From otyack at intnet.mu Mon Aug 2 08:56:14 1999 From: otyack at intnet.mu (Olivier Tyack) Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1999 16:56:14 +0400 Subject: Artificial reef Message-ID: <77278B15458.AAA38C9@bow.intnet.mu> Dear all, Our society has created 14 artificial reefs using old vessels. We would like to implement an ecological sudy/monitoring. Has any similar scientific study been done elsewere on the same subject ? If yes please contact us or send us the reference of papers. Any recent reference on all scientific papers dealing with artificial reef made of old ships will be usefull. Regards. Olivier Tyack president Mauritius Marine Conservation Society -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990802/5cdea27b/attachment.html From Steve at gate.net Mon Aug 2 16:46:20 1999 From: Steve at gate.net (Steven Jury) Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1999 16:46:20 -0400 Subject: No subject Message-ID: <12BE08ED5BB7D111814800805FA98C5D030F3C@CMRC01> I would like to bring to your attention an immediate opening for a research associate within our organization. Additional information may be found at our web site: www.cmrc.org PERRY INSTITUTE FOR MARINE SCIENCE CARIBBEAN MARINE RESEARCH CENTER POSITION AVAILABLE RESEARCH ASSOCIATE Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS)/Caribbean Marine Research Center (CMRC) has an immediate opening for a full time Research Associate. The primary job responsibility is to provide research assistance and scientific and educational program development under the direction of the Center Director in support of CMRC missions. Toward this objective, the job duties are comprised of the following: Assist in the development and coordination of science projects; assist in proposal development and grant writing; provide technical support for CMRC supported research projects; assist in the collection of field or laboratory data; compile, organize, analyze, and disseminate programmatic and scientific data; serve as CMRC's representative for database management activities with the National Undersea Research Program; and perform special projects. The minimum job qualifications are as follows: Masters of Science degree in biology, marine ecology, fisheries science, oceanography or related field; excellent writing, computer and organizational skills. Minimum one year of work in a scientific research environment and ability to travel are required. Other knowledge and skills required include those pertaining to scientific instrumentation, database design and development, equipment and methodology. Field experience incuding dive certification for SCUBA and NITROX (optional). Please fax a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references to (561) 741-0193. The position is located in Tequesta, Florida. Starting salary is in the range of $28 to 30k. EOE/DFW. Dr. Steven H. Jury Science Director Perry Institute of Marine Science Caribbean Marine Research Center National Undersea Research Program 250 Tequesta Dr., Ste 304 Tequesta, FL 33469 561-741-0192 561-741-0193 (fax) sjury at gate.net From EricHugo at aol.com Tue Aug 3 11:14:17 1999 From: EricHugo at aol.com (EricHugo at aol.com) Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 11:14:17 EDT Subject: Florida Keys sea temperatures Message-ID: Hi, Jim and list: I am going to the Flower Gardens and Stetson Banks in ten days. I will look for evidence of bleaching there, as well as photo-document any noted disease or other problems I notice. I will update you and the list if needed. Hopefully, there won't be a single problem there! If there is anything in particular anyone would like me to look for, please let me know by email. Eric Borneman From dnemeth at coralworldvi.com Tue Aug 3 11:12:48 1999 From: dnemeth at coralworldvi.com (Donna Nemeth) Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 12:12:48 -0300 Subject: Aquarist job listing Message-ID: Please find below a description of an aquarist position available at a private aquarium in the US Virgin Islands. Our website is www.coralworldvi.com. AQUARIST?Coral World, St. Thomas. Duties include all aspects of animal collection and care, quarantine, exhibit design & maintenance, fish feeding, and public shows. We display live corals in addition to Caribbean fishes (including sharks and rays), other invertebrates, sea turtles, live mangroves, tortoises and iguanas. Advantages of this position include the chance to work on all aspects of exhibitry, animal handling, and presentation, with a large part of the day spent in the warm waters of the Caribbean. Qualifications required: SCUBA certification, excellent diving skills, team-oriented but able to work independently with little supervision, excellent public speaker with strong interpersonal skills. A college degree and experience working in a public aquarium is preferred. Salary $8 to $10/hour, plus benefits. Send r?sum?, cover letter, and 3 references by August 15 to Dr. Donna Nemeth, Curator, 6450 Coki Point, St. Thomas, USVI 00802. Submission by email (dnemeth at coralworldvi.com) or fax (340-77 5-9068) preferred. From james at winmarconsulting.com Tue Aug 3 13:24:40 1999 From: james at winmarconsulting.com (James Wiseman) Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 12:24:40 -0500 Subject: Artificial reef Message-ID: <9187DAFC4EB1D21196B50008C733ED9104CB03@163.61.winmar.hypercon.com> Hi Olivier, If you have some free time, try browsing the LA Rigs-to-Reefs Program home page at: http://www.wlf.state.la.us/wsdocs/Artificial%20Reef/index.htm Maybe you can find some references or people to talk to there. My company managed the first donation to the program in 1987. HTH James Wiseman Houston TX -----Original Message----- From: Olivier Tyack [mailto:otyack at intnet.mu] Sent: Monday, August 02, 1999 7:56 AM To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Subject: Artificial reef Dear all, Our society has created 14 artificial reefs using old vessels. We would like to implement an ecological sudy/monitoring. Has any similar scientific study been done elsewere on the same subject ? If yes please contact us or send us the reference of papers. Any recent reference on all scientific papers dealing with artificial reef made of old ships will be usefull. Regards. Olivier Tyack president Mauritius Marine Conservation Society From bsegal at acd.ufrj.br Tue Aug 3 15:04:24 1999 From: bsegal at acd.ufrj.br (Barbara Segal) Date: Tue, 03 Aug 1999 16:04:24 -0300 Subject: Reproduction Message-ID: <9908031854.AA18702@acd.ufrj.br> Dear coral listers: I am a Brazilian M.Sc. student of the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro. I am beginning to work on the reproductive biology of Siderastrea stellata, an endemic species. However I have some doubts and there are few works dealing with species of this family. I would like to know if there are someone working with this theme or if there are some papers. I am already aware of the following papers: Duerden, 1902 and 1904; Szmant-Froelich, 1984 and 1986; Soong, 1991; Guzm?n & Holst, 1993. P.S.: Any information on reproduction of Scolymia will be also appreciated. Sincerely, Monica (hlins at openlink.com.br) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990803/4bf94105/attachment.html From acmaea at together.net Tue Aug 3 21:51:08 1999 From: acmaea at together.net (Gustav W. Verderber) Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 21:51:08 -0400 Subject: Seeking Marine Educator Position Message-ID: <001601bede1b$d4e4cbc0$e6a405d0@GustavW.Verderber> Dear Colleagues, As mine is a somewhat unconventional CV unlikely to closely match most standard faculty positions, I am using the Internet to explore the opportunities for part-time and/or full-time appointments in a marine science department preferably in the northeastern or northwestern United States. In short, I am a marine naturalist with a M.S. in invertebrate zoology, educator, nature writer, and a professional nature photographer. My passions include teaching any aspect of natural history, biology, environmental science, writing about and photographing the natural world, and music (piano, folk). My skills range from shipboard operations (learned during a brief stint as a first mate on a fishing boat in the Florida Keys), to SCUBA, audiovisual production, and environmental interpretation. I lead natural history and photography workshops to national and international destinations. My essays have been published in literary reviews and my photographic work has been featured in and on the cover of Natural History magazine. I have much to offer a marine science department that engages students in a wide range of interactions with the environment, as scholars, educators, writers, or artists. Additionally, my practical skills, I am sure, would prove useful to a department actively engaged in marine research. For the past ten years, I have taught as an adjunct professor in the biology and environmental science department at Johnson State College in northern Vermont. Recently, I have begun work on several book projects, including an environmental interpretation textbook and an illustrated natural history of the marine intertidal. Though I am only 6.5 hours from the Maine coast, I yearn to immerse myself in a marine setting. If you have any insights regarding possible opportunities that would enable me to continue my educational and interpretive work within a marine science department, I would very much appreciate hearing from you. For more information about my background, my publications, and me, please visit my home page at the URL given below. With gratitude and respect, Gustav W. Verderber ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Education * Natural History & Photo Workshops * Photography * Writing See "FRAMING NATURE" in the summer/fall, 1999 issue of VERMONT MAGAZINE 1999-2000 Workshops: Acadia National Park/Galapagos Islands/Florida Keys http://www.together.net/~acmaea acmaea at together.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From George.Schmahl at noaa.gov Wed Aug 4 13:53:04 1999 From: George.Schmahl at noaa.gov (G.P. Schmahl) Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1999 11:53:04 -0600 Subject: Florida Keys sea temperatures References: Message-ID: <37A87DF8.F9AD48E5@noaa.gov> Eric - Thanks for your interest in the Flower Gardens and Stetson Bank. As you no doubt know, these features are part of NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. We are always interested in any observations concerning reef health and resource conditions within the Sanctuary. Please copy me with any interesting observations relating to bleaching, disease or other resource phenomena for our ongoing database. As an update to the coral list, as of 7/28/99, there was no observable bleaching noted at either the East or West Flower Garden Banks. The Sanctuary, in conjumction with the Minerals Management Service, has supported a long-term monitoring effort at the Flower Garden Banks since 1988. (And other monitoring efforts were conducted through Texas A&M University dating back to the early 1970's). The monitoring program is presently being implemented by a research group from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, under the direction of Dr. Quenton Dokken. This monitoring effort includes the deployment of recording thermographs which document water temperature at 20 minute intervals. In addition, Li Cor light sensors and data loggers have been deployed at both Banks to measure light intensity at the reef surface. Unfortuneately, these are not real-time devices, but recent data from the thermographs and light sensors were downloaded during the cruise last week. Therefore, bleaching (when or if it occurs) can be directly correlated to water temperature and light intensity regimes. Surveys of indicators of coral reef health are conducted throughout the year by sanctuary staff and other researchers in addition to the full long-term monitoring effort which is carried out in the late summer. Typically, if bleaching occurs at the Flower Gardens, it happens later in the season than in the Florida Keys or other locations in the Caribbean. Interested parties may refer to the most recent publication of the monitoring effort data: Dokken, Q.R.et al. 1998. Long-term Monitoring of the East and West Flower Garden Banks, 1996-1997. OCS Study MMS 99-0005, USDOI, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, LA. 101 pp. The Flower Garden Banks continue to be relatively disease-free. Incidence of the types of diseases that have affected other areas in the Caribbean are very rare. However, one obvious source of coral mortality is inflicted by intense grazing of parrot fish. This can result in areas of stark white dead coral patches which can cover 1/4 square meter or more, and is sometimes mistaken for coral disease. Scientists are unsure why this phenomena is apparently more intense at the Flower Gardens than other reef locations. For more information about the research and monitoring program at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, please contact Emma Hickerson, Research Coordinator at "emma.hickerson at noaa.gov". EricHugo at aol.com wrote: > Hi, Jim and list: > > I am going to the Flower Gardens and Stetson Banks in ten days. I will look > for evidence of bleaching there, as well as photo-document any noted disease > or other problems I notice. I will update you and the list if needed. > Hopefully, there won't be a single problem there! If there is anything in > particular anyone would like me to look for, please let me know by email. > > Eric Borneman -- G.P. Schmahl Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 216 W. 26th Street, Suite 104 Bryan, TX 77803 (409) 779-2705 (409) 779-2334 (fax) george.schmahl at noaa.gov From dipal at ibw.com.ni Wed Aug 4 23:15:09 1999 From: dipal at ibw.com.ni (Pdipal) Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1999 20:15:09 -0700 Subject: Lobster Message-ID: <3.0.2.32.19990804201509.0068e114@pop1.ibw.com.ni> I was wondering whether anybody knows if the heads of lobsters thrown into a confined body of water (diameter 100m) would drive away other lobsters. There is a proposal to set up a small collection point for lobster on one of the Pearl Keys (on two others there already is one). This would mean that they would throw away the lobster heads and save the tail on ice. This Key has a large bay with two openings, inside the bay the maximum depth is 2 meter with not too much current going through it. Some fisherman are now afraid that all these heads will scare away the remaining lobsters when they throw them inside the bay (on the otherside of the island there is quite a steep drop off until 20 meters so there won't be any effect). Could anybody help me with this question? thanks Mariska Weijerman DIPAL II Pearl Lagoon RAAS Nicaragua tel/fax: + 505 82 21 777 From burke at twsuvm.uc.twsu.edu Thu Aug 5 16:16:38 1999 From: burke at twsuvm.uc.twsu.edu (Dr. Burke) Date: Thu, 05 Aug 1999 15:16:38 -0500 Subject: email for C. L Smith Message-ID: <3.0.2.32.19990805151638.0074fedc@twsuvm.uc.twsu.edu> Having checked the online directory, I can find no address for C. L. (Leavet?) Smith . Does anybody have this address (email preferably)? I appreciate your help. Thanks Collette Collette D. Burke Chair and Assoc. Professor, Geology Dept. Wichita State University Phone: 316-978-3140 Fax: 316-978-3431 email: burke at twsuvm.uc.twsu.edu From mpenjuel at dialb.greenpeace.org Fri Aug 6 06:33:15 1999 From: mpenjuel at dialb.greenpeace.org (Maureen Penjueli) Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 10:33:15 +0000 Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. Message-ID: <"199908052243.SAA19116@ dialb.gl3"> Bula everyone, There is currently a huge debate in Fiji with regards to Coral harvesting in Fiji. A paper was commissioned by the Fisheries Department and the industry to address the issue. Recommendation is to allow the industry to go ahead and there is a lot of concern in the country about the potential damage to the country. However support is divided between those who support the industry and those that don't. Fiji is becoming one of the biggest exporters if not the biggest exporter of coral products and there is concern regarding the damage that is done to the natural environment which has not been adequately dealt with in the report. We are requesting information/ contacts of scientists who have worked on this issue to help balance the debate here in Fiji....and provide people in Government with the necessary information. We are particularly interested in research conducted in Asia or regions where there has been an impact. We have at least a week to provide individuals with the necessary information. I look forward to information that anyone could provide our office. Vinaka. Maureen. From geertjes at bonairenet.com Fri Aug 6 03:04:17 1999 From: geertjes at bonairenet.com (Gerard Geertjes) Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 03:04:17 -0400 Subject: underwater temperature loggers Message-ID: <01bedfd9$e68f4980$LocalHost@default> Dear coral-listers, My colleague Mebrahtu Ateweberhan, who works in a joint project of the University of Asmara (Eritrea) and the Groningen University (The Netherlands), seeks information on underwater temperature loggers. He is especially interested in experiences of other researchers with this type of apparatus. I forward his message: Out of 4 temperature loggers that we purchased in 1997, only one remains operational. Two of the loggers were found damaged while the third one was reading wrong values. We think the problem is associated with the size and the strength of the case. We are looking for suggestions on data loggers with rugged and strong case that withstands the strong water motion and with a 0-50 oC ranges of reading. Price obviously is an issue as well. Mebrahtu Ateweberhan University of Asmara Atewebem at biol.rug.nl mebrahtu at marine.uoa.edu.er Please respond directly to Mebrahtu, thanks. Gerard J. Geertjes Groningen University Department of Marine Biology Kaya Dorado 12, Bonaire Netherlands Antilles geertjes at bonairenet.com phone: + 599 7 5879 fax: + 599 7 2595 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990806/ec442f87/attachment.html From carlson at soest.hawaii.edu Thu Aug 5 23:24:01 1999 From: carlson at soest.hawaii.edu (Bruce Carlson) Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 17:24:01 -1000 Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. Message-ID: <199908061102.LAA20571@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Maureen, I can't help much with analysis, but I think most of us would find it "interesting" to know how many tons of live rock and coral are shipped out of Fiji every week. Are any data presented in the official report or in the media? If so, can you share that with everyone, or is the report accessible via the internet? Aloha Bruce Carlson ----- Original Message ----- From: Maureen Penjueli To: Sent: Friday, August 06, 1999 12:33 AM Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. > Bula everyone, > > There is currently a huge debate in Fiji with regards to Coral > harvesting in Fiji. A paper was commissioned by the Fisheries > Department and the industry to address the issue. > > Recommendation is to allow the industry to go ahead and there is a > lot of concern in the country about the potential damage to the > country. However support is divided between those who support the > industry and those that don't. Fiji is becoming one of the biggest > exporters if not the biggest exporter of coral products and there is > concern regarding the damage that is done to the natural environment > which has not been adequately dealt with in the report. > > We are requesting information/ contacts of scientists who have > worked on this issue to help balance the debate here in Fiji....and > provide people in Government with the necessary information. We are > particularly interested in research conducted in Asia or regions > where there has been an impact. We have at least a week to provide > individuals with the necessary information. I look forward to > information that anyone could provide our office. > > Vinaka. > > Maureen. > From mking at samoa.net.ws Fri Aug 6 00:18:01 1999 From: mking at samoa.net.ws (Mike King) Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 17:18:01 -1100 Subject: Catamarans for tuna fishing Message-ID: <199908061105.LAA20631@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Samoa has a growing tuna longline fishery in which aluminum catamarans are the main vessels utilized by the local fishermen. The tuna fishery is now the biggest export earner in the country. As the industry has grown so quickly many local boat builders have constructed vessels without following approved plans from marine architects. The government is now requiring that all fishing vessels are surveyed. What we would like to know: is there a formula for determing the beam size holding the two hulls together in relation to the boat length? For example: a 8.5 m catamaran might require 10 cm by 10 cm beams and a 9.0 m catamaran might require 12 cm by 12 cm beams etc Grateful for any info. Peter Watt From JSprung at compuserve.com Fri Aug 6 08:20:28 1999 From: JSprung at compuserve.com (Julian Sprung) Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 08:20:28 -0400 Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. Message-ID: <199908060820_MC2-800D-6D10@compuserve.com> Bula Maureen, I agree with Bruce, but want to point out some important considerations for interpreting the data. The figures for live rock and corals must not be lumped together, as that would represent an extreme miscalculation. The live rock harvested from Fiji is composed of and constructed mostly by coralline algae. There is some Montipora, Leptastrea, Psammocora and Porites among it, but the majority throughout is just coralline algae. So, figures of "how many tons of live rock" do not equal how much coral. I would estimate that the rock is not more than 10% coral by weight, probably much less. On the subject of weight, the live rock is wet, so the weights quoted include quite a bit of water. That should be considered too. The weight of water may also be a factor in "tonnage" of live corals reported, as they are typically shipped submerged in a bag of water, suspended