May 2009 E-Current

Dear Friends,

Earth Day has come and gone, but all of us in the CORAL community will continue to focus our attention on the urgent need to protect coral reefs. I’m pleased to announce the winner of the May E-Current Photo Contest. Congratulations to William Goodwin of Birmingham, Alabama, whose image of a Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) peeking through a purple sea fan (Gorgonia ventalina) is truly stunning. William's image is now available to download as desktop wallpaper at www.coral.org/wallpaper.

In recognition of William's extraordinary ability with a camera, CORAL will be sending him a copy of Reef, a gorgeous photography book with accompanying DVD that features spectacular coral reef images. To win your own copy of Reef, enter your best underwater photo in CORAL's E-Current Photo Contest; the next deadline is June 15, 2009.

In this edition of E-Current: CORAL Conservation Programs Director, Rick MacPherson, and board member, Rod Fujita, will be speaking at the International Marine Conservation Congress in Washington, D.C., and photo columnist Jeff Yonover shares some great tips for easy travel with bulky dive and photo gear. If you’re itching to get underwater, there are still a few spots left on CORAL's 15th anniversary dive trip to Fiji. We hope you’ll join us!

Cheers,

Brian Huse
Executive Director