

Could Online Maps Save Coral Reefs? [15]
Source: CNN

 

Robot Floats Record Sharp Increase in Upper Ocean Warming -- Study [16]
Source: The New York Times

 

Baby Coral Move Towards Sound, Finds Study [17]
Source: The Guardian

 

Nature Loss 'To Damage Economies' [18]
Source: BBC News

 

Haiti's Reefs Survived the Quake to Help Feed Hungry Haitians [19]
Source: The Environment News Service

More News... [20]

 

Watch Our New Videos! [21]

 

Dear Friends,

 

Today is World Oceans Day—a time when organizations and individuals around the world celebrate and marvel at the wonder of our underwater world. With the recent events in the Gulf of Mexico, we are reminded of just how fragile our ocean ecosystem is and why it is critical that we work together to protect it. Today is an opportunity to foster greater awareness about marine conservation issues and enact positive changes that will ensure the health of our oceans for generations to come.

 

In the spirit of World Oceans Day, I am delighted to share with you two new inspirational videos that tell the story of CORAL’s mission and the impact we are having in our effort to unite communities to save coral reefs.

 

Sylvia Earle, PhDThe two short videos feature legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle and will take you on a visual journey underwater and on land where you will learn about our community approach, field program initiatives, and the underlying urgency behind our work. I invite you to experience the videos yourself on our website [22]. We will distribute them to a large audience and encourage you to do the same.

 

Also in this edition of E-Current, learn about CORAL’s logo design contest for West Hawaii’s voluntary standards for marine tourism, take action on the Gulf oil spill, and find exciting new evidence supporting the protection of coral reefs in marine protected areas.

 

In closing, Happy World Oceans Day! Thank you for your continued support, which makes our work possible.

 

Brian Huse

 

Cheers,

 

Brian Huse

 

Brian Huse
Executive Director




Help Spread the Word! » [24]
You can help us expand the reach of these videos by forwarding this email to your friends and sharing the videos [25] on your Facebook page and other social media sites. Thanks for your help!


Logo Design Contest—Win a Flip Video Camera! [26] Logo Design Contest—Win a Flip Video Camera! [27]
Since 2008, CORAL has been facilitating a multi-stakeholder effort to develop consensus-based voluntary standards for marine tourism in West Hawaii. Now that the standards have been successfully balloted, they need a logo! Enter our contest with a logo design that will help us raise awareness about the standards, and you could win a Flip video camera.
Learn more » [28]
 
Oil Spill Shows the Danger of Offshore Drilling [29] Oil Spill Shows the Danger of Offshore Drilling [30]
The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20 has created a gigantic environmental disaster. Although the full environmental impact won’t be known for years, we can expect significant injury to marine and coastal ecosystems from the millions of gallons of oil that have gushed into the ocean, coupled with the hundreds of thousands of gallons of toxic dispersant chemicals deployed in the spill area. SeaWeb has created an oil spill news page [31] with extensive up-to-date media coverage of the incident, and the Surfrider Foundation is making it easy for you to tell your elected officials to oppose more offshore drilling.
Take action against offshore drilling » [32]
 
Protected Corals Increase Fishing Profits [33] Protected Corals Increase Fishing Profits [34]
A newly released study is adding even more weight to the argument for protecting coral reefs in marine protected areas (MPAs). Not only do MPAs help to conserve coral reef ecosystems, they also help local fishermen to earn a living. A twelve-year study conducted in Kenya by the Wildlife Conservation Society found that closures and gear restrictions implemented in fishing areas increased fishery revenue and net profits. Read the story » [35]

 

* Photo Credits and Notes:
Banner Photo: Ribboned Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus polytaenia), West Papua, Indonesia
Photographer: Jeff Yonover
Large Center Photo: Still from a new CORAL video
Credit: The new CORAL videos were produced by Bay Package Productions, and were made possible by the generosity of Rena Bransten, John DeBorde, Sylvia Earle, Rod Fujita, and the Hellman Family.
Left Side Photo: Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti), Indonesia
Photographer: Doug Richardson
Oil Spill Thumbnail Photo: Controlled burns in the Gulf of Mexico
Photographer: Chief Petty Officer John Kepsimelis of the U.S. Coast Guard
Fishing Thumbnail: Traditional fishing harvest in Papua New Guinea
Photographer: ARC Centre of Excellence/Marine Photobank
© 2013 The Coral Reef Alliance 351 California Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA, 1-888-CORAL-REEF info@coral.org
Source URL (retrieved on 06/19/2013 - 22:19): http://www.coral.org/node/4721

Links:
[1] http://www.coral.org/node/4721#story1
[2] http://www.coral.org/node/4721#story2
[3] http://www.coral.org/node/4721#story3
[4] http://www.coral.org/node/4721#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/raja_ampat
[10] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/asia/pacific/raja_ampat
[11] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/asia/pacific/raja_ampat
[12] http://www.coral.org/what_you_can_do%2523smartconsumer
[13] http://www.coral.org/what_you_can_do%2523smartconsumer
[14] http://www.coral.org/news/headlines
[15] http://www.coral.org/node/4698
[16] http://www.coral.org/node/4694
[17] http://www.coral.org/node/4671
[18] http://www.coral.org/node/4663
[19] http://www.coral.org/node/4657
[20] http://www.coral.org/news/from_the_media
[21] http://www.coral.org/CORAL_videos
[22] http://www.coral.org/CORAL_videos
[23] http://www.coral.org/CORAL_videos
[24] http://www.coral.org/CORAL_videos
[25] http://www.coral.org/CORAL_videos
[26] http://www.coral.org/west_hawaii_logo_contest
[27] http://www.coral.org/west_hawaii_logo_contest
[28] http://www.coral.org/west_hawaii_logo_contest
[29] http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1727
[30] http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1727
[31] http://www.seaweb.org/news/gulfspillnews.php
[32] http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1727
[33] http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-05/wcs-naf051310.php
[34] http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-05/wcs-naf051310.php
[35] http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-05/wcs-naf051310.php