by a styrofoam float. The figures for live corals should be reported as number of pieces, not weight. It should be pointed out to concerned parties that the corals harvested are typically fist-sized colonies that represent between six months and two years growth, and they are often but not always fragments found unattached, having broken off of larger colonies. This represents a completely renewable resource and a viable industry for Fiji, provided that no extreme loss of coral to an ENSO event occurs there. I have seen the kind of Area in Fiji where the live rock is harvested. The areas are vast. It is not taken from "among the corals" as concerned parties might imagine. It occurs in a large region far behind the reefs, where this particular type of coralline algae forms porous lumpy rocks unattached to the bottom, and covered on top with various species of macroalgae. What I do not know is the growth rate of these coralline stones, so I cannot comment on the level of harvest that can be termed sustainable. Sincerely, Julian Sprung From EricHugo at aol.com Fri Aug 6 09:24:06 1999 From: EricHugo at aol.com (EricHugo at aol.com) Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 09:24:06 EDT Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. Message-ID: Hi, Bruce and all: I found this post to be extremely interesting. For the past five months, I have been in communication with both Austin Bowden-Kirby (Fiji) and Andy Bruckner and we have been comparing notes from various sources regarding the numbers of corals coming out of Fiji. It seems clear by general availability in retail and wholesale outlets that Fiji corals have, for a couple years, been a predominant source of scleractinia. Although perhaps this is "visually" deceptive, they seemed to far outpace in number and species diversity those originating from Indonesia, esepecially for certain species which have become far more available than, say, five years ago. Specifically, species of Acropora, Montipora, Merulina, Pectinia, Heliopora, Millepora, Pavona, Hydnophora,Lobophyllia, and many of the Fungiidae have become quite more available. Unfortunately, this does not seem to have happened in substitution for the still overwhelmingly large number of the "old" standbys of Goniopora, Euphyllia, Trachyphyllia and Catalaphyllia that still predominantly originate out of Indonesia. Rather, it has been "in addition to" those other sources. Perhaps more disturbing is the recent acceptance of shipment of live scleractinia originating in the Philippines despite legislation in both importing and exporting c ountries to prevent this trade. But that is another story. After reviewing many pertinent reports, especially those various TRAFFIC reports, Bentley, Green, etc., it appears that numbers are still significantly underreported. One of the disturbing aspects in Fiji, for me at least, is the Secretary-allowed exclusion of Tridacnid exports despite legislation prohibiting this trade. As you may know, there are quite a large number of wild Tridacnids originating from this area to the marine aquarium trade. Furthermore, the relatively low amount of protected areas cannot be helping relative rates of exploitation (or overexploitation as the case may be). I do have the numbers for the Fijian trade by species, disposition, and exact number destined for the US over the past five years. This includes marine fish, invertebrates, corals, live rock, etc. They are quite a bit higher, apparently, than those provided by CITES sources and Fiji sources. They also contrast with sources that related the trade by weight (a very difficult thing to analayze in terms of effect and number of organisms collected, as estimates of coral weight must be made...some of which may be quite a bit off, especially because of differences in skeletal density and in the amount of water present. The numbers are further likely to be underreported because of the inability of USF&W inspectors to examine the masssive numbers of shipments. Consequently, there will be many extra animals entering as the well known "box stuffers." These are typically animals which were "unwanted" by most sources for some reason (unsuitability for captivity?) or were caught in abundance during some period. I hope that some of the discrepancies in number and type can be resolved soon, and I will be submitting this work for publication in the future. However, to give you an idea, there have been over 1,500,000 live Acropora spp. from Fiji to the US over five years. In 1994, there were 74,000 collected. In 1998, there were 274, 680 collected. The trends for other corals show similar increases. For live rock, 22, 625,666 pieces were reported to enter the US. In 1994, there were 295,568 pieces. In 1998, there were 8,249,458 pieces. This correlates well with what is apparent in retail outlets as Fiji live rock is, to say the least, abundant and cheap. I hope to be able to provide the rest of the trade data soon for Fiji and other countries, some of which are most...shall we say, unusual, as they do not have coral reefs and yet appear as countries of origin on manifests and reports. This will have to be resolved in light of the other reports already out, as well as for simple clarification. Eric Borneman From EricHugo at aol.com Fri Aug 6 09:51:23 1999 From: EricHugo at aol.com (EricHugo at aol.com) Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 09:51:23 EDT Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. Message-ID: In a message dated 8/6/99 6:30:24 AM, JSprung at compuserve.com writes: << The live rock harvested from Fiji is composed of and constructed mostly by coralline algae. There is some Montipora, Leptastrea, Psammocora and Porites among it, but the majority throughout is just coralline algae. So, figures of "how many tons of live rock" do not equal how much coral. I would estimate that the rock is not more than 10% coral by weight, probably much less. >> Hi Julian: The concern I have is not merely for the presence of scleractinia but as a general loss of habitat. This live rock provides important spatial heterogeneity for a huge number of organisms. the number of organisms in 1 cubic meter of "live rock" has been estimated at over 1,000,000 organisms. While "rubble zones" may not provide a good site for the long term survival of juvenile coral settlement, the habitat does provide for both hard and soft substrate flora and fauna which is part of the ecosystem. Scleractinia are typically the focus of ENSO events and are the most "colorful" items to report to media sources. Far fewer studies, if any, are done to assess the impact of collection on, say, various coelobites. Or the relative effects of mass bleaching events or high SST's on photosynthetic subsurface flora and fauna. What discourages me most is the reckless abandon with which such live rock substrate is handled following collection. This has gotten much worse over recent years as availability has increased and prices dropped dramatically. The rock is nearly dry and sits unsubmerged for a week or more before arriving to a facility which then "cures" it - be it wholesale, retail or consumer level. At this point, only a smattering of the original life remains, and even much of the coralline algae is lost. The low prices of this substrate (and, for that matter, wild collected corals and fish) has also put an extreme economic disadvantage to those who are aquaculturing live rock and working towards creating a sustainable industry. <> The numbers I quoted in the other reponse are by piece and not weight. <> I don't think there is enough data available, especially given the stresses present on reefs today, to accurately assess what comprises "completely renewable", much less "viable." <> Given that the rubble zones have material originating from reef zones which are periodically buried and then uncovered, as well as added to as storms break off other pieces of reef material and are acted on by large bioerosive and mechanical forces - and that one must consider the total flora and fauna, not just the growth rate of surface growing crustose corallines, I don't think it likely that sustainable levels will be easily determined. What seems to be a more valid question is the necessity of tons of wild living substrate being virtually killed to provide substrate for aquaria. I am an aquarist, and I even partially earn my income from the hobby through my writings, and clearly recognize the *potential* of the private sector to provide important information in terms of observations and husbandry of marine organisms. However, so long as the economics of mass export of cheap , poorly handled, wild collected material prevents carefully managed, non-destructive and sustainable aquaculture from becoming the source for such large amounts of reef biota, it is very hard to rationalize its continuance. I think viable economic alternatives must be put into place immediately, if not sooner, given the status of the world's reefs, Eric Borneman From jivey at seas.marine.usf.edu Fri Aug 6 09:50:08 1999 From: jivey at seas.marine.usf.edu (Jim Ivey) Date: Fri, 06 Aug 1999 09:50:08 -0400 Subject: underwater temperature loggers In-Reply-To: <01bedfd9$e68f4980$LocalHost@default> Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19990806095008.007d4b60@seas.marine.usf.edu> Dear Gerard, My suggestion would be to stick with inexpensive loggers but have a machine shop make your housing. I designed a number of housings for optical instruments and junction boxes. I use schedule 80 aluminum pipe and have it anodized. If you use a marine bulkhead connector on the housing, you can further isolate the housing from water leakage through the cable. If you are really concerned about water leakage, filling the housing with insulating oil adds an extra measure of safety. I can send you a CAD drawing of one of the housings I have designed. Let me know if you would like one. Sincerely, Jim Ivey At 03:04 AM 8/6/99 -0400, Gerard Geertjes wrote: > Dear coral-listers, My colleague Mebrahtu Ateweberhan, who works in a >joint project of the University of Asmara (Eritrea) and the Groningen >University (The Netherlands), seeks information on underwater temperature >loggers. He is especially interested in experiences of other researchers >with this type of apparatus. I forward his message: Out of 4 temperature >loggers that we purchased in 1997, only one remains operational. Two of >the loggers were found damaged while the third one was reading wrong >values. We think the problem is associated with the size and the strength >of the case. We are looking for suggestions on data loggers with rugged >and strong case that withstands the strong water motion and with a 0-50 oC >ranges of reading. Price obviously is an issue as well. Mebrahtu >Ateweberhan University of Asmara Atewebem at biol.rug.nl >mebrahtu at marine.uoa.edu.er Please respond directly to Mebrahtu, thanks. >Gerard J. Geertjes >Groningen University >Department of Marine Biology >Kaya Dorado 12, Bonaire >Netherlands Antilles >geertjes at bonairenet.com >phone: + 599 7 5879 > ------------------------------------------------------------- James E. Ivey | Tel# (727) 553-1503 University of S. Florida | Fax# (727) 553-1189 140 7th Ave S. | e-mail: jivey at marine.usf.edu St. Petersburg, FL 33701 | ------------------------------------------------------------- From mlkjr at interaccess.com Fri Aug 6 11:04:42 1999 From: mlkjr at interaccess.com (Mike and Marelet Kirda) Date: Fri, 06 Aug 1999 10:04:42 -0500 Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. In-Reply-To: <199908052243.SAA19116@ dialb.gl3> Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.19990806100442.00795100@pop.interaccess.com> At 10:33 AM 8/6/99 +0000, you wrote: >Bula everyone, > >There is currently a huge debate in Fiji with regards to Coral >harvesting in Fiji. A paper was commissioned by the Fisheries >Department and the industry to address the issue. > >Recommendation is to allow the industry to go ahead and there is a >lot of concern in the country about the potential damage to the >country. However support is divided between those who support the >industry and those that don't. Fiji is becoming one of the biggest >exporters if not the biggest exporter of coral products and there is >concern regarding the damage that is done to the natural environment >which has not been adequately dealt with in the report. Bula, Maureen. I wanted to add my comments as an informed and concerned hobbyist. There is little doubt that coral collection *could* harm a reef if the collection pressure is high enough. The vast majority of corals coming into the US still seem to be those physically chipped off the reef, as Julian described. My feeling is that 'normal' collection pressure would likely influence species composition, though likely not overall biomass. What is more disturbing, frankly, is the attitudes of the stores here in the US- As you likely already know, there are alternatives to the collection as outlined above. There is a 'farming' operation in the Solomon Islands where local women go collect some small fragments off the reef itself (i.e. the equivalent of storm damage) and bring them back to mount on small cement disks. These are then grown out in a local lagoon for 3 to 6 months and then harvested. What is most amazing about these cultured colonies is that their rate of shipping death is amazingly low- typically well under 1%, assuming no delays in shipping. Compare that with chipped off colony corals- I think we are happy to see only a 10% loss, and they are often much higher: 40 to 80% is not that uncommon. Yet even given the low rate of loss, most retailers will not carry cultured corals. They are 'too small' or 'too expensive': even though wholesale they are but a buck or two higher in cost... Many of the more informed hobbyists have taken a course of 'no wild caught colonies, period'. My own tank has maybe three colonies- the others are all grown from fragments given to me by other hobbyists, either for cash or trade. However, we are but a few, and seem to have the entire industry against us. I would love to see countries like Fiji get to the point where they limit wild coral collection to a few thousand colonies a year, or even shut it down completely, but encourage the creation of cultured coral 'farms' as an alternative. I think it would be in everyone's best interests. The US would be forced to import these ecologically sound alternatives, Fijian collectors could become farmers, and the 'industry' would still have access to corals. Everyone wins. I do hope that this post was helpful to you. Best regards. Mike Kirda From Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov Fri Aug 6 11:31:17 1999 From: Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov (Jim Hendee) Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 11:31:17 -0400 (EDT) Subject: coral-list news Message-ID: Greetings, For various logistical reasons, I have just opened the list back up for new subscriptions. We have about 20 new subscribers (1184 total). Elsewhere in the news, I would just like to ask all our new (and some old) subscribers to be sure to read the Welcome Message [please save it!] carefully. 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Sincerely yours, Jim Hendee Louis Florit Philippe Dubosq Ocean Chemistry Division Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami, FL 33149-1026 USA From gene at tutuila.gsfc.nasa.gov Fri Aug 6 09:10:21 1999 From: gene at tutuila.gsfc.nasa.gov (gene at tutuila.gsfc.nasa.gov) Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 09:10:21 -0400 Subject: Catamarans for tuna fishing Message-ID: <199908061613.QAA23023@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> This message brings back some very fond memories for me. As a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Western Samoa (1974-77) I participated in the first boat building activities of the Western Samoan Fisheries Division. We had a terrific naval architect and boat builder who worked with the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization who designed plywood catamarans based along the lines of the traditional Samoan alia. These boats were quite successful. His name was Oyvind Gulbrandsen and perhaps someone can try and contact him via FAO to see if he could help answer your question. Best regards, gene feldman On Aug 5, 5:18pm, Mike King wrote: > Subject: Catamarans for tuna fishing > Samoa has a growing tuna longline fishery in which aluminum catamarans are > the main vessels utilized by the local fishermen. The tuna fishery is now > the biggest export earner in the country. As the industry has grown so > quickly many local boat builders have constructed vessels without > following approved plans from marine architects. The government is now > requiring that all fishing vessels are surveyed. > > What we would like to know: is there a formula for determing the beam size > holding the two hulls together in relation to the boat length? For > example: > > a 8.5 m catamaran might require 10 cm by 10 cm beams and > a 9.0 m catamaran might require 12 cm by 12 cm beams > etc > > Grateful for any info. Peter Watt > >-- End of excerpt from Mike King -- From cnidaria at earthlink.net Fri Aug 6 14:27:08 1999 From: cnidaria at earthlink.net (James M. Cervino) Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 13:27:08 -0500 Subject: Harvesting Message-ID: Dear Listers interested in coral harvesting: Coral List Statement: This represents a completely renewable resource and a viable industry for Fiji, The statement above mentions renewable and viable industry. Viable industry for who? Are corals regrowing as fast as they are collected? Is this a renewable resource at the current method of collection? A resource for middlemen who pay the indigenous peoples to collect corals? US aquarium hobby stores? Shell World? Indigenous peoples? Is this better than tourism (SCUBA , snorkeling etc.) for the peoples of Fiji? Are the local peoples (indigenous) able to sustain their families well being from the extraction of corals and live rock from the reefs in which they lived and survived on for hundreds of years at the method of collection? Every person (local collector, not middle men) in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Fiji etc. we spoke to claim they are UNABLE to sustain their families well-being from the extraction of corals, fish, and live rock on a LONG TERM BASIS. Only the middle men waving dollars in front of their faces are profiting from this business. These are the same people who also supply cyanide to the indigenous peoples to collect fish. Local people have been re-locating themselves and their families to new reefs to exploit after a few years. This has been PROVED as an ineffective economic resource to sustain their families well-being over the long term. We don't see peoples starving, families re-locating, and small local economies falling apart from this trade. All the consumer or purchaser of corals for fish tanks in living rooms see is, exotic pretty vibrant colored fish and corals, not the suffering or loss that is involved due to the trade. I will not even mention the extortion, and crime that is involved in this trade. Why is it that on some boats that collect corals and NaCN caught fish have armed men on boats with machine guns? This trade is corrupt, and needs a drastic overhaul. It needs to be managed properly. Artificial reef restoration (not with tires or sunken ships) needs to be implemented to rebuild reefs damaged from bleaching, diseases, and over exploitation due to harvesting, dynamiting, or NaCN use. The (IMA) International Marine-life Alliance has implemented a method in-which fish are collected with a net, and not with NaCN. Net collection can work if the middle men supplying NaCN stay out of the picture. Corals can be sold for the hobby trade as long as the surrounding ecosystem is replenished with artificially grown corals that cannot be harvested, Certain areas can be set aside for farming & collection. Corals should only be harvested from these areas. Fish can be collected in these areas using nets because, the small fish will be coming back due to the artificial coral re-growth. Given the mass bleaching events, disease outbreaks, and anthropogenic sources of pollution, should there not be a ban on WILD collected corals given the state of the reefs today in the tropics? Will this method work that I have suggested? It has been 32 weeks since the last discussion regarding coral harvesting. I have been keeping track of the imports from one local aquarium store in NY, and we have numbers presented in a paper this fall. I appreciate Eric's posting, pointing out that a change or revamping in the coral & fish collection industry is germane. As well as pointing out that this is not an EASY renewable resource much less viable. ******************************* James M. Cervino Marine Biologist Global Coral Reef Alliance University of South Carolina at Aiken cnidaria at earthlink.net ******************************** From howzit at turtles.org Fri Aug 6 15:28:59 1999 From: howzit at turtles.org (Ursula Keuper-Bennett) Date: Fri, 06 Aug 1999 09:28:59 -1000 Subject: Hawaii --requesting identification help Message-ID: <4.1.19990806090542.00bfd100@pop.vex.net> Hello Coral Researchers, The other day we videotaped a Hawaiian turtle having a tastie. It rifled through coral, snapped off pieces, fussed and flapped and finally plucked out its "reward". Only we've never seen anything like it. We're hoping a Hawaiian reef researcher may have come across this and knows what this is. Here is a video freezeframe of the "food" in its entirety just before it was swallowed. http://www.turtles.org/special/keokieat2.jpg And. This is a better quality closeup. Rubbery, cream coloured to light gray with a harder darker almost black coating. Grows in crevices on corals. Looks like the kind of thing--if it showed up on your lungs in an Xray you'd be finalizing your will. http://www.turtles.org/special/keokieat3.jpg Thanks in advance. ---------------------------------------- ^ Ursula Keuper-Bennett 0 0 mailto: howzit at turtles.org /V^\ /^V\ /V Turtle Trax V\ http://www.turtles.org / \ "For most of the wild things on earth the future must depend upon the conscience of mankind." \ / --- Dr. Archie Carr / \ / \ /__| V |__\ malama na honu From