Author: Jennifer C. Tilos
Source: Philippine Information Agency
June 15, 2012

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, June 15 (PIA) -- An Australian scientist and environmentalist reported that there has been a great amount of degradation of coral reefs, especially in the famous Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

The loss is primarily attributed to acute mortality events from crown-of-thorns starfish, coral bleaching and strong catastrophes, said the Director of the Australian Research Council Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies of James Cook University in Australia Dr. Terry Hughes, as he briefed a group of researchers, teachers, graduate students and representatives of local government units and government agencies in Negros Oriental, Siquijor and Cebu in the orientation-briefing on “Scale, Stock-recruitment Dynamics and the Global Decline of Coral Reefs” held recently at Silliman University in Dumaguete City.

In 2008, 19 percent of coral reefs in the world were categorized as “lost” or are unlikely to recover from deterioration, said Dr. Hughes, citing the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network report."

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