December 2011 E-Current

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E-Current
December 2011

In This Issue: Double Your Conservation Impact [2] • Shark Outreach at DEMA [3] • Astounding Coral Crustaceans [4] • CORAL Composer Wins Telly Award [5]
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Featured Location: Mexico [7]
Cancun, Here We Come! [8] Now that CORAL has educated nearly all of the marine tourism operators on the island of Cozumel, we’re stepping up our efforts on the mainland. We’ve trained five new CORAL Reef Leaders in the Cancun area, and they are already leading sustainable marine recreation workshops in key locations like Puerto Morelos, a dive and snorkel destination just south of Cancun. Stakeholders in Puerto Morelos, some of whom are pictured above, have welcomed CORAL’s help to improve their sustainability. We have already reached more than fifty of the two hundred tour guides who work in the town’s national marine park, and we plan to educate the remaining guides about sustainable marine recreation practices in the next few months.
Learn more about our projects in Mexico » [9]

Help the Reefs Quick Tip [10]
CORAL memberships make great holiday gifts! In addition to a beautiful CORAL calendar, your loved ones will receive the satisfaction that comes from helping to save the world’s coral reefs.
Learn more » [11]

Coral Reefs in the News [12]

Isolated Reef Shows Surprising Recovery [13]
Source: ScienceNetwork

Australia to Create World's Largest Marine Reserve [14]
Source: CNN

Corals Can Sense What's Coming [15]
Source: Science Codex

Florida Approves Shark Protections [16]
Source: The Miami Herald

'Fishy Lawnmowers' Help Save Coral Reefs [17]
Source: Wired

More News... [18]

It’s That Time of Year » [19]
There are only 23 days left to make your charitable contributions for 2011. If you’re looking to maximize your deductions—as well as protect some of the most valuable ecosystems on our planet—please donate to CORAL [20] today.

[21]	[22]Your Investment in Coral Reefs—Doubled! [23] Have you heard the great news? A group of current and former Board members have pledged to match all gifts made to CORAL before January 15th. Your donation will now be worth twice as much to our critical conservation initiatives. Please help us capitalize on this special opportunity by generously donating today. Thank you! Learn more » [24]

[25]	CORAL’s Fiji Shark Campaign Draws Interest at DEMA [26] CORAL’s Fiji shark campaign made a splash at this year’s DEMA Show in Orlando, Florida. The international dive trade event drew our partners and stakeholders from around the globe, and CORAL seized the opportunity to build support for a national shark sanctuary in Fiji. Protecting sharks—and therefore reefs—will help to promote Fiji’s reputation as a world-class dive destination. Read the story » [27]

[28]	In Photos: Study Finds Astounding Coral Crustacean Biodiversity [29] A new study led by CORAL board member Dr. Nancy Knowlton suggests that reefs may harbor even more biodiversity than previously proposed. The study, conducted over seven far-flung locations, found more than 500 species of shrimp, crabs, and other crustaceans in a total reef area of just over six square meters. Follow the link below to learn more about the study’s significance and see some of the remarkable species discovered. Read the story » [30]

[31]	[32]Composer John DeBorde Wins Telly Award for CORAL Video [33] If you’ve ever watched CORAL’s “Who We Are” and “What We Do” videos, you have no doubt enjoyed the beautiful accompanying music by composer and CORAL member John DeBorde. Now John’s score for our “What We Do” video has won national recognition in this year’s Telly Awards, which honor outstanding video productions, television commercials, and films. Read the story » [34]

* Photo Credits and Notes:
Banner Photo: Chromis (Chromis viridis), Indonesia
Photographer: Jeff Yonover
Large Center Photo: Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus sp.), Indonesia
Photographer: Jeff Yonover
Left Side Photo: Sustainable Marine Recreation workshop participants in Puerto Morelos, Mexico
Photographer: Photo courtesy of CORAL staff
Thumbnails: 1) Dennis Liberson, 2) Doug Richardson, 3) Dennis Liberson

Links:
[1] http://www.coral.org
[2] http://www.coral.org/node/5713#story1
[3] http://www.coral.org/node/5713#story2
[4] http://www.coral.org/node/5713#story3
[5] http://www.coral.org/node/5713#story4
[6] http://www.coral.org/node/5713#story4
[7] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/mexico
[8] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/mexico
[9] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/mexico
[10] https://coral.secure.force.com/donateGift
[11] https://coral.secure.force.com/donateGift
[12] http://www.coral.org/news/headlines
[13] http://www.coral.org/node/5702
[14] http://www.coral.org/node/5701
[15] http://www.coral.org/node/5694
[16] http://www.coral.org/node/5693
[17] http://www.coral.org/node/5684
[18] http://www.coral.org/news/from_the_media
[19] http://www.coral.org/donate
[20] https://coral.secure.force.com/donate?keycode=EL1
[21] http://www.coral.org/2011
[22] http://www.coral.org/2011
[23] http://www.coral.org/2011
[24] http://www.coral.org/2011
[25] http://www.scubadiving.com/travel/fiji/news-dema-coral-reef-alliance-working-protect-sharks
[26] http://www.scubadiving.com/travel/fiji/news-dema-coral-reef-alliance-working-protect-sharks
[27] http://www.scubadiving.com/travel/fiji/news-dema-coral-reef-alliance-working-protect-sharks
[28] http://news.discovery.com/earth/coral-crabs-diversity-photos-111104.html
[29] http://news.discovery.com/earth/coral-crabs-diversity-photos-111104.html
[30] http://news.discovery.com/earth/coral-crabs-diversity-photos-111104.html
[31] http://www.coral.org/node/5704
[32] http://www.coral.org/node/5704
[33] http://www.coral.org/node/5704
[34] http://www.coral.org/node/5704