jivey at seas.marine.usf.edu Fri Aug 6 16:52:16 1999 From: jivey at seas.marine.usf.edu (Jim Ivey) Date: Fri, 06 Aug 1999 16:52:16 -0400 Subject: underwater temperature loggers In-Reply-To: References: <3.0.5.32.19990806095008.007d4b60@seas.marine.usf.edu> Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19990806165216.007d3ec0@seas.marine.usf.edu> Hi Folks, Wow! That brought a lot of requests! If anyone is interested in looking at some of the designs that I did for some of my junction boxes, I made a real quick web page. Please feel free to download the drawings, e-mail me with any comments, or send large sums of money :-). The drawings are not specifically designed for housing temperature loggers but can be adapted for that use. Just remember, I am not an engineer. I am a PhD student working in optical oceanography. I am self-taught in CAD and UW housing design. Also, Tom Peacock (our boat captain and ROV/AUV tech) deserves a lot of credit for helping me with these designs. I am open for any suggestions for improvements to these housings and will add any designs that anyone else would care to contribute. Go to: http://www.marine.usf.edu/~jivey/index.html Sincerely, Jim >> Dear Gerard, >> >> My suggestion would be to stick with inexpensive loggers but have a >> machine shop make your housing. I designed a number of housings for >> optical instruments and junction boxes. I use schedule 80 aluminum pipe >> and have it anodized. If you use a marine bulkhead connector on the >> housing, you can further isolate the housing from water leakage through the >> cable. If you are really concerned about water leakage, filling the >> housing with insulating oil adds an extra measure of safety. I can send >> you a CAD drawing of one of the housings I have designed. Let me know if >> you would like one. >> >> Sincerely, >> >> Jim Ivey >> >> >> >> At 03:04 AM 8/6/99 -0400, Gerard Geertjes wrote: >> > Dear coral-listers, My colleague Mebrahtu Ateweberhan, who works in a >> >joint project of the University of Asmara (Eritrea) and the Groningen >> >University (The Netherlands), seeks information on underwater temperature >> >loggers. He is especially interested in experiences of other researchers >> >with this type of apparatus. I forward his message: Out of 4 temperature >> >loggers that we purchased in 1997, only one remains operational. Two of >> >the loggers were found damaged while the third one was reading wrong >> >values. We think the problem is associated with the size and the strength >> >of the case. We are looking for suggestions on data loggers with rugged >> >and strong case that withstands the strong water motion and with a 0-50 oC >> >ranges of reading. Price obviously is an issue as well. Mebrahtu >> >Ateweberhan University of Asmara Atewebem at biol.rug.nl >> >mebrahtu at marine.uoa.edu.er Please respond directly to Mebrahtu, thanks. >> >Gerard J. Geertjes >> >Groningen University >> >Department of Marine Biology >> >Kaya Dorado 12, Bonaire >> >Netherlands Antilles >> >geertjes at bonairenet.com >> >phone: + 599 7 5879 >> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------- >> James E. Ivey | Tel# (727) 553-1503 >> University of S. Florida | Fax# (727) 553-1189 >> 140 7th Ave S. | e-mail: jivey at marine.usf.edu >> St. Petersburg, FL 33701 | >> ------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> >> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------- James E. Ivey | Tel# (727) 553-1503 University of S. Florida | Fax# (727) 553-1189 140 7th Ave S. | e-mail: jivey at marine.usf.edu St. Petersburg, FL 33701 | ------------------------------------------------------------- From mttaber at email.msn.com Sat Aug 7 09:25:34 1999 From: mttaber at email.msn.com (Mark Taber) Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1999 14:25:34 +0100 Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. In-Reply-To: <3.0.6.32.19990806100442.00795100@pop.interaccess.com> Message-ID: <000601bee0d8$547d2d00$9d4695c1@mtaber> Dear Mike, I do agree with your reply and thought it was very well worded. We at ReefsUK are trying to promote captive breeding and propagation within the United Kingdom to ensure that we as a country, remove less from the reefs. At the end of the day, the hobby is not helping the reefs and that is something that we as hobbyists have to face up to. Please visit out WEB site at http://www.reefsuk.org and feel free to comment. Regards Mark Taber ReefsUK Supporting Reef Conservation ------------------------- Email: post at reefsuk.org Web: http://www.reefsuk.org ------------------------------------------------- *Reply from Mike regarding Coral Havesting - Fiji Bula, Maureen. I wanted to add my comments as an informed and concerned hobbyist. There is little doubt that coral collection *could* harm a reef if the collection pressure is high enough. The vast majority of corals coming into the US still seem to be those physically chipped off the reef, as Julian described. My feeling is that 'normal' collection pressure would likely influence species composition, though likely not overall biomass. What is more disturbing, frankly, is the attitudes of the stores here in the US- As you likely already know, there are alternatives to the collection as outlined above. There is a 'farming' operation in the Solomon Islands where local women go collect some small fragments off the reef itself (i.e. the equivalent of storm damage) and bring them back to mount on small cement disks. These are then grown out in a local lagoon for 3 to 6 months and then harvested. What is most amazing about these cultured colonies is that their rate of shipping death is amazingly low- typically well under 1%, assuming no delays in shipping. Compare that with chipped off colony corals- I think we are happy to see only a 10% loss, and they are often much higher: 40 to 80% is not that uncommon. Yet even given the low rate of loss, most retailers will not carry cultured corals. They are 'too small' or 'too expensive': even though wholesale they are but a buck or two higher in cost... Many of the more informed hobbyists have taken a course of 'no wild caught colonies, period'. My own tank has maybe three colonies- the others are all grown from fragments given to me by other hobbyists, either for cash or trade. However, we are but a few, and seem to have the entire industry against us. I would love to see countries like Fiji get to the point where they limit wild coral collection to a few thousand colonies a year, or even shut it down completely, but encourage the creation of cultured coral 'farms' as an alternative. I think it would be in everyone's best interests. The US would be forced to import these ecologically sound alternatives, Fijian collectors could become farmers, and the 'industry' would still have access to corals. Everyone wins. I do hope that this post was helpful to you. Best regards. Mike Kirda --------------------------------------------------------------- >Bula everyone, > >There is currently a huge debate in Fiji with regards to Coral >harvesting in Fiji. A paper was commissioned by the Fisheries >Department and the industry to address the issue. > >Recommendation is to allow the industry to go ahead and there is a >lot of concern in the country about the potential damage to the >country. However support is divided between those who support the >industry and those that don't. Fiji is becoming one of the biggest >exporters if not the biggest exporter of coral products and there is >concern regarding the damage that is done to the natural environment >which has not been adequately dealt with in the report. From delbeek at hawaii.edu Sat Aug 7 15:26:26 1999 From: delbeek at hawaii.edu (J. Charles Delbeek) Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1999 09:26:26 -1000 Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: As usual the debate over coral harvesting seems to be based more on emotion and gut reactions than any sort of scientific basis rooted in facts. Yes the numbers of corals and live rock collected sound immense but if compared to the total amounts of coral and live rock in Fijian waters, does this represent a significant and more importantly a negative impact on Fijian reefs? Can this rate of collection be sustained without a decline on Fijian reefs? You can quote all the numbers you want to (Eric) but unless you put those numbers into context they mean nothing. It is my understanding that a common practice in Fiji is to vastly over report the number of corals shipped to avoid going over the stated amounted such that the actually number of corals shipped from Fiji is much smaller than that "offically" reported. Maureen if you are going to state the report recommends the coral trade should continue should you not also mention why the report recommends this? The report recommends a moratorium on the issuance of permits for a two year period while studies and surveys are conducted to ascertain the impacts on the reef of live coral and live rock collection. The goal being to offer guidelines on what sustainable collection can be. It is my understanding that the report you are referring to, which your organization Greenpeace has gotten a hold of, is but a third draft, and not even a final copy. Should you not at least have waited for the final report to be made available before trying to drum up opposition to it? It is also my understanding that there are currently 6 collectors of marine organisms licensed in Fiji and that of these, two collect and export live rock and coral for the aquarium trade. Hardly what one might call a deluge. I would also not be surprised that the report would recommend that the number of permits issued be kept low. I am not trying to defend the live coral trade since I know there are abuses occuring and that handling practices need to be improved. But I also know that the coral being collected are fist sized-pieces, representing perhaps two years growth, it is the curio coral collectors who are removing the large, breeding population-sized pieces. And even in this case this practice has been going on MUCH longer than the live coral trade and the impacts on the reefs have been negligable, and at worst short term. The live corals are individually wrapped in plastic bags and handled carefully, dead corals are of little use. Not every coral is selected since shape, size and colour must all be considered. Obviously the curio trade makes no such distinctions. When talking of the impacts of coral collection one really needs to distinguish between the live coral trade and the curio trade. Should we not also allow organisations such as the Marine Aquarium Council to get inolved with this issue to help instill some sort of standards for collection, handling and shipping? I wonder how many of the opponents of this trade in Fiji have actually accompanied collectors to observe how they go about their business? As some have mentioned here, coral farming may be the long term solution, but it takes money to start a farm and it takes time, in the meantime these people need to make a living, if you ban the collection of wild colonies completely how do they do this and how do they get started? As far as live rock goes, yes some diversity is removed, but what diversity is created by removing these rocks? What moves in to the space created? The same goes for corals, remove a coral and within short time the space is invaded by other organisms and even other corals. Yes there are abuses in live rock collection, yes the method of handling needs to be greatly improved but these are issues that can be addressed and should not by themselves be grounds to ban the practice. And finally what of the people of Fiji? These are their resources, they are owned by coastal villages .. in the end it is theirs to do with as they please. This is an emerging fishery that puts money into their pockets to build schools and buy supplies for their village. If there is the opportunity to determine if these resources can be utilized in a responsible manner do we not at least owe them the opportunity to find out? Banning the import of corals into the US will do little to help areas of coral bleaching and only hurts the economies of countries such as Fiji which has escaped massive bleaching. Perhaps a more equitable solution would be to treat a ban on coral imports on a regional basis? Corals from those areas which have experienced extensive bleaching and coral death (e.g. Maldives) would not be allowed to be imported? Just an idea. Maureen, you said that Fiji was divided on this issue, yet you ask for evidence to balance the field. Perhaps this should be reworded to state that Greenpeace is looking for evidence to halt the coral trade, since their official stance is no resource use is good resource use? J. Charles Delbeek M.Sc. From delbeek at hawaii.edu Sat Aug 7 20:50:11 1999 From: delbeek at hawaii.edu (J. Charles Delbeek) Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1999 14:50:11 -1000 Subject: My comments .. Message-ID: I would just like to state for the record that my comments concerning the live coral trade in Fiji reflect my own opinions and do not reflect those of the Waikiki Aquarium nor the University of Hawaii. I would also like to apologize if my comments came across as arrogant, snarly or sarcastic as this was surely not my intention. J. Charles Delbeek From fpl10 at calva.net Sat Aug 7 11:37:59 1999 From: fpl10 at calva.net (Fabrice POIRAUD-LAMBERT) Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1999 17:37:59 +0200 (MET DST) Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. Message-ID: Hi Maureen &All, This subject is a major interest and concern for me, as a Diver and Hobbyist (there is clearly a conflict there for me) You guys in Fiji and in other places with corals reefs, have the choice between : - stop coral harvesting to protect coral reefs (but there was already debates about how useful it is to considere coral reefs as LOCAL resources to ensure that LOCAL people take care). - Launch Coral farming operations and prevent wild uncontroled harvesting - Keep the things as they are now - ? I fully agree with Mike and I just would like to add that, after my last dives in Fiji, 2 months ago, I saw places that have been shaked by storms, and where you can see a huge number of broken colonies, upside down, lying in the sand and dying, killing unbroken colonies sometimes. So, couldn't it be possible to collect broken small fragments to feed coral frams, and at the same time (same people also) restaure reefs by cleaning broken reefs and taking care of big broken colonies that should remain on the reef ? I feel that there are two ways of taking care of reefs and reef life : one is to fight against things that are killing the reefs, but it takes a long time.. and during this time, we could help reefs and local people to survive. Hope it helps Best Regards Fabrice POIRAUD-LAMBERT ------- > >I wanted to add my comments as an informed and concerned hobbyist. >There is little doubt that coral collection *could* harm a reef if >the collection pressure is high enough. The vast majority of corals >coming into the US still seem to be those physically chipped off the >reef, as Julian described. My feeling is that 'normal' collection >pressure would likely influence species composition, though likely >not overall biomass. > >What is more disturbing, frankly, is the attitudes of the stores here >in the US- As you likely already know, there are alternatives to >the collection as outlined above. There is a 'farming' operation in >the Solomon Islands where local women go collect some small fragments >off the reef itself (i.e. the equivalent of storm damage) and bring >them back to mount on small cement disks. These are then grown out >in a local lagoon for 3 to 6 months and then harvested. > >What is most amazing about these cultured colonies is that their >rate of shipping death is amazingly low- typically well under 1%, >assuming no delays in shipping. Compare that with chipped off colony >corals- I think we are happy to see only a 10% loss, and they are >often much higher: 40 to 80% is not that uncommon. > >Yet even given the low rate of loss, most retailers will not carry >cultured corals. They are 'too small' or 'too expensive': even though >wholesale they are but a buck or two higher in cost... > >Many of the more informed hobbyists have taken a course of 'no wild >caught colonies, period'. My own tank has maybe three colonies- the >others are all grown from fragments given to me by other hobbyists, >either for cash or trade. However, we are but a few, and seem to >have the entire industry against us. > >I would love to see countries like Fiji get to the point where they >limit wild coral collection to a few thousand colonies a year, or >even shut it down completely, but encourage the creation of cultured >coral 'farms' as an alternative. I think it would be in everyone's >best interests. The US would be forced to import these ecologically >sound alternatives, Fijian collectors could become farmers, and the >'industry' would still have access to corals. Everyone wins. > >I do hope that this post was helpful to you. >Best regards. >Mike Kirda -------------------------- >At 10:33 AM 8/6/99 +0000, you wrote: >>Bula everyone, >> >>There is currently a huge debate in Fiji with regards to Coral >>harvesting in Fiji. A paper was commissioned by the Fisheries >>Department and the industry to address the issue. >> >>Recommendation is to allow the industry to go ahead and there is a >>lot of concern in the country about the potential damage to the >>country. However support is divided between those who support the >>industry and those that don't. Fiji is becoming one of the biggest >>exporters if not the biggest exporter of coral products and there is >>concern regarding the damage that is done to the natural environment >>which has not been adequately dealt with in the report. > >Bula, Maureen. From delbeek at hawaii.edu Sun Aug 8 14:11:54 1999 From: delbeek at hawaii.edu (J. Charles Delbeek) Date: Sun, 8 Aug 1999 08:11:54 -1000 Subject: My comments .. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: On Sun, 8 Aug 1999, Jim Hendee wrote: > I thought they were "right on" if you ask me. > Take care...Jim Well apparently some people took acception to the tone of my comments and emailed my superiors to that effect. Imagine that. ;-) I have now been told to add a disclaimer to any of my posts that might be considered "controversial". Now all I have to figure out is which of the myriad of special interest groups I may offend each time I write something. ;-) Aloha! Charles > > On Sat, 7 Aug 1999, J. Charles Delbeek wrote: > > > I would just like to state for the record that my comments concerning the > > live coral trade in Fiji reflect my own opinions and do not reflect those > > of the Waikiki Aquarium nor the University of Hawaii. I would also like to > > apologize if my comments came across as arrogant, snarly or sarcastic as > > this was surely not my intention. > > > > J. Charles Delbeek > > > > Charles From mpenjuel at dialb.greenpeace.org Mon Aug 9 07:58:01 1999 From: mpenjuel at dialb.greenpeace.org (Maureen Penjueli) Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 11:58:01 +0000 Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <"199908090008.UAA02803@ dialb.gl3"> Bula Charles, Just a few points of clarification - the request I had put forward is not an attempt by Greenpeace to rally support against the industry. It is merely an information seeking exercise. We have been asked to provide information to relevant people in the country and I agreed to do that which is why I turned to the coral list - seeing that this is one of the places to source information and expert advice on the issue. It would also provide the office with relevant materials for our public library. However what I had not intended for the request to do was to create a whole debate about the industry. This is not to say that I do not appreciate debate on the issue. On the contrary, but I am seeking information that I can give to the relevant people and that is the aim of this exercise . However I do acknowledge that it is partly my fault for the wording in my last email re: negative impacts. Let me rephrase...I am seeking information on the industry (scientific reports from around the world/websites that I can look up and reports which I could get copies of). And the information is for the benefit of the people of Fiji ..... We are well aware that the report that was circulated by the fisheries department is not the final report and have been informed by the consultant himself on when the final report would be made available. Our comments will only be made then based on the final report. And no the official stance of the organisation is NOT, no resource use is good resource use. Greenpeace in the Pacific region has been supportive of sustainable uses of natural resources and are working together with local indigenous communities who want to ensure a sustainable use of their resources. I would be more than happy to send information to the relevant people on what the organisation does in the Pacific. Generation of interest on the issue arises from a cabinet paper which was presented at parliment. I appreciate comments and look forward to assistance from the list. Cheers. Maureen. From mpenjuel at dialb.greenpeace.org Mon Aug 9 07:58:01 1999 From: mpenjuel at dialb.greenpeace.org (Maureen Penjueli) Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 11:58:01 +0000 Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <"199908090008.UAA02803@ dialb.gl3"> Bula Charles, Just a few points of clarification - the request I had put forward is not an attempt by Greenpeace to rally support against the industry. It is merely an information seeking exercise. We have been asked to provide information to relevant people in the country and I agreed to do that which is why I turned to the coral list - seeing that this is one of the places to source information and expert advice on the issue. It would also provide the office with relevant materials for our public library. However what I had not intended for the request to do was to create a whole debate about the industry. This is not to say that I do not appreciate debate on the issue. On the contrary, but I am seeking information that I can give to the relevant