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September 2012 E-Current
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 E-Current
September 2012 |
In this Issue: Photo Contest Winner • Big Feat for Little Feet • Early Warning System in the Philippines • Failing Grade for the Oceans |
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Featured Location: Hawaii
Birthday Bash for the KHFMA
 Three years ago, to combat increasing amounts of macroalgae that were thriving at the expense of coral reefs, the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources established the Kahekeli Herbivore Fisheries Management Area (KHFMA) in Ka‘anapali, Maui. The idea behind the KHFMA was simple: if you increase the algae eaters (otherwise known as herbivores), you will decrease the amount of algae covering the reefs, and those reefs will be healthier and more resilient. Since the area’s establishment, CORAL has been supporting its implementation in various ways, including through the coordination of a regional Makai Watch program with the state's Division of Aquatic Resources.
On July 28, nearly fifty West Maui residents gathered at the beach park adjacent to the KHFMA to celebrate the third anniversary of this unique conservation zone. Educational and cultural displays, reef snorkel tours, water quality monitoring demonstrations … and even a reef-themed culinary contest and potluck … made for a great day for all participants. Check out photos from the event on the KHFMA Facebook Page.
Learn more about our projects in Hawaii »
Cathay Pacific Bans Shark Fin From its Cargo Flights
Source: South China Morning Post
Scientists Track Fish Through A Coral Reef Seascape
Source:RedOrbit
Cost-Sharing Agreement May Lead to Restoration of West Maui Reef
Source: Maui News
Travellers’ Impact on Coral Reefs
Source: The BBC
Marine Fish Threatened by High Demand
Source: FMT News
More News...
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Saluting Our Federal and State Employee Donors »
Each year, CORAL receives approximately $30,000 in donations from the Combined Federal Campaign and various state giving campaigns. We’d like to thank those federal and state employees who have designated CORAL as a beneficiary of their payroll deduction contributions. And for those who would like to make healthy coral reefs your cause, our CFC number is 10418. |
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Photo Contest Winner
Congratulations to Deron Verbeck of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the winner of CORAL’s September photo contest. His enticing scene reveals a pair of blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) following a school of whitemouth jacks (Uraspis helvola) about a half-mile off the coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. Deron had been taking photos in the area for two weeks, recording a growing gathering of jacks. His winning shot captured part of a bigger chase scene – several species of sharks and some bottlenose dolphins pursuing the jacks through the reef and into open water. Deron’s photo was taken with a Canon 30D using natural light at a depth of 30 feet.
Download the photo » |
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Big Feat for Little Feet
When CORAL was approached by St. Thomas School in Medina, Wash. earlier this year about being the beneficiary of their annual walk-a-thon, we were, of course, honored. But when we heard that we were selected only after being nominated by one of the students, vetted thoroughly to find out what we do and how we’d spend the money, and then presented to the entire student body for a vote, we were floored—after all, the oldest kids are only in 7th grade. Here’s to the next generation of coral reef advocates!
Learn more about the walk-a-thon » |
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Early Warning System in the Philippines
When coral bleaching is detected early, resource managers may be able to reduce the damage to and increase the recovery of the ecosystem by applying targeted management strategies. With funding from a CORAL microgrant, Dean Apistar—who attended one of last year’s Reef Resilience to Climate Change workshops—has developed tools to empower members of his Philippines community to recognize signs of bleaching and report their observations. He also trained a cohort of community members to serve as coral bleaching watchdogs.
Learn more about Dean's project » |
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Failing Grade for the Oceans?
A group of marine scientists recently came together to produce the first comprehensive, annual assessment of the benefits that a healthy ocean provides as a way to measure the overall health of the oceans. The Ocean Health Index, which looked at ten criteria (all of which emphasize the human-ocean relationship), reports a current overall global score of 60 out of 100. There’s no question that this result indicates a relationship that is out of balance and unsustainable, but what does it mean for ongoing conservation and management?
Read the story » |
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* Photo Credits and Notes:
Banner Photo: Reef scene, Wakatobi, Indonesia
Photographer: Alvin Rosenfeld
Large Center Photo: Blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) and whitemouth jacks (Uraspis helvola), Kona, Hawaii
Photographer: Deron Verbeck
Left Side Photo: KHFMA anniversary celebration, Maui, Hawaii
Photographer: Liz Foote
Thumbnails: 1) Deron Verbeck, 2) Courtesy of St. Thomas School, 3) Dean Apistar, 4) Jeff Yonover
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