Published on Coral Reef Alliance (http://www.coral.org)
November 2012 E-Current

 

[1]
E-Current
November 2012		 In this Issue: CORAL Staff and Our Photo Expert Have Voted [2] •
Sharing Our Expert Opinion [3] • Diving Into Puerto Rico [4] •
Breakthrough on Thorny Issue for Reefs? [5]
Featured Location: Mexico [6]
Our Award-Winning Partner
Common lionfish [7]Thanks in part to CORAL’s initial investments in lionfish management efforts in Mexico, one of our partners has recently been recognized for its work eradicating one of the Caribbean’s most destructive invasive species.

The Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park and its director Ricardo Gomez Lozano were honored with a “Mentes QUO + Discovery” award, a distinction also given to twenty-nine other recipients within Mexico for their ground-breaking work in the sciences, art, education, and journalism.

In 2011, CORAL, along with the marine park and a host of other partners, launched a program to educate local restaurants and consumers about the need for sustainable fisheries. In addition to a seafood watch card, designed to decrease the demand for over-harvested fish, we jointly produced a lionfish cookbook to increase demand for the unwelcome, yet tasty, lionfish. By eating lionfish, consumers reduce demand on other fisheries and directly help increase the numbers of other local fish (lionfish are voracious predators that consume significant numbers of native fish).

Since then, the marine park has continued to advance these efforts, including working with local fishermen cooperatives to drive demand for and availability of lionfish. We are proud of Ricardo and his team and applaud QUO magazine and Discovery Channel for selecting them for this well-deserved honor.

And we are grateful to you. By providing funding and other support, CORAL is able to create opportunities for local organizations to drive sustainable and note-worthy projects like this. And we couldn’t do it without you!
Learn more about our projects in Mexico» [8]

>   Help the Reefs Quick Tip [9]
CORAL is getting ready to kick off our year-end fundraising season—and your generosity during the next three months will be the backbone of our success during the next year. Please make the health of our reefs your philanthropic priority this year.
Make a gift now! » [10]


Coral Reefs in the News [11]

Tanzania: Expert Warns Against Dynamite Fishing [12]
Source: All Africa

Divers Volunteer to Revitalize the Coral Reef [13]
Source:The Boston Globe

Race Against Time on Shark-Fin Trade [14]
Source: Seattle Times

More News... [15]


Yikes—2013 Is Less Than Two Months Away! » [16]
Are you ready to face the next year? We think you’ll be in much better shape to do so with the 2013 limited edition CORAL calendar hanging on your wall. Because it includes the last quarter of 2012, the calendar provides a perfect transition for your to-dos, special events, and holidays from this year to next—while showcasing stunning images of the underwater world you are helping to protect. Get yours today [17]!


Goliath grouper, by Marshall Goldman [18]

CORAL Staff and Our Photo Expert Have Voted . . . [19]
And the winner of this month’s photo contest is (drum roll, please): Marshall Goldman of Roswell, Georgia! He captured this month's winning photo while exploring the Mizpah, a sunken Greek luxury liner off the coast of West Palm Beach, Florida. Trying to avoid an exceptionally strong current, Marshall took refuge in a sheltered area at the stern of the vessel and found this Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), which apparently had the same idea. Marshall's winning shot was captured with an Olympus PEN EPL-1 with two UFL-2 strobes.

As is often the case, selecting the winning photo was a difficult decision for our staff and longtime volunteer judge, so we decided to share some of the other fantastic entries [20] on our Facebook page [21]. Thanks to all of our contributing photographers!
Download the winning photo » [22]


KQED Forum logo [23] Sharing Our Expert Opinion [24]
On Oct. 16, CORAL Executive Director Michael Webster weighed in with other coral reef experts on KQED, Northern California’s largest PBS and NPR outlet. Sharing the “KQED Forum” microphone with colleagues from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the California Academy of Sciences, Michael addressed subjects ranging from a controversial New York Times op-ed piece on coral reefs to community efforts that are changing the outlook for these threatened ecosystems.
Listen to the "Reefs Under Threat" broadcast » [25]
 
Puerto Rico CRLN training [26] Diving Into Puerto Rico [27]
During a U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting a couple of years ago, NOAA and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources approached CORAL about the possibility of replicating our Sustainable Marine Recreation workshop in this small, yet coral reef rich, commonwealth. We were of course delighted to have an opportunity to help Puerto Ricans protect their reefs, and sought and received funding to make it happen. So, in August, Mesoamerican Regional Manager Kenneth Johnson traveled to San Juan to train marine recreation providers on coral reef ecology and sustainable business practices. He also left behind more than bubbles and a grateful cohort of new reef advocates: each participant received flipbooks and other resources so they can continue to improve their knowledge and sustainability, and enhance their clients’ experiences. We look forward to finding additional ways to support the efforts of all of our new partners in Puerto Rico and ensure sustainable use of their beautiful reefs.
Learn about the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program » [28]
 
Crown of thorns starfish [29] Breakthrough on Thorny Issue for Reefs? [30]
Scientists estimate that the Great Barrier Reef has lost half of its coral cover over the last twenty-seven years, and blame a considerable amount of the damage on a voracious, prickly predator. Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) eat vast amounts of live coral, and are notorious for their population explosions. But on a recent expedition, two Australian researchers had a “eureka” moment that could help significantly decrease the threat of these coral-killing echinoderms. But they're fighting time, as these invasive species continue to spread to additional locations within the Pacific.
Read more » [31]

 

* Photo Credits and Notes:
Banner Photo: Whip coral goby (Bryaninops yongei), Papua New Guinea
Photographer: Dennis Liberson
Large Center Photo: Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), Florida
Photographer: Marshall Goldman
Left Side Photo: Common lionfish (Pterois miles)
Photographer: Daniel Dietrich via Wikimedia Commons
Thumbnails: 1) Courtesy of KQED Forum; 2) CORAL staff; 3) Nancy Sefton

 

 

 

© 2012 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 05/22/2013 - 11:43): http://www.coral.org/node/6088

Links:
[1] http://www.coral.org
[2] http://www.coral.org/node/6088#story1
[3] http://www.coral.org/node/6088#story2
[4] http://www.coral.org/node/6088#story3
[5] http://www.coral.org/node/6088#story4
[6] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/mexico
[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/donate
[10] http://www.coral.org/donate
[11] http://coral.org/news/headlines
[12] http://www.coral.org/node/6087
[13] http://www.coral.org/node/6086
[14] http://www.coral.org/node/6083
[15] http://coral.org/news/headlines
[16] http://www.coral.org/calendar
[17] http://www.coral.org/calendar
[18] http://www.coral.org/wallpaper
[19] http://www.coral.org/wallpaper
[20] https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151154040818401.458143.71448063400&type=1
[21] https://www.facebook.com/coralreefalliance
[22] http://www.coral.org/wallpaper
[23] http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201210161000
[24] http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201210161000
[25] http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201210161000
[26] http://coralreef.noaa.gov
[27] http://coralreef.noaa.gov
[28] http://coralreef.noaa.gov
[29] http://www.coralcoe.org.au/news/researchers-find-killer-solution-for-a-reef-killer
[30] http://www.coralcoe.org.au/news/researchers-find-killer-solution-for-a-reef-killer
[31] http://www.coralcoe.org.au/news/researchers-find-killer-solution-for-a-reef-killer