people and that is the aim of this exercise . However I do acknowledge that it is partly my fault for the wording in my last email re: negative impacts. Let me rephrase...I am seeking information on the industry (scientific reports from around the world/websites that I can look up and reports which I could get copies of). And the information is for the benefit of the people of Fiji ..... We are well aware that the report that was circulated by the fisheries department is not the final report and have been informed by the consultant himself on when the final report would be made available. Our comments will only be made then based on the final report. And no the official stance of the organisation is NOT, no resource use is good resource use. Greenpeace in the Pacific region has been supportive of sustainable uses of natural resources and are working together with local indigenous communities who want to ensure a sustainable use of their resources. I would be more than happy to send information to the relevant people on what the organisation does in the Pacific. Generation of interest on the issue arises from a cabinet paper which was presented at parliment. I appreciate comments and look forward to assistance from the list. Cheers. Maureen. From c.wilkinson at aims.gov.au Sun Aug 8 21:18:24 1999 From: c.wilkinson at aims.gov.au (Clive Wilkinson) Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 11:18:24 +1000 Subject: Coral Harvesting Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19990809111824.00d9d57c@email.aims.gov.au> A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 1309 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990809/c2422270/attachment.bin From theeger at mangga.usc.edu.ph Sun Aug 8 21:39:22 1999 From: theeger at mangga.usc.edu.ph (Thomas Heeger) Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 09:39:22 +800 Subject: coral harvesting Message-ID: <7E98200FCB@mangga.usc.edu.ph> Dear fellow coral friends, world wide the coral reefs are degrading. The single most important factor pushing that is overfishing. Here in the Philippines (a country with very strict environmental laws, but unfortunately little enforcement) you can at any single day count 30 to 40 dynamite blasts (it is actually ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer) devastating the physical structure of the reefs, killing abundant larvae material and inverts as well as fishes. Aware of that problem we work since 5 years with fishing communities and found out that they need alternatives to have a stable income. Fishermen so far just exploit their resources with rapid increase in competition over the last decades (population growth, export of marine products). Instead of a mere exploitation of resources the fishermen should adopt the basic principles of farmers who prepare the soil, plant the seedlings, irrigate, take care of parasites and finally harvest their products. That background in mind we started two years ago with the implementation of a coral farm in Olango Island, Cebu. The basic concept is to provide alternative income to the fisherfolks and at the same time protect/enhance the biodiversity of coral reefs with reef rehabilitation activities. Since we use cheap materials/labor and natural substrates one hectare reef can be rehabilitated (12.5% cover) for 3.600 US$ including all costs (gathering of fragments, attachment to hard substrate, tending during grow-out phase in the Coral Nursery Units, transportation to reha site and rehabilitation itself). This is by far the cheapest reha method known (please see more specific details in Heeger, T. ,Cashman, M. and F. Sotto 1999: Coral farming as alternative livelihod for sustainable natural resource management and coral reef rehabilitaion. Proc. of Oceanol. Internat. Pacific Rim, Spearhead Exhibitions Ltd., New Malden, Surrey, UK, pp 171-185). Of course, we can prove that the donor corals (in no case we take more than 50%, usually 10 to 20& of one colony) survive and overgrow the fragmented area within a few weeks (species dependent). According to our results fragmentation increases within a few month the calcified material by factor 2. Mortality in the farm due to predation is below 1 %. Coral export (live and dead) is banned in the Philippines and according to my information (may not be up-to-date) strictly enforced. Currently we are negotiating with the BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) for an export permit of live corals for the aquarium trade. In general we are not against aquarium trade under the condition that the corals are from farms operated by fisher cooperatives. Natural coral extraction done in many tropical countries e.g. Indonesia and Fiji for trade will further decrease coral cover and diversity. Considering how much reef aquarium hobbyists contributed to science and how tremendous public aquariums help to raise the awareness for the important and beautiful ecosystems, aquarium trade on a SUSTAINABLE level where the " resource owners" are benefitted is positive for both sides. On the other hand aquarium trade (we have many expamples documented, e.g. 2 m high piles of sea stars, thousands of 2 ltr. plastic bags some with five baby nurse sharks together, shipped via Manila to the US, seahorses and other protected species) where the fisherfolks get 0.05 cents for each alive fish and the animals are sold for 20 to 50 US$ per head to the consumers, exploitation will be fueled. The money will go to the big dealers and not to the resource owners who are forced to use any means squeezing out their daily food from the more and more impoverishing reefs. A vicious cicle. We believe that the coral farming concept could be multiplied in other suitable areas to protect the reefs and to promote coral biodiversity. Best fishes, Thomas Heeger Dr. Thomas Heeger Professor of Marine Biology University of San Carlos Marine Biology Section Cebu City, Cebu Philippines 6000 Phone: 0063 32 4198764 Fax: 0063 32 3460351 e-mail: theeger at mangga.usc.edu.ph From Seascience at aol.com Sun Aug 8 23:51:49 1999 From: Seascience at aol.com (Seascience at aol.com) Date: Sun, 8 Aug 1999 23:51:49 EDT Subject: Fwd: underwater temperature loggers Message-ID: -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: Seascience at aol.com Subject: Re: underwater temperature loggers Date: Sun, 8 Aug 1999 23:44:26 EDT Size: 725 Url: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990808/05fea187/attachment.mht From sarrameg at ufp.ufp.nc Mon Aug 9 00:06:22 1999 From: sarrameg at ufp.ufp.nc (Sarramegna =?iso-8859-1?Q?S=E9bastien?= ) Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 15:06:22 +1100 Subject: environmental factors one more Message-ID: I resend this mail because somebody did not receive it corectly From Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov Mon Aug 9 10:52:54 1999 From: Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov (Jim Hendee) Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 10:52:54 -0400 (EDT) Subject: House passes NOAA bill Message-ID: See, http://www.legislative.noaa.gov for an update on NOAA's funding picture. Following from that Page: "THE HOUSE PASSES FISCAL YEAR 2000 NOAA BUDGET INCLUDING 25 PERCENT REDUCTION IN ADMINISTRATION REQUEST; REP EHLERS SUCCESSFUL IN RESTORING FULL FUNDING FOR GREAT LAKES WATER LEVEL GAUGES; $3 MILLION TAKEN FROM NOAA BUDGET TO PAY FOR MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY REPAIRS The House at 9:45 p.m. on August 5th passed by a 217-210 vote the FY 2000 House Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill (HR 2670 and HRpt 106-283). The House-passed bill provided $1.93 billion for NOAA, which is $211 million below FY 1999 budget authority and $550 million below the Presidents request. No new NOAA initiatives were funded including salmon and the Lands Legacy Initiative. The Committee issued a press release on the final passage." From tamara at greenleafpr.com Mon Aug 9 14:05:08 1999 From: tamara at greenleafpr.com (Tamara Greenleaf) Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 11:05:08 -0700 Subject: Introduction Message-ID: <37AF184C.F0ECFFE@greenleafpr.com> Dear Colleagues, I have just joined the list and want to introduce myself. I am Tamara Greenleaf. I'm a public relations consultant in Portland, Oregon, USA, and am developing a news bureau for coral reef appreciation, research and preservation. The news bureau's mission is to encourage journalists to cover factual and responsible stories about coral (and thereby raise public interest in, and support for, preservation activities). Looking forward to reading and participating with all of you. best regards, ......................................................................... Tamara Greenleaf Executive Director, CORALNEWS Greenleaf Associates LLC 812 SW Washington, Ste. 400 Portland, Oregon 97205-3211 Tel: 503/796-0350 Fax: 503/827-6566 ......................................................................... Expert Services in News Media Relations, Promotion and Publicity From rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu Fri Aug 6 16:47:12 1999 From: rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu (rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu) Date: Fri, 06 Aug 1999 16:47:12 -0400 Subject: coral-list Message-ID: <199908091809.SAA45823@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Jim, I wonder if we could in some way avoid having all the replies to a question posted on the List? Could you suggest that when someone raises a question or comment, that they become the reporter and all replies and experessions of interest are directed to them instead of to the entire list? Then, after they have had some feedback, they could post a summary? That way, all the rest of us need not receive every comment and reply? If you want to cite me as the proposer of this plan, please do so. Bob From smiller at gate.net Mon Aug 9 20:38:32 1999 From: smiller at gate.net (Steven Miller) Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 20:38:32 -0400 Subject: Aquarius underwater laboratory update Message-ID: <37AF7488.86C3671@gate.net> The Aquarius underwater laboratory, owned by NOAA and operated by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, supports scientists who live and work underwater studying deep coral reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The Aquarius web site was recently upgraded to include two live web cameras during missions: one in the Main Lock and one outside in the water pointing back at Aquarius. A mission is currently in progress. New information is also available related to the science program, and operations (including the Aquarius Users Manual). Expedition journals are filed by aquanauts during missions and are quite popular. They give a first hand account of what it's like to live and work underwater. A few lesson plans are available that are targeted for middle school students (on pressure, buoyancy, and underwater light), and more are under development. We are also looking for help from educators to produce more lesson plans. Thank you. http://www.uncwil.edu/nurc/aquarius From peyrot at com.univ-mrs.fr Tue Aug 10 03:17:23 1999 From: peyrot at com.univ-mrs.fr (Peyrot Mireille) Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 09:17:23 +0200 Subject: adress Message-ID: I would pleased to have e-mail adress or mail adress of Danny Bucher in Ove's lab Thanks for your help Dr Mireille Peyrot - Clausade Centre d'Oc?anologie de Marseille Station Marine d'Endoume Rue de la Batterie-des-Lions 13007 Marseille T?l. 33+ (0)4 91 04 16 18 Fax 33+ (0)4 91 04 16 35 http://www.com.univ-mrs.fr From cnidaria at earthlink.net Tue Aug 10 10:31:15 1999 From: cnidaria at earthlink.net (James M. Cervino) Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 09:31:15 -0500 Subject: Coral Harvesting Message-ID: Coral Harvesting: POSTING: As usual the debate over coral harvesting seems to be based more on emotion and gut reactions than any sort of scientific basis rooted in facts. JAMES: I have communicated with Eric regarding his data collection and he is not basing his information on a "GUT REACTION or EMOTION" He is basing his data on FACT. Interviewing aquarium store owners and seeing the faxes and receivable receipts from one store are based on pure fact. Interviewing indigenous peoples from the Philippines and other areas in that region as well as confirming their information by visiting the reefs first hand (where corals are collected) and compiling data is FACT and not a gut reaction. EXAMPLE: Observing collectors collect Plerogyra from a location in Malaysia; they did not just collect a few colonies, they collected the entire patch (about 15 yard radius) without leaving one single fragment behind. Not to mention the trampling and damage to the surrounding corals that are not needed for coral collection. They cannot travel very far for collection, they stay in a particular reef area near their home, which in this case is on a small island, when the corals are gone they have basically depleted some very important species. These corals are sold for pennies, and sold to the middle men who profit a great deal. The corals are then brought to the USA and sold between $30- $100. When I told the collector what they are sold for in the USA, he did not believe me, he looked at me with a shocked look on his face. POSTING: Yes the numbers of corals and live rock collected sound immense but if compared to the total amounts of coral and live rock in Fijian waters, does this represent a significant and more importantly a negative impact on Fijian reefs? Can this rate of collection be sustained without a decline on Fijian reefs? You can quote all the numbers you want to (Eric) but unless you put those numbers into context they mean nothing. JAMES: The average person collecting is not making money for the LONG TERM to support his or her family! At the current method. Farming and cutting out the middle men and having the families deal directly with the store owners in the US might be a better idea. Along with a proposed strategy, and eco-system replenishment along with farming. POSTING: Banning the import of corals into the US will do little to help areas of coral bleaching and only hurts the economies of countries such as Fiji which has escaped massive bleaching. Perhaps a more equitable solution would be to treat a ban on coral imports on a regional basis? JAMES: Yes Fiji has escaped massive bleaching, this makes us all pleased !! This makes me think preservation & sustainable development, NOT EXPLOITATION & ignoring the real problems ! ******************************* James M. Cervino Marine Biologist Global Coral Reef Alliance University of South Carolina at Aiken cnidaria at earthlink.net ******************************** From Michael.D.Noah at poj.usace.army.mil Mon Aug 9 21:25:37 1999 From: Michael.D.Noah at poj.usace.army.mil (Noah, Michael D POJ) Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 18:25:37 -0700 Subject: coral-list Message-ID: <199908101337.NAA52521@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> While I fully understand Bob's concern regarding the "noise" that can often be generated from the posting of questions to the list and the subsequent replies, I would just like to offer my $0.02 worth with regards to changing the default "reply to" field. Due to a pretty wide range of interests (and my remoteness out here in Japan), I subscribe to many of these discussion lists (at last count, I have more than 50 being directed to their respective folders), and I have found that those lists that have moved to using the approach to replying that has been suggested usually fail to serve the needs of the subscribers, primarily because 1) the original poster fails to either "summarize" or adequately "summarize" the responses that s/he receives to their post, despite their every honorable intention to do so at the time they posed the question, and 2) since the "discussion" list is unable to see the trend in the replies being provided in real time, the "discussion" list is unable to generate that often-needed "discussion" (e.g., to engage in what we subscribed to the list to participate in doing in the first place, at least in my case)," and so the responses that are eventually received tend to be less valuable to the poster than what would have been generated had the subject or question been more openly "debated." If the discussion list does receive a summary from the original poster, but disagrees with or wants to add something to the final results, the question/response/summary process starts anew, only now with a new poster responsible for posting the results that they receive, with the obvious extension in the time that it takes for the participants on the list to reach a consensus. I would suggest instead that subscribers to the list, first of all, refrain from changing the text of the subject field when they post a reply. Then, when the post is received, the recipient can then sort the list by subject and date/time at the start of each day, and then read the original post. If they are uninterested in the subject of that post, highlight and delete all of the subsequent responses with the same subject field without bothering to read them. This process works quite well for me, anyway. Again, just my $0.02 worth... Mata ne, Michael <<...>> US Army Corps of Engineers Japan District Michael D. Noah, Ecologist USAEDJ, Box 81 (CEPOJ-PP-E) APO AP 96338-5010 011-81-311-763-5065 011-81-311-763-8869 FAX Michael.Noah at poj.usace.army.mil -----Original Message----- From: rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu [mailto:rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu] Sent: Saturday, August 07, 1999 5:47 AM To: Jim Hendee; coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Subject: Re: coral-list Jim, I wonder if we could in some way avoid having all the replies to a question posted on the List? Could you suggest that when someone raises a question or comment, that they become the reporter and all replies and experessions of interest are directed to them instead of to the entire list? Then, after they have had some feedback, they could post a summary? That way, all the rest of us need not receive every comment and reply? If you want to cite me as the proposer of this plan, please do so. Bob From dipal at ibw.com.ni Mon Aug 9 22:26:02 1999 From: dipal at ibw.com.ni (Pdipal) Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 19:26:02 -0700 Subject: lobster Message-ID: <3.0.2.32.19990809192602.006a8c4c@pop1.ibw.com.ni> Thanks for all your replies. Everybody agreed that trowing away losterheads in a confined area would pollute the bay with consecuent negative impacts. However throwing them away in a well flushed area would be acceptable. Mariska From jivey at seas.marine.usf.edu Tue Aug 10 11:29:54 1999 From: jivey at seas.marine.usf.edu (Jim Ivey) Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 11:29:54 -0400 Subject: coral-list In-Reply-To: <199908091809.SAA45823@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19990810112954.007dc3f0@seas.marine.usf.edu> Hi everyone, I agree with Bob but only for questions regarding instruments, techniques, or specific questions. An example of a specific question would be, "Where is found?" Questions and comments that might bring about a debate should be left as general posts. Unless someone is willing to act as an enforcer of the reporting then I would suggest it be voluntary. People that want a specific answer and are willing to report the results should add a line requesting that all replies be sent to their personal address. If they do not follow through on reporting after volunteering, then we should forward all our junk mail to them :-). Regards, Jim At 04:47 PM 8/6/99 -0400, rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu wrote: >Jim, > >I wonder if we could in some way avoid having all the replies to a question >posted on the List? Could you suggest that when someone raises a question >or comment, that they become the reporter and all replies and experessions >of interest are directed to them instead of to the entire list? Then, >after they have had some feedback, they could post a summary? That way, >all the rest of us need not receive every comment and reply? If you want >to cite me as the proposer of this plan, please do so. >Bob > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------- James E. Ivey | Tel# (727) 553-1503 University of S. Florida | Fax# (727) 553-1189 140 7th Ave S. | e-mail: jivey at marine.usf.edu St. Petersburg, FL 33701 | ------------------------------------------------------------- From "Paterson, Arthur" at aoml.noaa.gov Tue Aug 10 12:15:40 1999 From: "Paterson, Arthur" at aoml.noaa.gov ("Paterson, Arthur" at aoml.noaa.gov) Date: 10 Aug 1999 12:15:40 -0400 Subject: Global Trade in Coral Message-ID: <199908111159.LAA60041@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> >>The World Conservation Monitoring Centre is pleased to announce the >>publication of 'The Global Trade in Coral' (World Conservation >>Press, Cambridge, UK, 70pp, ISBN: 1-899628-13-4). A brief summary >>follows: >> >>The Global Trade in Coral (Green and Shirley, 1999) >>This study assesses the global trade in coral in an ecological and >>economic context. Throughout the report emphasis is placed on the >>trade in live coral for aquaria because the last decade has seen an >>enormous increase in this business. The taxonomic composition of the >>trade is identified and the quantities of coral passing between >>nations illustrate the links between major exporters and importers. >>Subsequent chapters present data on the practicalities of monitoring >>international trade in coral at the global scale. In the last two >>chapters size and growth rate data are used to assess the >>sustainability of the trade in live coral: export and retail prices >>are used to estimate the revenue to exporting nations. >> >>Copies are being distributed by: >> >>Tropical Marine Centre >>Solesbridge Lane >>Chorleywood >>Hertfordshire >>WD3 5SX >>United Kingdom >> >>Tel: +44 1923 284151 >>Fax: +44 1923 285840 >> >>While stocks last these are available free of charge to addresses in >>developing nations and at the cost of postage and packing to all Global From fretwelc at nsu.acast.nova.edu Tue Aug 10 12:38:15 1999 From: fretwelc at nsu.acast.nova.edu (Carol Fretwell) Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 12:38:15 -0400 Subject: coral-list Message-ID: <199908111155.LAA59725@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> coral list On Behalf Of Noah, Michael Add $0.02 more and make it $0.04! We can all empathize with Bob's motivation -- there's just such a volume of incoming email some days that ANY way to reduce it sounds appealing(!) --- however, I completely concur with Michael Noah's assessment of the situation and proposed solution. In my view, a previous "discussion" elicited much information and helped to clear up various misconceptions that could easily have been erroneously passed on as fact. That would have only served to further distance members of the global coral reef community. Let's continue to bring researchers with coral reef knowledge, issues, and questions together via real time so progress can be made more quickly, with fewer detours caused by incomplete knowledge or understanding. There is such a host of fields associated with coral reefs, most people can pick and choose what appeals/applies to them, especially if we take Michael's idea one step further. In addition to maintaining the same subject field in a response chain, perhaps the initiator could add to the success of Michael's plan by ensuring that the subject line used is a true indicator of the subject, perhaps using our old standby key words with appropriate modifiers. Any way, that's my $0.02. Best to all, Carol R. Fretwell ***PLEASE NOTE NEW PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS*** Carol R. Fretwell Coordinator, Administrative Operations National Coral Reef Institute NSU Oceanographic Center 8000 N. Ocean Drive Dania Beach, FL 33004 USA 1-954-262-3617 (voice); 1-954-262-4027 (fax) fretwelc at ocean.nova.edu NOTICE: CONFERENCE SUMMARY of the International Conference on SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS OF CORAL REEF ASSESSMENT, MONITORING, AND RESTORATION National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) April 14-16, 1999, Ft. Lauderdale, FL can be found at http://www.nova.edu/ocean/ncri/conf99.html NOTICE: 9TH INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF CONFERENCE Bali, 2000 http://www.nova.edu/ocean/9icrs/ > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov > [mailto:owner-coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov]On Behalf Of Noah, Michael > D POJ > Sent: Monday, August 09, 1999 9:26 PM > To: 'coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov' > Subject: RE: coral-list > > > While I fully understand Bob's concern regarding the > "noise" that can often be generated from the posting of questions to the > list and the subsequent replies, I would just like to offer my $0.02 worth > with regards to changing the default "reply to" field. > > Due to a pretty wide range of interests (and my > remoteness out here in Japan), I subscribe to many of these > discussion lists > (at last count, I have more than 50 being directed to their respective > folders), and I have found that those lists that have moved to using the > approach to replying that has been suggested usually fail to > serve the needs > of the subscribers, primarily because 1) the original poster > fails to either > "summarize" or adequately "summarize" the responses that s/he receives to > their post, despite their every honorable intention to do so at the time > they posed the question, and 2) since the "discussion" list is > unable to see > the trend in the replies being provided in real time, the > "discussion" list > is unable to generate that often-needed "discussion" (e.g., to engage in > what we subscribed to the list to participate in doing in the first place, > at least in my case)," and so the responses that are eventually received > tend to be less valuable to the poster than what would have been generated > had the subject or question been more openly "debated." If the discussion > list does receive a summary from the original poster, but > disagrees with or > wants to add something to the final results, the question/response/summary > process starts anew, only now with a new poster responsible for > posting the > results that they receive, with the obvious extension in the time that it > takes for the participants on the list to reach a consensus. > > I would suggest instead that subscribers to the > list, first of all, refrain from changing the text of the subject > field when > they post a reply. Then, when the post is received, the > recipient can then > sort the list by subject and date/time at the start of each day, and then > read the original post. If they are uninterested in the subject of that > post, highlight and delete all of the subsequent responses with the same > subject field without bothering to read them. This process works > quite well > for me, anyway. > > Again, just my $0.02 worth... > > Mata ne, > Michael > > <<...>> > US Army Corps > of Engineers > Japan District > > Michael D. Noah, Ecologist > USAEDJ, Box 81 (CEPOJ-PP-E) > APO AP 96338-5010 > > 011-81-311-763-5065 > 011-81-311-763-8869 FAX > > > Michael.Noah at poj.usace.army.mil > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu > [mailto:rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu] > Sent: Saturday, August 07, 1999 5:47 AM > To: Jim Hendee; > coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov > Subject: Re: coral-list > > Jim, > > I wonder if we could in some way avoid > having all the replies to a question > posted on the List? Could you suggest that > when someone raises a question > or comment, that they become the reporter > and all replies and experessions > of interest are directed to them instead of > to the entire list? Then, > after they have had some feedback, they > could post a summary? That way, > all the rest of us need not receive every > comment and reply? If you want > to cite me as the proposer of this plan, > please do so. > Bob > > > > From wright at osb1.wff.nasa.gov Wed Aug 11 07:44:22 1999 From: wright at osb1.wff.nasa.gov (C. W. Wright (1698)) Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 07:44:22 -0400 (EDT) Subject: coral-list In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19990810112954.007dc3f0@seas.marine.usf.edu> Message-ID: A list moderator could easily "clean up" the coral list. I operate a system with several majordomo lists that each have approximately 1000 subscribers. Some are moderated sone are not. The moderator is a volunteer member of the list, and all posts to the list simply go to him first. He reviews them, edits "flames", spam, irrelevant material, and generally filters what finally gets distributed to list members. The list I'm thinking of (canard-aviators at canard.com) has abt 900 members and 10 to 15 messages per day. It takes the moderators abt an hour each day to take care of the list. The moderation task can be divided between several people and it's easy to setup (at least for majordomo lists). The coral list value would be enhanced significantly by appointing one or more moderators. The problem of repeatedly answering the same questions can be addressed by someone reviewing an archive of the list and isolating the repeatd questions/answers and creating a web page of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and their answers. A link to that web page would then be added to the bottom of every message posted to the list, so people could quickly and easily access it. Best regards, C W Wright --<<< We are committed to exceeding requirements >>>----->-+ C.W. Wright,wright at osb.wff.nasa.gov, Ph:757-824-1698 http://lidar.wff.nasa.gov Fax:603-925-6886 NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center Building N-159 Room E117, Code 972,Wallops Flight Facility Wallops Island, Va. 23337 -------+-<------------------------------------------------- > > I agree with Bob but only for questions regarding instruments, techniques, > or specific questions. An example of a specific question would be, "Where > is found?" Questions and comments that might bring about > a debate should be left as general posts. Unless someone is willing to act > as an enforcer of the reporting then I would suggest it be voluntary. > People that want a specific answer and are willing to report the results > should add a line requesting that all replies be sent to their personal > address. If they do not follow through on reporting after volunteering, > then we should forward all our junk mail to them :-). > > Regards, > > Jim > > > At 04:47 PM 8/6/99 -0400, rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu wrote: > >Jim, > > > >I wonder if we could in some way avoid having all the replies to a question > >posted on the List? Could you suggest that when someone raises a question > >or comment, that they become the reporter and all replies and experessions > >of interest are directed to them instead of to the entire list? Then, > >after they have had some feedback, they could post a summary? That way, > >all the rest of us need not receive every comment and reply? If you want > >to cite me as the proposer of this plan, please do so. > >Bob > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------- > James E. Ivey | Tel# (727) 553-1503 > University of S. Florida | Fax# (727) 553-1189 > 140 7th Ave S. | e-mail: jivey at marine.usf.edu > St. Petersburg, FL 33701 | > ------------------------------------------------------------- > > From Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov Wed Aug 11 09:52:52 1999 From: Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov (Jim Hendee) Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 09:52:52 -0400 (EDT) Subject: coral-list moderation In-Reply-To: Message-ID: On Wed, 11 Aug 1999, C. W. Wright (1698) wrote: > A list moderator could easily "clean up" the coral list. Long-time coral-list subscribers may remember that at one time I did moderate all submissions to coral-list. However, with all due respect to C.W. Wright, I now prefer not to "clean-up" the free speech, wherever possible. As you all know, I quite often admonish or encourage people to try to limit their comments to coral research. Coral-list subscribers are for the most part professional colleagues who know one another and generally do not "misbehave" online, or offline. Hence, "clean up" is generally not necessary. Dr. Bob Ginsburg's message came basically, I believe, out of frustration at reading the many messages to the list, rather that reading summarizations by the original submitters who got the answers. (This is one reason I have also offered coral-list-digest.) As you have seen from the thread, some people agree with him, some don't. As it is now, it is up to the submitter of a question to say, "Please respond to me personally, and I will post a summary at a later time." Some people have done this, some people wish others did it more often. > I operate a > system with several majordomo lists that each have approximately 1000 > subscribers. Some are moderated sone are not. The moderator is a > volunteer member of the list, and all posts to the list simply go to him > first. He reviews them, edits "flames", spam, irrelevant material, and > generally filters what finally gets distributed to list members. The list > I'm thinking of (canard-aviators at canard.com) has abt 900 members and 10 to > 15 messages per day. It takes the moderators abt an hour each day to take > care of the list. The moderation task can be divided between several > people and it's easy to setup (at least for majordomo lists). Some of us would not be happy campers at getting 10 to 15 *extra* messages a day! The caveats here are "time" and "volunteer". I, for one, do other things besides administer coral-list and the CHAMP Program, which has not been funded, except via in-house (i.e., "base") funds, since 1993 (by NOAA's Office of Global Programs, via Dr. Mark Eakin). I have found through my life experiences that "you get what you pay for", and that when crunch-time comes, and you absolutely MUST have something done, you can't order your volunteer help to do what must be done, because he/she has other personal priorities. Been there, done that. In this particular case, "must" equals a professional attitude and diligence to the task(s) at hand, and I would not dare to sumbit coral-list to anything less. This is not to say that your lists would be less professional, it is just to say that I don't care to let coral-list get that way by someone who is not being paid a fair dollar to do an excellent job (but see next). > The coral list value would be enhanced significantly by appointing one or > more moderators. If I had the funds to hire a systems administrator who could also moderate, I'd do it in a heart-beat, believe me. On the other hand, if I were located at a university where I had daily or frequent access to a graduate student whom I could train, monitor, etc., then I might do that. That is, graduate students are generally motivated to the same level as someone who is paid (especially if the student is receiving a stiped to do that work). I have made an enquiry to a colleague at a local university (which has coral research as a major mandate) about a provisional agreement in which I could "turn over the reins" through time, but unfortunately have not received a response yet. > The problem of repeatedly answering the same questions can be addressed by > someone reviewing an archive of the list and isolating the repeatd > questions/answers and creating a web page of FAQs (Frequently Asked > Questions) and their answers. A link to that web page would then be added > to the bottom of every message posted to the list, so people could quickly > and easily access it. Actually, Dr. Judy Lang and I have been working on how to go about making an FAQ list for a "coral-student" list, offline. We are awaiting feedback from our colleagues. As some of you original coral-listers may remember, I tried back several years ago to get feedback from susbscribers for an FAQ list, but to no avail (like, only three responses). (I would remind the subscribers that even though I have two degrees in marine biology, my speciality in coral-list is as an information systems person, and only secondarily as a coral enthusiast). In summary, I am open to suggestions on how to manage coral-list. I have done quite a bit behind the scenes (e.g., never ending attempts to get CHAMP funded, discussions with colleagues, meetings with NOAA personnel, etc.) to make things better, but the bottom line right now is: quality product equals time + money + quality help (the ageless formula). Cheers, Jim Hendee coral-list administrator From CoralReefA at aol.com Wed Aug 11 13:03:46 1999 From: CoralReefA at aol.com (CoralReefA at aol.com) Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 13:03:46 EDT Subject: coral-list moderation Message-ID: <83df452c.24e306f2@aol.com> Jim, I know that I speak for the vast majority of the coral-list users when I say "THANK YOU" for all of the time, energy and thought you have put into the list. The coral-list is a tremendous resource for all of us. It is great that you are open to making improvements, but it shouldn't all fall on your shoulders. It may be time for us to collectively think about where we might be able to find some financial/personnel support for the list so that you can make the types of changes you refer to in your message. At the very least, we coral-listers should start to take some more responsibility as well for projects such as the FAQ list. Thanks again for all your good work, Stephen Colwell Executive Director CORAL- The Coral Reef Alliance "Working together to keep coral reefs alive" Address: 64 Shattuck Square, Suite 220 Berkeley, CA 94704 tel: 510-848-0110 fax: 510-848-3720 email: SColwell at coral.org web site: www.coral.org From delbeek at hawaii.edu Wed Aug 11 12:54:58 1999 From: delbeek at hawaii.edu (J. Charles Delbeek) Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 06:54:58 -1000 Subject: Coral Harvesting In-Reply-To: Message-ID: On Tue, 10 Aug 1999, James M. Cervino wrote: > Coral Harvesting: > > JAMES: I have communicated with Eric regarding his data collection and he > is not basing his information on a "GUT REACTION or EMOTION" He is basing > his data on FACT. Interviewing aquarium store owners and seeing the faxes > and receivable receipts from one store are based on pure fact. Interviewing > indigenous peoples from the Philippines and other areas in that region as > well as confirming their information by visiting the reefs first hand > (where corals are collected) and compiling data is FACT and not a gut > reaction. EXAMPLE: Observing collectors collect Plerogyra from a location > in Malaysia; they did not just collect a few colonies, they collected the > entire patch (about 15 yard radius) without leaving one single fragment > behind. Not to mention the trampling and damage to the surrounding corals > that are not needed for coral collection. They cannot travel very far for > collection, they stay in a particular reef area near their home, which in > this case is on a small island, when the corals are gone they have > basically depleted some very important species. These corals are sold for > pennies, and sold to the middle men who profit a great deal. The corals > are then brought to the USA and sold between $30- $100. When I told the > collector what they are sold for in the USA, he did not believe me, he > looked at me with a shocked look on his face. > > > POSTING: Yes the numbers of corals and live rock collected sound immense > but if compared to the total amounts of coral and live rock in Fijian > waters, does this represent a significant and more importantly a negative > impact on Fijian reefs? Can this rate of collection be sustained without a > decline on Fijian reefs? You can quote all the numbers you want to (Eric) > but unless you put those numbers into context they mean nothing. In refering to the lack of data I did not mean to imply that no numbers of imports had been collected, that would of course not be true as various reports have been published on this in the past, though none that I can remember in a peer reviewed journal (please correct me if wrong). As I stated in the above paragraph, these numbers mean nothing unless taken in context. This is where the emotionalism comes into play .. interpreting those numbers. I also stated that I know there are abuses going on and I fully agree something needs to be done. But whereas you would want to shut everything down, I would prefer to see solutions worked out that are less drastic. > JAMES: The average person collecting is not making money for the LONG TERM > to support his or her family! At the current method. Farming and cutting > out the middle men and having the families deal directly with the store > owners in the US might be a better idea. Along with a proposed strategy, > and eco-system replenishment along with farming. I couldn't agree with you more. > JAMES: Yes Fiji has escaped massive bleaching, this makes us all pleased !! > This makes me think preservation & sustainable development, NOT > EXPLOITATION & ignoring the real problems ! I do not understand where you are getting the impression that there is exploitation and unsustainable development going on in Fiji when it comes to coral harvesting? Where is the data to show it is exploitive and unsustainable? This is why I think the recommendations of the upcoming report make sense, lets study what is actually going on at the collection level and let the data speak for itself. With the resources of the U. of the S.P. and all its grad students right there, its a perfect opportunity. Charles ** My opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the U. of Hawaii or the Waikiki Aq. ** From CoralReefA at aol.com Wed Aug 11 13:03:46 1999 From: CoralReefA at aol.com (CoralReefA at aol.com) Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 13:03:46 EDT Subject: coral-list moderation Message-ID: <83df452c.24e306f2@aol.com> Jim, I know that I speak for the vast majority of the coral-list users when I say "THANK YOU" for all of the time, energy and thought you have put into the list. The coral-list is a tremendous resource for all of us. It is great that you are open to making improvements, but it shouldn't all fall on your shoulders. It may be time for us to collectively think about where we might be able to find some financial/personnel support for the list so that you can make the types of changes you refer to in your message. At the very least, we coral-listers should start to take some more responsibility as well for projects such as the FAQ list. Thanks again for all your good work, Stephen Colwell Executive Director CORAL- The Coral Reef Alliance "Working together to keep coral reefs alive" Address: 64 Shattuck Square, Suite 220 Berkeley, CA 94704 tel: 510-848-0110 fax: 510-848-3720 email: SColwell at coral.org web site: www.coral.org From erikm at nioz.nl Fri Aug 13 09:48:07 1999 From: erikm at nioz.nl (erikm at nioz.nl) Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 15:48:07 +0200 Subject: To brood or to spawn... Message-ID: A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 640 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990813/49b88ef9/attachment.bin From NEWS at fws.gov Fri Aug 13 14:21:35 1999 From: NEWS at fws.gov (NEWS at fws.gov) Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 18:21:35 GMT Subject: No subject Message-ID: <199908131821.SAA08053@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Date sent: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:38:11 -0400 Subject: CORAL SMUGGLING CONVICTIONS SHOW U.S.RESOLVE TO ENFORCE REEF PROTECTIONS Sender: owner-coral-list Precedence: bulk Reply-To: NEWS at fws.gov This message is from the fws-news listserver. Please DO NOT REPLY (it just confuses the computers). Subscribers can't reply or send their own messages to the fws-news listserver. This listserver is designed mainly as a "one way street" for the rapid dissemination of information concerning the Service and its activities, rather than for gathering feedback. To contact us, see the explanatory note at bottom of the message. ============================================================ August 13, 1999 Sandy Cleva 703-358-1949 Patricia Fisher 202-208-5634 CORAL SMUGGLING CONVICTIONS SHOW U.S.RESOLVE TO ENFORCE REEF PROTECTIONS A federal investigation of illegal coral trafficking, spearheaded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, resulted in the August 9, 1999, criminal convictions of a Tarpon Springs, Florida man and his business for smuggling internationally protected corals from the Phillippines to the United States. The guilty verdicts against Petros "Pete" Leventis and Greek Island Imports, Inc., which were handed down by a federal jury in Tampa, Florida, after a week-long trial, represent what Justice Department officials believe to be the first federal felony convictions for smuggling protected coral species. "Coral reefs, which are home to nearly one-quarter of all fish species, are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth; they are also among the most imperiled," said Service Acting Director John Rogers. "Stopping the illegal commercial exploitation of coral species is a vital part of U.S. and international efforts to save these resources." Leventis, and his business, Greek Island Imports, Inc. were indicted in November 1998 on conspiracy, smuggling, and wildlife charges along with Esther T. Flores, the owner and operator of a seashell and souvenir exporting business located in Cebu City, Republic of the Philippines. The pair were accused of conspiring to smuggle protected corals and seashells into the United States from that country using false declarations, invoices, and shipping documents to circumvent U.S. and Philippine laws as well as international trade restrictions that protect corals and other marine species. Commercial exploitation is a serious threat to the continued viability of the world's coral reefs, nearly 60 percent of which are considered at risk because of human activities. Dangers range from illegal trade and destructive fishing practices to coastal development and marine pollution. Large-scale degradation of reefs has already occurred in east Africa, south and southeast Asia, parts of the Pacific, and the Caribbean. Concern for reef conservation prompted the Philippines to ban the export of corals in 1977. Many of the species targeted by Leventis and his alleged supplier (which include blue, organ- pipe, branch, brush, staghorn, finger, brown stem, mushroom, and feather corals) have been listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1985. Such species may not be legally traded without export permits from the country of origin. On Monday, Leventis and his company were found guilty on two counts of violating the Lacey Act a federal statute that makes it a crime in this country to import wildlife taken in violation of a foreign, state, tribal, or other U.S. law. They were also convicted of one felony count under the federal anti-smuggling statute. Leventis will be sentenced in November and could spend up to five years in jail and be fined up to $250,000 for each of his three felony convictions. His company faces fines of up to $500,000 per count. "Profiteering at the expense of coral reefs will not go unchecked. The United States is committed to the rigorous enforcement of the laws and treaties that protect coral species worldwide," said Rogers. The federal investigation of Leventis' smuggling activities began in July 1997 when a Service wildlife inspector intercepted a 40-foot shipping container packed with some 350 boxes and packages of coral and seashells in Tampa, Florida. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents and U.S. Customs Service officers successfully documented a series of transactions involving protected corals and seashells between the U.S. businessman and his alleged Philippine supplier that extended back to 1991. Leventis' Lacey Act and smuggling convictions are tied to the 1997 shipment as well as an illegal 1993 coral importation. The case was jointly prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and the Wildlife and Marine Resources Section of the U.S. Department of Justice. The United States has filed papers with the Philippines seeking the extradition of Flores. Coral and seashell items are often sold as souvenirs in gift shops and other stores in the United States and around the world. Consumers in this country should make sure these products are legal before buying them, and Americans who travel overseas should check U.S. laws before trying to bring home coral and shell souvenirs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93- million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fish and wildlife management assistance offices, and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state wildlife agencies. -F W S- ============================================================ News releases are also available on the World Wide Web at http://www.fws.gov/r9extaff/pubaff.html Questions concerning a particular news release or item of information should be directed to the person listed as the contact. General comments or observations concerning the content of the information should be directed to Mitch Snow (Mitch_Snow at fws.gov) in the Office of Public Affairs. ============================================================ To unsubscribe from the fws-news listserver, send e-mail to listserv at www.fws.gov with "unsubscribe fws-news [your name]" in the **body** of the message. Omit the "quote marks" - and you should not include anything on the Subject: line. For additional information about listser Wendy Shemansky Environmental News Director, Secretary West Penn Scuba Divers Pittsburgh, PA slkyshrk at sgi.net From LESSIOSH at naos.si.edu Fri Aug 13 15:52:55 1999 From: LESSIOSH at naos.si.edu (Harilaos Lessios) Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 15:52:55 -0400 Subject: 3-Year Fellowship -Forwarded Message-ID: An embedded message was scrubbed... From: "Georgina de Alba (Adriana Bilgray)" Subject: 3-Year Fellowship Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 15:12:49 -0400 Size: 2570 Url: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990813/5861489f/attachment.mht From tamara at greenleafpr.com Fri Aug 13 17:18:37 1999 From: tamara at greenleafpr.com (Tamara Greenleaf) Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 14:18:37 -0700 Subject: coral as a gift item Message-ID: <37B48ACD.4CBC282F@greenleafpr.com> The article on coral smuggling arrests says "Coral and seashell items are often sold as souvenirs in gift shops and other stores in the United States and around the world. Consumers in this country should make sure these products are legal before buying them." The question I have is, HOW can a consumer make sure a coral item in a gift shop is legal? Are there any circumstances in which a coral item being sold as a gift or souvenir is okay? Tamara Greenleaf Executive Director, CORALNEWS co/Greenleaf Associates LLC 812 SW Washington, Ste. 400 Portland, Oregon 97205-3211 Tel: 503/796-0350 Fax: 503/827-6566 From JandL at rivnet.net Fri Aug 13 18:06:14 1999 From: JandL at rivnet.net (Judith Lang & Lynton Land) Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 18:06:14 -0400 Subject: coral-list, of course Message-ID: Hi Jim, Been away for a couple of days. What about Steve Colwell's email? FAQs suitable for coral-list could be readily rewritten for the students, too... I failed us in DC, in that there were so many concurrent agendas that we never got to the specifics of what would be on their RECON website...but I haven't forgotten if that should seem to be the appropriate way to go. Have a great week-end, Judy PS The word is getting around. EPA guys a little vexed that the scientists are only complaining about NOAA cuts when they perceive their position as being even more precarious. I said, "All I need is a mole..." ---------- >From: CoralReefA at aol.com >To: hendee at aoml.noaa.gov, owner-coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov >Subject: Re: Re: coral-list moderation >Date: Wed, Aug 11, 1999, 1:03 PM > >Jim, > >I know that I speak for the vast majority of the coral-list users when I say >"THANK YOU" for all of the time, energy and thought you have put into the >list. The coral-list is a tremendous resource for all of us. > >It is great that you are open to making improvements, but it shouldn't all >fall on your shoulders. It may be time for us to collectively think about >where we might be able to find some financial/personnel support for the list >so that you can make the types of changes you refer to in your message. > >At the very least, we coral-listers should start to take some more >responsibility as well for projects such as the FAQ list. > >Thanks again for all your good work, >Stephen Colwell >Executive Director >CORAL- The Coral Reef Alliance > >"Working together to keep coral reefs alive" >Address: 64 Shattuck Square, Suite 220 >Berkeley, CA 94704 > >tel: 510-848-0110 >fax: 510-848-3720 >email: SColwell at coral.org >web site: www.coral.org > > From slkyshrk at sgi.net Sat Aug 14 00:02:18 1999 From: slkyshrk at sgi.net (Wendy Jo) Date: Sat, 14 Aug 1999 00:02:18 -0400 Subject: coral as a gift item In-Reply-To: <37B48ACD.4CBC282F@greenleafpr.com> Message-ID: <199908140403.AAA20161@pisces.tcg.sgi.net> Tamara Greenleaf wrote: > The question I have is, > HOW can a consumer make sure a coral item in a gift shop is legal? Only an educated consumer will consult the shop owner and ask where they came from. And hope the owner will be truthful. The best way to educate the consumer is to push the peril of the reefs. Hey, the fur activists did it. Wearing fur became socially unacceptable. > Are there any circumstances in which a coral item being sold as a gift or > souvenir is okay? Yes. If it's made of synthetic material. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wendy Jo Shemansky Environmental News Director, Secretary West Penn Scuba Divers Environmental Science & Management Graduate Student Duquesne University Pittsburgh,PA slkyshrk at sgi.net **** Think globally, act locally!**** From EricHugo at aol.com Sun Aug 15 21:52:03 1999 From: EricHugo at aol.com (EricHugo at aol.com) Date: Sun, 15 Aug 1999 21:52:03 EDT Subject: Flower Gardens Update Message-ID: <78a884c2.24e8c8c3@aol.com> Hello all: My recent trip to the Flower Gardens/Stetson Banks was an overwhelmingly positive experience. It has been a long time since I have seen such a healthy reef system in Gulf/Caribbean waters. Flower Gardens: East and West Banks, both reported to be on Mooring #5 at each reef site There were many juveniles present of fish, corals and other invertebrates, and these seem well balanced by healthy populations of predators. There were fairly good populations of Diadema urchins, with many spawning during the night dive at approximately 2100 to 2200 hours (near new moon). The water temperature was 87F at the surface and approximately 84-85F at 70-90 feet of depth. Surface conditions were swells from 2-4 ft and no noticeable currents at depth during any of the dives. Bleaching was not seen on any corals, with the possible exception of a very large head of Montastrea annularis. This particular colony had a broad flat top over five feet across and continued down vertically for another 4-5 feet. The top surface of this coral was noticeably more light golden colored than the bottom margins, and upper sides became uniformly more lightened towards the upper surface. Whether this was a partial bleaching or just different clades of zooxanthellae and photoacclimation is questionable, but it was more notably light than similar sized colonies on its upper surface. Disease: The whitened areas of parrot fish bites were obvious. However, I noted a total of four corals that appeared to have WBD or a similar white syndrome. West Bank had two of these colonies: A Diploria sp. immediately at the base of the mooring line attachment had a uniform white band from its lower margins extending up approximately 1- 2" around its circumference. I found it notable that this coral happened to be at a point where it could be encountering repeated stresses from divers descending the mooring line. The other coral with a WBD-type occurrence was tentatively identified as Madracis pharensis forma luciphilia. I am not confident in this identification, however, as my hand lens wasn't with me on this dive. This coral had been injured near its lower margin, evidenced by a chunk that was missing, and it did not appear to be from a bite. From this area, a white band had begun to partially encircle the rest of the base, but had not made a complete circumference yet. The band was approximately 2-3" wide tapering off to healthy coral tissue some distance away. On the East Bank, 2 Diploria sp. had WBD-type signs, again both adjacent to or very near the mooring attachment site. East Bank also had numerous places where bare zones between competing corals (mostly M. annularis and Diploria sp.) had significant cyanobacterial accumulations. These accumulations seemed more dense than those on interacting corals on the West Bank. In a single case observed, the accumulation was quite localized near the Diploria margin and could, in my estimate, form a BBD in the future. No visible black consortium material was present yet, although the cyanobacterial mat was denser and darker than those present in similar competitive interactions. No other unusual or unhealthy conditions were seen at either site. A Young Ridley's sea turtle was seen at the surface while on deck grazing through a small patch of Sargassum. No other sea turtles were seen by the group. Two black tip reef sharks were seen at 1800 hours. No reports of other elasmobranchs. Stetson Bank: Shouldn't the name be changed to Millepora Bank? Heavy fish populations and very heavy Millepora coverage. No bleaching or disease noticed on any of the sparse corals covering the area. Dictyota growth on the flats was moderate but not overgrowing the Madracis sp. or other isolated coral heads present. Some fireworms seen grazing on Millepora at 0700 hours. One large spotted eagle ray was seen at 1030 hours. Fairly turbid green water with moderate currents at depth and a pronounced 5-7F thermocline at approximately 40 feet from the surface. For those who made specific requests for photos and specific reports, I will forward the pictures and reply directly as soon as they are developed. I did not locate M. asperula on any of my dives. Eric Borneman From edg at wcmc.org.uk Mon Aug 16 05:22:50 1999 From: edg at wcmc.org.uk (Ed Green) Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 10:22:50 +0100 Subject: Call For Consultants - A Request For Expressions Of Interest Message-ID: Call For Consultants - A Request For Expressions Of Interest At the request of the UNEP Division of Environmental Conventions WCMC is in the process of developing a project to support coral reef assessments in four areas, those covered by the Cartagena, Lima, Nairobi and Jeddah Regional Seas Conventions. The need for this work was identified at a recent meeting of the Regional Seas Secretariats in the Hague. The proposed plan of activity would include the development of terms of reference for consultants to visit each Secretariat to discuss and report on: ? the availability of data on the region's coral reefs ? the adequacy of existing data in the region ? regional coral reef information needs and priorities ? regional training and capacity building needs ? relevant regional programmes and activities ? national involvement in international conventions in the context of the sustainable use and protection of coral reefs. The details of this project, including exact terms of reference, will be finalised during a meeting at WCMC on Wednesday 18th August. The consultants will be identified and timetables arranged for their visits before the end of August. Their visits would occur during September and a report would be due in early October. If you are interested in acting for WCMC and UNEP in a consulting capacity then please send me an expression of interest as soon as possible - at the moment this should NOT include more than contact details and a SHORT paragraph summarising relevant experience. Thank you, Ed. Dr. Edmund Green Head, Marine and Coastal Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road Cambridge CB3 0DL United Kingdom Tel: (44) 1223 277314 Fax: (44) 1223 277136 http://www.wcmc.org.uk/marine/ From Roger.B.Griffis at noaa.gov Tue Aug 17 08:29:21 1999 From: Roger.B.Griffis at noaa.gov (Roger B Griffis) Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 08:29:21 -0400 Subject: Aldo Leopold Leadership Program Message-ID: <37B955A0.9356CF43@hdq.noaa.gov> Note!!! The application deadline is August 31, 1999. The Aldo Leopold Leadership Program -- about to begin its second year -- will train 60 environmental scientists to be effective communicators and leaders. The Leopold Leadership Fellows will be primarily tenured academic environmental scientists who are active in research and teaching. Leopold Leadership Fellows hone skills that enable them to better share their knowledge of environmental science with media representatives, policy makers, and the private sector. The Program will train 20 scientists a year for three years. The first cohort of fellows -- which includes at least three active SSI members -- has completed the first training session and will soon embark upon the second one in the DC area. The training sessions include five modules: * Providing Leadership within the Scientific Community * Providing Scientific Input to the Policy Process * Communicating with the Media * Interacting with the Corporate Sector * Working with Non-Governmental Organizations The above topics will be spread out over the course of two week-long training sessions -- the first training session is scheduled for June 13-20, 2000, and the second for a week next September. The application deadline for the second year's program is August 31, 1999. Since the application requires some references, you might want to take a look right away if you are interested. To apply or to nominate a candidate, or for more information (including information on this year's fellows), access their web site: http://www.leopold.orst.edu Or contact Dr. Judith R. Vergun, Project Director, (541) 737-4684; (541) 737-2450 (fax); vergunj at oce.orst.edu Or Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Steering Committee Chair, (541) 737- 5337; (541) 737-3360 (fax); lubchenj at bcc.orst.edu -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Roger.B.Griffis.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 424 bytes Desc: Card for Roger B Griffis Url : http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990817/88f0c133/attachment.vcf From mickyfit at club-internet.fr Tue Aug 17 09:38:43 1999 From: mickyfit at club-internet.fr (Micky V. Schoelzke) Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 15:38:43 +0200 Subject: Need for standardization in nutrient enrichment studies? Message-ID: <001c01bee8b8$129f2a40$148324c3@home> Hello, I would like to throw in some ideas that came to me while working on nutrient enrichment on aquarium grown nubbins of S. pistillata. From my few month experience in this kind of experiments and with a close look at the literature published, I thought that there is a crucial need of some standardization. Indeed, nutrient enrichment experiments have produced a large amount of data which is hardly comparable. during my work, I experienced trouble finding the right protocol. What I wanted was a constant enrichment of iron and/or nitrate in my experimental tanks and this is only feasible with a precise protocol. A lot of laboratory based enrichment studies were done by "flushing" periodically some elevated concentrations of a given nutrient in the tanks and very few studies actually measured the "real" amount of nutrient present in the system at all times. My ecotoxicology course are still in my memory, and in this field, there are some standardized bioassays published, making it easy for researchers to perform experiments which are reproducible and easily compared with each other. I think that this could be done in coral research: there could be protocols set up which would be very useful for comparisons between geographical areas and growth conditions. A reproducible protocol on coral nubbins and whole colonies performed in laboratory conditions is very feasible (the protocol I use would be) and the same reproducibility is probably achievable (although probably requiring more sophisticated techniques) in the field on colonies of single species and on coral communities. I would welcome any ideas about the subject, which has puzzled me for some time. I 'm not a researcher yet, but only a Master's degree student discovering the hard time of research on corals so I hope you don't find me a bit presomptuous! This is only an idea that came from struggling through literature!! Thanks for your reactions. Regards, MICKY Vanessa M. SCHOELZKE FRANCE Tel: (33) 0662592560 mickyfit at club-internet.fr mickyfit at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990817/3b850ea3/attachment.html From Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov Tue Aug 17 14:40:51 1999 From: Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov (Jim Hendee) Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 14:40:51 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Caribbean CoastWatch images Message-ID: Greetings, We will soon be able to provide (via the CHAMP Web site) 1.1 km resolution 3-day composite CoastWatch satellite AVHRR images of selected regions of the Caribbean. Right now, the targeted areas we plan to include are the Florida Keys, most of the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Vigin Islands. If you have a justifiable scientific need for these hi-resolution CoastWatch images at other areas in the Caribbean, please drop me a line and I will try to arrange to have these posted daily, too. Cheers, Jim Hendee ---------------------------------------------------- Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of Commerce 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami, FL 33149-1026 From bob at cadpros.com Wed Aug 18 01:29:12 1999 From: bob at cadpros.com (Bob Mankin) Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 22:29:12 -0700 Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. References: Message-ID: <37BA44A8.F227E3C9@cadpros.com> Greetings all, When I first started following this thread, I was simply interested. After asking a few questions of the appropriate people, my interest became concern, and now, with each email exchange/phone conversation it is reaching alarm. The numbers as posted in this thread appear to be greatly exaggerated. Let us hit on a few points raised here: 1) There were discrepancies noted between the figures quoted here and what CITIES and the Fiji officials are quoting. Huge discrepancies apparently, yet no one felt a need to better understand this BEFORE jumping into the debate and quoting ridiculous numbers(and I will qualify that labeling). These incorrect figures are also being given to government officials considering legislation for the industry and they form the basis of papers and presentations on the so called "State of the Trade". Such important discussions on the topic warrant some careful consideration and validation of the data I would think. For the record, in conversations I have had with exporters in Fiji and the Solomon Islands within just the past week, I can tell you that the amount of live Acropora spp. being imported from Fiji at this time is running around 10,000 pieces per year. Considerably less than the 275,000 that was suggested earlier. This 10,000 piece figure can and will be documented in forthcoming debates on this topic. Rest assured. 2) It was suggested that live rock imports were 8.5 million pieces last year. Using an average figure of 2 lbs/rock, which anyone familiar with this trade will agree is pretty close, you have the quoted figure of 17 million lbs. of rock imported into the US in 1998. The actual figure, based on numbers supplied again by the largest Fiji exporters is actually in the neighborhood of 2 million lbs/year. Apparently the poster didn't think about the simple fact that you cannot ship 17 million lbs. in a year's time even if you used every available inch of freight space on the daily Air Pacific flights from Nadi into LAX every day for the whole year! Don't forget, live corals, fish and the water weight associated with them goes on the same flight. 3) As for the suggestion that Fiji outships all of Indonesia, let's take a look. 2 live coral export stations in Fiji versus an estimated 60 in Indonesia. What is the likelihood of that happening? To base such a suggestion on one's observation at retail locations over 10,000 miles away would seem to be a bit of a stretch. Corals and fish are commonly mislabeled at both the retail and wholesale level in this business, many times through no fault of the dealer, but because they relied on a third party for the information. On what data was this suggestion based or was it simply the poster's own perception being stated? 4) On what is the suggestion of underreporting based? Consider that each and every shipment hiting a port of entry must have CITIES documentation(or the equivalent thereof) and will be accompanied by an airline airwaybill with the actual weight of the shipment. Any significant deviation in numbers between the two documents is going to raise a flag. If you show up with more animals than you are permitted for, you risk losing the entire shipment. Which reputable Fiji exporter do you suggest is participating in such foolish 'cat and mouse' behavior with Customs and USF&W? It is common practice to overreport in this business. There is no penalty for doing so if you show up at the port of entry light or with reduced piece counts. Fiji export permits must be applied for a full week in advance of a shipment. The exporter will ALWAYS estimate high for every given species that he expects to collect for the following week. In the case of Acropora spp. mentioned in this thread, obtaining permits for 300 animals and then shipping only 100 or less is common for Fiji. Happens just about every week and this information was offered to me directly just yesterday. I wanted to suggest that the skew in numbers is due to the original poster looking at permitted numbers versus actual shipped numbers, but even that cannot fully explain the discrepancy. 5) It was suggested that the villagers involved in the collection for this trade cannot make a decent living and are being taken advantage of by the exporters as a rule. This is simply not true. For example, a government job in the Solomon Islands is considered a good paying job at approximately $1200 dollars Solomon per month. Contrast this with a hard working fisherman, using the training provided by the exporters and responsible net catching methods, a good catch will net him $800 dollars Solomon in one day. This is without the use of NaCN and the suggestion that the use of cyanide is nearly universal in this industry is simply wrong. The Philippine example cited earlier could be easily explained if someone is willing to look at all factors involved there. 6) It was suggested that middlemen make all the money in a corrupt industry while again taking advantage of the native collectors. Live corals sell for $3-$5 each, fish for as little as 50 cents US before packing and shipping. The price is generally doubled if resold at wholesale, but less if the shipment is transhipped directly to the retail store. The largest markups occur at the retail level itself. Attempts to cut the middlemen will result in less than ideal collection and holding facilities, poor packaging for transport, constant shipping delays and an overall increase in DOA animals upon arrival into the US. It would only be a matter of a few shipments progressing like this and the customer base would dry up. It has been tried even very recently. What was the intent of this idea exactly? 7) It is being suggested that some worthwhile data about "State of the Trade" is going to be learned from monitoring a single store, and one on the east coast no less. A couple of things wrong here; first, they see the longest transit times of anyone for moving these animals therefore their experience with DOA counts will not accurately reflect the industry average. Secondly, prices on the east coast are commonly known to be quite a bit higher than those closer to the main port of entry in Los Angeles. Again, an accurate reflection on the industry at large by monitoring this one store would be impossible. One data point does not a graph make. 8) While the efforts are building for a complete ban on coral imports, I have yet to see much effort in addressing the fallout of such a move. How much consideration is being given to what these people will do for work afterwards? My contacts suggest they will simply shift over to the logging trade. Would anybody care to tackle the suggestion that the logging industry is more friendly or less destructive to the reefs? If you do not account for these sort of consequences, you are implimenting bans in a reckless manner, IMO. Win the battle, but lose the war. 9) An outright ban on coral harvesting also effectively shuts down the coral farming industry, which is still in its infancy. You have already seen some good posts from those involved in this part of trade. What was not touched on much was how coral farming in areas like the Solomons has taught the villagers the value of responsible reef management. No more stripping areas for the curio trade. That very damaging practice has been effectively shut down in the areas where the farms are located and these culturing operations are at least partly to be credited for this. Other advances in the culturing area might allow coral larvae collection and growout to become the next step for the trade. This idea is just starting to show promise and may become a viable commerical industry within a few years. Managed properly, this could have almost neglible impact to the reefs while providing income for these poor nations. At the same time possibly developing the technologies and understanding for tomorrow when large scale reef replanting may be required. In closing, since most do not know me here, I own a small retail/wholesale livestock business that involves the import of the very animals in this discussion. Cultured or captive bred livestock is our main focus. Before someone suggests that I am simply covering my own interests, keep in mind this is not my primary source of income and I could easily walk away from my investment in it tomorrow if that were deemed the most responsible thing for all. But to have bans or even increased regulations based on such horribly incorrect data is irresponsible and I suggest some immediate and thorough review. If you are going to affect the livelihood of thousands of people and the economies of dozens of nations with this stuff, I would think discussions with a few more people closer to the 'front lines' of this business(USF&W officials at LAX for example) are in order. Respectfully, Bob Mankin From jmmcrae at earthlink.net Wed Aug 18 01:22:11 1999 From: jmmcrae at earthlink.net (Jeanne McRae) Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 22:22:11 -0700 Subject: change of address Message-ID: <001601bee9a9$8748e9c0$feeeb3d1@jeannemc> Hello-I will be returning to the following address as of 18 Aug 99: sbf at btl.net Thank you for your attention. E McRae SbF/Caye Caulker From bob at cadpros.com Thu Aug 19 00:34:01 1999 From: bob at cadpros.com (Bob Mankin) Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 21:34:01 -0700 Subject: Coral Harvesting - Fiji. References: Message-ID: <37BB8939.2FFADB3E@cadpros.com> Hello again, Consider this a sort of informal introduction, but Mr. Walt Smith of Lautoka, Fiji Islands has asked to join the list and you should be seeing him weigh in on this debate shortly. For those that do not know, Walt operates the largest collection station in Fiji and is the point man most responsible for the numbers in question here. I'm sure he'll welcome any inquiries about figures or about the way the industry operates in general. For those who have any interest in this trade and how it effects the reefs of Fiji, you couldn't get a better opportunity, so don't be afraid to put him on the spot. I've found Walt very willing to discuss interesting aspects of the trade and hopefully he will be able to assist in getting an accurate picture of what is going on with the Fiji collection and export situation. Regards, Bob Mankin From ngalvis at javercol.javeriana.edu.co Thu Aug 19 10:48:20 1999 From: ngalvis at javercol.javeriana.edu.co (NOHORA GALVIS _ PROF. FAC. CIENCIAS ECONOMICAS Y ADMINISTRATIVAS-.) Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 09:48:20 -0500 (BOGOTA) Subject: coral as a gift item In-Reply-To: <199908140403.AAA20161@pisces.tcg.sgi.net> Message-ID: Dear sirs, The artesanal production of artificial (synthetic or wood) organisms of coral reefs would represent a good socioeconomic alternative for the community that depend on the extraction of these organisms from natural reefs. It would be interesting to have information of this kind of activity in all coral reef areas to study their potential as a solution to the ilegal market. Best regards, NOHORA GALVIS Colombia On Sat, 14 Aug 1999, Wendy Jo wrote: > Tamara Greenleaf wrote: > > > The question I have is, > > HOW can a consumer make sure a coral item in a gift shop is legal? > > Only an educated consumer will consult the shop owner and > ask where they came from. And hope the owner will be truthful. The > best way to educate the consumer is to push the peril of the reefs. > Hey, the fur activists did it. Wearing fur became socially > unacceptable. > > > Are there any circumstances in which a coral item being sold as a gift or > > souvenir is okay? > > Yes. If it's made of synthetic material. > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Wendy Jo Shemansky > Environmental News Director, Secretary > West Penn Scuba Divers > Environmental Science & Management Graduate Student > Duquesne University > Pittsburgh,PA > slkyshrk at sgi.net > > **** Think globally, act locally!**** > From Ben.Haskell at noaa.gov Thu Aug 19 13:40:37 1999 From: Ben.Haskell at noaa.gov (Ben Haskell) Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 13:40:37 -0400 Subject: [Fwd: Sustainable Seas Nears Completion] Message-ID: <37BC4191.BD5E44DF@noaa.gov> NOAA ITC Announcement wrote: > The Sustainable Seas Expeditions (SSE), the first systemwide exploration > of the deep waters of America?s National Marine Sanctuary System, nears > completion of its 1999 Mission in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary > on August 16. > > A live video uplink of this unprecedented marine expedition will be held > on August 20 from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST. During that hour, sanctuary > staff discuss national and regional perspectives on marine zoning and > take visitors on a live underwater tour of the coral located in this > spectacular environment. To participate in the uplink, please register > at http://WWW.sustainableseas.noaa.gov/aboutsse/liveevents/help.html > > SSE explorations are made possible through the use of a sophisticated > submersible known as DeepWorker that allows scientists longer time > underwater to research the inhabitants and habitats within our nation?s > marine environments. In SSE most recent dives into Gray?s Reef National > Marine Sanctuary, off Georgia?s coast, aquanauts searched the waters for > plant and animal fossils of the Pleistocene and studied the night time > behavior of marine creatures. > > During the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary mission, SSE focuses on > exploration and characterization of deep coral reef environments, > monitoring their health with reefs that are shallower or artificial. > Come September 1, SSE turns to the Flower Garden Bank Marine Sanctuary > just in time for the coral equivalent of Mardi Gras, the release of > billions of gametes in a mass coral spawning. > > You can follow these extraordinary deep sea explorations in daily > Mission Logs available on the SSE?s official website at > http://sustainableseas.noaa.gov/ or through the National Marine > Sanctuary website: http://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov. > > Sustainable Seas Expedition is administered by the National Geographic > Society in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric > Administration and funded by the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund. > _______________________________________________________________________ > This message was generated by the NOAA Information Technology > Center/Computer Division (NOAA employees) -- Benjamin D. Haskell Science Coordinator NOAA/Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary P.O. Box 500368 Marathon, FL 33050 Phone (305) 743-2437 x25 Fax 743-2357 Email: ben.haskell at noaa.gov URL: www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov From MMcGuire at HBOI.edu Wed Aug 18 15:11:06 1999 From: MMcGuire at HBOI.edu (Maia McGuire) Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 15:11:06 -0400 Subject: GPS units--advice? Message-ID: <199908201145.LAA57970@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Hi everyone, I am looking for recommendations for GPS units. We are interested in purchasing a handheld GPS for the education center at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution and are considering several units manufactured by Magellan and Garmin. We are planning to purchase a differential to be mounted on our pontoon boat, but there seem to be several of the handheld units that are very similar in features but different in price... Does anyone have experience with the Magellan 6000, Magellan ColorTRAK , Garmin GPS 12, Garmin GPS 12XL or Garmin GPS 48? Any recommendations? Any pros or cons of the various models? They all appear to be similar in the number of waypoints, etc... Please respond to me at mmcguire at hboi.edu and I'll post a summary on the list of the recommendations that are made. Thanks Maia McGuire Assistant scientist/post-doc Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution 5600 US 1 North Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 561-465-2400 ext. 508 From egneves at acd.ufrj.br Fri Aug 20 13:35:57 1999 From: egneves at acd.ufrj.br (elizabeth gerardo neves) Date: Fri, 20 Aug 1999 14:35:57 -0300 (GRNLNDST) Subject: Looking for Siderastrea Message-ID: Hi all, I am a brazilian PhD student at the University of Sao Paulo and my project focus upon taxonomy and systematic of Siderastrea genus through a morphological and molecular approach It has been a uneasy task to get any information about Indo-Pacific species. In a recent work, Riegl (1999) reported the occurrence of S. savignyana to Persian Gulf while Budd & Guzman (1994) found S. glynni in the Bay of Panama, Eastern Pacific. The occurence of Siderastrea in Pacific region is rare and the reference of S. glynni represents all information that I have been able to find. My second problem is to determine if S. savignyana represents the only species of Siderastrea in Indian Ocean - once, I have anyother reference besides Riegl's work. Have you ever heard about Siderastrea from Indo-Pacific? What about S. savignyana and S. glynni? Could you provide me with any reference or information on the reproductive biology and/or morphology of such species? Any help will be very profitable to my studies! I am looking forward to hearing from you soon, Regards, Elizabeth Neves email: egneves at acd.ufrj.br Universidade de Sao Paulo Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Biociencias Caixa Postal: 11461 CEP: 05422-970, Sao Paulo (SP) Brazil From corals at caribe.net Fri Aug 20 19:09:10 1999 From: corals at caribe.net (CORALations) Date: Fri, 20 Aug 1999 19:09:10 -0400 Subject: MFR IN CULEBRA! Message-ID: <199908202315.TAA26866@mail.caribe.net> A positive announcement from Puerto Rico. Today, in a signing ceremony on Culebra, Puerto Rico established its first official Marine Fishery Reserve Area. It's our understanding that the legislation signed today creates an actual "no take zone." Special thanks to the following: Culebra Fishermen's Association, who originally proposed this reserve in 1980 and whose progressive attitude may serve as an example for other commercial fishermen interested in fish for tomorrow. Dr. Vance Vicente who helped the Association develop the proposal and worked for many years on community education in Culebra. Dr. Edwin Hernandez and his team of researchers from the University of Puerto Rico who provided the data needed to support the establishment of the reserve and to monitor the progress of this "no take zone" over time. Edwin also works hard on community education. The Municipal Government of Culebra for recognizing the need and potential benefits of the MFR. The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources for taking a very positive step in the right direction toward coral reef conservation. Thanks and Congratulations to all...... Mary Ann Lucking Project Coordinator CORALations From corals at caribe.net Mon Aug 23 23:15:03 1999 From: corals at caribe.net (CORALations) Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 23:15:03 -0400 Subject: Fw: National Nutrient Campaign Message-ID: <199908240321.XAA06331@mail.caribe.net> > From: Ami Grace > To: cleanwater-info at igc.org > Subject: National Nutrient Campaign > Date: Monday, August 23, 1999 8:54 AM > > EPA to Establish Regional Nutrient Criteria for State Water Quality > Standards -- They Need Your Input! > > The President?s 1998 Clean Water Action Plan calls for EPA to establish > nutrient criteria that reflect the different types of water bodies and > different ecoregions of the country and to assist States and Tribes in > adopting numeric water quality standards based on these criteria. This > initiative was sparked by the 1996 National Water Quality Inventory > Report to Congress which cited nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) as > one of the leading causes of water quality impairment in our Nation's > rivers, lakes and estuaries. In fact, the report found 40% of rivers, > 51% of surveyed lakes, and 57% of surveyed estuaries were impaired due > to nutrients. > > No matter what your issue is, no matter where you are, nutrients are > most likely contributing to water quality problems in your area. As > many of you know, nutrients are one water quality problem that all Clean > > Water Network workgroups and activists must deal with across the board. > Excess nutrients impair coastal waters, inland waters, rivers, streams, > lakes, and wetlands. They are a major source of water quality problems > and have contributed significantly to the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of > Mexico known as the Dead Zone. > > There are no national guidelines to address nutrients. In June, 1998, > EPA developed a national nutrient strategy which calls on EPA to develop > > waterbody-type technical guidance documents, establish National Nutrient > > Teams with Regional Nutrient Coordinators, and monitor the effectiveness > > of nutrient management programs as they are implemented. > > What You Can Do > The Clean Water Network is starting a national nutrient campaign to work > > with CWN members and EPA to produce strong criteria on this important > issue. We are going to put folks in the same EPA region in contact with > > each other and with the Regional Nutrient Coordinator in their region so > > that together we can produce acceptable nutrient criteria to ensure > clean waters. If you are interested in working on nutrient criteria > with other CWN members, please contact the Clean Water Network at > cleanwaternt at igc.org or (202) 289-2421 by August 27th. The campaign > needs to get its feet off the ground early so members in the various EPA > > regions can be involved early in the nutrient criteria process. > > Nutrients are the number one cause of water impairment. Let?s work > together to create strong nutrient criteria and clean water! > > > ********************************************************************* > This message was sent by the Clean Water Network. If you would > like to reply to this particular message, please make sure you > send it to the appropriate contact. To send a message to the > Clean Water Network listserve, please send an email message to > cleanwaternt at igc.apc.org and indicate that you would like it posted > to the Network listserver. We will try to respond or forward your > message to an appropriate expert in a timely manner, but please be > aware that we receive over 40 messages a day and so may take some > time to get back with you. If you need to contact us immediately, > please feel free to phone: > Kathy Nemsick I Ami Grace > National Coordinator I Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator > 202-289-2395 I 202-289-2421 > ********************************************************************** From Roger.B.Griffis at noaa.gov Tue Aug 24 15:59:35 1999 From: Roger.B.Griffis at noaa.gov (Roger B Griffis) Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1999 15:59:35 -0400 Subject: Meeting notice: U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Message-ID: <37C2F9A6.B8CB252A@hdq.noaa.gov> MEETING NOTICE AND REGISTRATION UNITED STATES CORAL REEF TASK FORCE Date: August 12, 1999 TO: All Interested Parties The next meeting of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, which President Clinton established in E.O. 13089 on Coral Reef Protection, will be held on November 2 and 3 in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, at the Tamarind Reef Hotel. Secretary Babbitt and Secretary Daley plan to participate and we look forward to representation and participation from government and nongovernmental organizations. A draft agenda for the meeting is enclosed. We expect that a symposium on scientific issues will be held on November 1. Information on this will be posted before the meeting, together with more detailed information concerning the meeting agenda and logistics. Key items for review and potential adoption or endorsement at the meeting are a National Action Plan for implementing responsibilities of the Task Force; a coral reef enforcement protocol; a blueprint to assist marine protected area managers in going forward with the fundamentals needed for coral reef protection; a mechanism for Coral Reef Task Force oversight of E.O. 13089 implementation; and principals and processes for addressing unsustainable trade in coral reef species. Public comment will be taken at the meeting and for some time following the meeting on all topics and proposals. The Tamarind Reef Hotel is located at 5001 Tamarind Reef, Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI, telephone 340-773-4445, fax 340-773-3989, reservations 800-619-0014. Other accomodations are also nearby. Please contact Karen Koltes at the Interior Department (202-208-5345) or Michael Crosby (301-713-9121) or Roger Griffis (202-482-5034) at NOAA if you have questions about the meeting agenda. Jackie Ellis (202-208-4177) will help if you have logistic or administrative questions. Please complete and fax the enclosed registration form to Jackie Ellis at 202-219-0229. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting! Sincerely, William Y. Brown Science Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior United States Department of the Interior Sally J. Yozell Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration United States Department of Commerce _________________ Enclosures 8-12-99 Draft Agenda Third Meeting of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force November 2-3, 1999 St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands Tuesday, November 2 11:30 AM -- Working lunch (executive session for Task Force only) 1:00 PM -- Opening remarks from the Co-Chairs and Governors present 1:30 PM -- Task Force introduce themselves 1:35 PM -- Budget update for FY 2000 and FY 2001 1:45 PM -- Panel presentation and discussion of integrated Task Force Action Plan 2:45 PM -- Presentation and discussion of specific actions and products, including: Enforcement protocol Blueprint for protected area management Mechanism for oversight of the coral reef executive order Actions to address coral reef species trade 4:00 PM -- Public comment 5:00 PM -- Adjourn for the day 6:30 PM -- Reception and Dinner Wednesday, November 3 9:00 AM -- Continue discussion and decide on the draft Task Force Action Plan and the actions and products presented on Tuesday 11:30 AM -- Co-Chairs summarize actions taken and next steps 12:00 PM -- Conclude meeting 12:15 PM -- Press Conference - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3RD MEETING OF U.S. CORAL REEF TASK FORCE Tamarind Reef Hotel 5001 Tamarind Reef, Christiansted St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands November 2-3, 1999 ATTENDEES REGISTRATION FORM Name: Name Tag Preference: Title: Organization: Address: City/State/Zip: Telephone Number: Fax Number: Email Address: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PLEASE COMPLETE FORM AND FAX BACK TO JACKIE ELLIS AT 202-219-0229. ### FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CORAL REEF TASK FORCE go to http://CoralReef.gov/ -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Roger.B.Griffis.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 424 bytes Desc: Card for Roger B Griffis Url : http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990824/d325aebc/attachment.vcf From fnosratp at ucsd.edu Tue Aug 24 18:23:45 1999 From: fnosratp at ucsd.edu (Fernando Nosratpour) Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1999 15:23:45 -0700 Subject: coral spawning Message-ID: Hello Everyone, We had two coral (Acropora sp.) spawning events recently-on July 4 and 5, 1999 at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. The July 5 spawning was caught on 8mm video (10:30pm-1130pm). You can see a small video clip on our web site : http://aquarium.ucsd.edu quick link to coral spawning and then to "caught on video" Video transfer to computer loses resolution but you can still see sperm-egg bundles. Fernando Fernando Nosratpour Senior Aquarist (619)534-4099 fnosratp at ucsd.edu From scip9051 at nus.edu.sg Wed Aug 25 01:39:56 1999 From: scip9051 at nus.edu.sg (James Rolfe Guest) Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 13:39:56 +0800 Subject: Spawning Information Message-ID: <199908251034.KAA92883@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Dear Coral-List, I am starting a study of the sexual reproductive characteristics of local coral reefs for my PhD at the National University of Singapore. Very little is known about the timing, duration and environmental cues that lead to spawning events on SE Asian reefs, yet this information is critical to understanding the dynamics and rehabilitation/recruitment potential of these often heavily impacted reef systems. As background research for my project I am trying to compile information (anecdotal or otherwise) relating to observations of coral spawning in SE Asia, particularly Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia or the Philippines. The only published data that I have come across so far are from Taiwan and the Philippines, so I am appealing to the coral-list for personal observations, unpublished data or even unsubstantiated rumours relating to past observations of coral spawning in these seas (even negative-evidence!!!). Any information would be gratefully received and can be sent to me by e-mail. I will happily compile the information and submit (in a digested form) to the coral-list at a later date. Thank you in advance, James Guest. James. R. Guest Reef Ecology Laboratory Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore 10 Kent Ridge Crescent Singapore 119260 Tel: (65) 778-7112 (office) (65) 774-8873 (home) Fax: (65) 779-6155 / 772-2486 E-mail: scip9051 at nus.edu.sg / jrguest at hotmail.com James. R. Guest Reef Ecology Laboratory Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore 10 Kent Ridge Crescent Singapore 119260 Tel: (65) 778-7112 (office) (65) 774-8873 (home) Fax: (65) 779-6155 / 772-2486 E-mail: scip9051 at nus.edu.sg / jrguest at hotmail.com From szmanta at uncwil.edu Wed Aug 25 11:12:55 1999 From: szmanta at uncwil.edu (Alina M. Szmant) Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 11:12:55 -0400 Subject: Change of address Message-ID: <3.0.32.19990825111255.006e501c@pop.uncwil.edu> I am now totally relocated to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. My new contact information is listed in the signature below. Alina Szmant ******************************************************************* PRESENT ADDRESS: Dr. Alina M. Szmant Department of Biological Sciences University of North Carolina at Wilmington 601 South College Road Wilmington NC 28403 tel: (910)962-7574 fax: (910)962-4066 email: szmanta at uncwil.edu ****************************************************************** From Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov Wed Aug 25 11:18:15 1999 From: Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov (Jim Hendee) Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 11:18:15 -0400 (EDT) Subject: regional coral literature update Message-ID: Dear Coral-Listers, I am extremely pleased to announce an update to our CHAMP online coral reef literature abstracts page at, http://www.coral.noaa.gov/bib/lib-server.html We now have a general coral reefs database, a Caribbean corals database, and an American Samoa corals database. We anticipate other regional updates in the future. The credit for all the hard work that went into the development of these databases for online use by the coral community goes to, Melissa Morris Student Assistant to the CHAMP program, from Wellesley University (mmoriss2 at wellesley.edu) Maria Bello Assistant Librarian (bello at aoml.noaa.gov) and Linda Pikula Librarian (pikula at aoml.noaa.gov) Thank you so much, Ladies! Cheers, Jim Hendee From mtoscano at nesdis.noaa.gov Wed Aug 25 13:18:35 1999 From: mtoscano at nesdis.noaa.gov (Maggie Toscano) Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 13:18:35 -0400 Subject: New NOAA HotSpot Features Message-ID: <37C4256B.6CBB9E3E@nesdis.noaa.gov> Dear Coral Listers, NOAA's HotSpot web page: http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/PSB/EPS/SST/climohot.html has two new features. The first is a Degree Heating Weeks page with thermal-stress accumulation maps of 1.) the SE US - Caribbean - Central America; 2.) the Western Hemisphere; and 3.) the Eastern Hemisphere. The other new feature is a web-based form for submitting coral bleaching reports. The form grew out of the many reports received from around the world during the past two years. The reports you have generously submitted to NOAA, or posted to this list, continue to confirm the HotSpot/bleaching connection. The vast majority of the submitted bleaching reports have since been posted on the HotSpot web page as "Reports on HotSpots," and have greatly enhanced the content and quality of the HotSpot page. In an effort to obtain future and retrospective reports in quantitative form for a bleaching database, we are requesting (via the form) more detail in these reports, including dates, lats/lons, and any in situ data that might have a bearing on bleaching. We hope that by collecting specific information, we can improve the present experimental HotSpot products to include 1) a comprehensive database for bleaching events (past & future years); 2) interactive maps showing locations of bleaching events with links to information from the database; 3) identification of individual, or combinations of, environmental factors forcing bleaching, their threshold values, and the lead time needed to cause a bleaching event; 4) greater predictive capability; and 5) increased resolution in targeted regions, and eventually worldwide. During this relatively uneventful 1999 season, would you please review the form and experiment with it by sending reports on pre-1999 bleaching events that you have already studied and recorded? Please also use this form to submit any new bleaching reports for the 1999 season. Any comments on the content of the form are welcome. The form is not meant to duplicate general reef monitoring information (e.g. REEFCHECK) and may therefore appear incomplete to some. We are only requesting information that deals with the conditions leading to and maintaining coral bleaching. To those who find it very long or detailed, please submit any information you may have, even if it is not enough to complete the entire form. Some information is better than none, and may reinforce other submissions. Please forward this message to any other interested individuals who are not currently coral-list subscribers. Thank you for your interest and input. Sincerely, Marguerite A. Toscano Al Strong Ingrid Guch -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mtoscano.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 468 bytes Desc: Card for Maggie Toscano Url : http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990825/9ea5e481/attachment.vcf From osha at pobox.com Wed Aug 25 16:37:52 1999 From: osha at pobox.com (Osha Gray Davidson) Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 15:37:52 -0500 Subject: NOAA funding Message-ID: <4.1.19990825151805.009ce7b0@mail> Dear Listers, When the US Congress returns from recess soon, it will take up funding of NOAA's reef and marine sanctuary programs. At the risk of getting flamed for self-promotion, I'm going to reprint below an opinion piece I wrote on this topic that appeared in the Miami Herald on 1 August. (It's not self-promotion--it's sloth.) On 13 August, the Tampa [Florida] Tribune ran their own editorial calling for full funding for NOAA. I'm including that below, too. Please contact your representative (if American) to register your feelings on the issue. I should think that responses by non-American, particularly scientists, would be helpful as well. Messages could be addressed to Olympia at snowe.senate.gov, a US Senator who is supporting NOAA funding. Her phone number is 202-224-5344. Cheers, Osha Don?t Shortchange NOAA In 1937, Rachel Carson wrote, ?Who has known the ocean? Neither you nor I. . .? More than 60 years later, we have learned a great deal about the marine world. Scientists have discovered deep sea vents, where bizarre tube worms thrive on plumes of hot gasses. Taxonomists have found and cataloged a host of previously unknown life forms, from glowing microscopic whirl-a-gigs to species of fish that can change their sex several times a night. It?s easy to imagine Carson the marine biologist giddily cheering on these new discoveries. One gets the queasy feeling, however, that that clear-eyed skeptic might also point out that ignorance remains the defining characteristic of our relationship with the ocean. Despite impressive gains, we still know more about outer space than about the waters that make up 99% of the planet?s biosphere, or living space. Far worse than our ignorance is our rampant destruction of this environment (a process that Carson, the author of Silent Spring, knew only too well). A burgeoning human population coupled with technological advances have degraded the oceans, far beyond anything Carson witnessed in her lifetime. Everywhere you look beneath the waves, you see wounds, tears in the marine biological fabric. Each year trawling nets reduce to rubble an area of seabed twice the size of the continental United States? the marine equivalent of forestry?s clear-cutting. Nitrogen pours into the ocean from farm fields and hog lots, and from sewage plants and septic tanks, stimulating huge algae blooms that smoother coral reefs and kill fish by the thousands, and creating huge oxygen-depleted ?dead-zones.? Over-fishing by the desperate poor, and by the greedy for the affluent, decimate fish stocks around the world. New diseases emerge from our once pristine waters with alarming regularity, threatening to drive some species into the black hole of extinction. But if threats to coastal waters abound, so do efforts to protect marine habitats. When we think of organizations working to preserve the oceans, the usual suspects come to mind: Reef Relief, the Center For Marine Conservation, Greenpeace, the Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club. Commendable groups, all. But the primary responsibility for safeguarding the oceans falls? as it should? to the alphabet soup of government agencies that most people rarely hear about, organizations such as the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The latter is charged with a unique responsibility in protecting coastal waters including the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems of the marine world: coral reefs, sometimes called ?the rainforests of the sea.? The US Senate apparently understands that a fully-funded NOAA is one of the best investments in our nation?s aquatic future. On July 22, the Senate passed a bill appropriating $2.5 billion for NOAA? a nearly 15% increase over last years? funding. In a display of bi-partisanship that was as pleasing as it was rare, specific coral reef initiatives were advanced by Senator?s Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME). Florida?s Senator Connie Mack (R) also insured that the National Coral Reef Institute in Ft. Lauderdale would continue to receive NOAA funding, to the tune of $1 million annually. The Senate bill isn?t perfect. For example, the Clinton Administration had requested $10 million in new funds to be spent annually on reef assessment, monitoring and restoration. The Senate at first axed this important measure, but, at Senator Inouye?s urging, finally allocated $6 million for the job. And while NOAA requested $29 million to support and expand its Marine Sanctuaries program, the Senate appropriated just $18 million for this vitally important undertaking. (To get an idea of just how inadequate current funding is, consider that the New England Aquarium recently spent 50% more on an exhibit about the Stellwagen Bank, off the coast of Massachusetts, than NOAA spent last year to manage the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.) Still, the Senate?s action overall is positive, representing a high watermark (forgive the pun) for this session. And it will likely be followed by even more ?marine friendly? measures. Senator Snowe has introduced a bill providing community-based coral conservation programs $4 million in annual federal matching funds. She?s also backing a separate measure to fund marine sanctuaries at a rate even higher than that requested by NOAA. And Senator Inouye is pressing forward with his own bill, authorizing $20 million a year earmarked for coral reef protection. But there is a stinging jellyfish in the ointment. The US House of Representatives seems inexplicably intent on denying NOAA the funds it needs to do its job. The House, with the blessing of Appropriations Chair Bill Young (R-FL), has introduced it?s own NOAA bill, and that measure provides a whopping 25% less in funds than the Senate version. If the House prevails, it will be a case of penny-wise, pound-foolishness at its very worst. The consequences for coral reefs, and for many other coastal ecosystems protected by NOAA, would be devastating. Perhaps the House?s short-sightedness isn?t so baffling. Programs run by ?faceless bureaucrats? make tempting targets when budget-cutters unsheathe their knives. But House members would do well to remember that not all defenders of the natural world are found in activist groups. Take, for example, the marine biologist who worked for the FWS for nearly two decades. A faceless bureaucrat she may have been, but the contributions made by Rachel Carson are priceless?and so is the work of her philosophical descendants at NOAA. Tampa editorial NOAA deserves serious budget help The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is one of the key agencies charged with safekeeping the nation's ocean waters. Its role is particularly important in Florida, virtually surrounded by the sea. NOAA helps determine the status of fisheries, measures the extent of pollution and performs many other tasks that help maintain the health of marine life. Of particular note, NOAA is working to rescue the ailing Florida Keys, which have been badly damaged by water pollution and the other effects of years of overdevelopment. But this agency, which has been free of scandal and performs a useful role for taxpayers, is under attack. A House bill would cut its budget by 10 percent, crippling its ability to do the research necessary to protect the nation's coastal waters. NOAA is by no means lavishly funded. Osha Gray Davidson, University of Iowa professor and author of ``The Enchanted Braid: Coming to Terms with Nature on the Coral Reef, gave an account of NOAA's plight in The Miami Herald that pointed out ``the New England Aquarium recently spent 50 percent more on an exhibit about the Stellwagen Bank off the coast of Massachusetts, than NOAA spent last year to manage the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.'' The Senate, to its credit, would adequately fund NOAA, appropriating $2.5 billion, an almost 15 percent increase. Sen. Connie Mack made sure the National Coral Reef Institute in Fort Lauderdale would receive NOAA funding of $1 million a year. Another provision would provide $4 million in federal matching funds that would go toward community-based coral reef conservation programs. The House, on the other hand, simply turned its back on the nation's coral reefs and marine resources. Appropriations chair Bill Young of St. Petersburg has a fine record in fighting offshore drilling for oil and other threats to the state's coast. Surely he cannot approve of this little-noted attempt to undermine an agency so important to marine research and resource protection. Representatives from Florida, of all people, should understand the value of NOAA and rally to its support. [END] Osha Gray Davidson Adjunct Assistant Professor International Programs, University of Iowa 14 S. Governor St. Iowa City, IA 52240 Phone: 319-338-4778 http://members.home.net/oshad/books.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990825/05dd7dc2/attachment.html From osha at pobox.com Thu Aug 26 11:30:06 1999 From: osha at pobox.com (Osha Gray Davidson) Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 10:30:06 -0500 Subject: NOAA funding Message-ID: <4.1.19990826101137.009cef10@mail> Dear fellow coral-listers, About support for funding NOAA's coral and marine sanctuary projects: It's been brought to my attention that while contacting Senator Olympia Snowe is fine, there are Congresspeople with more control over the budget who should be contacted first. These are: Controllers of the purse-strings in the Senate: Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, Chair of Appropriations Committee. Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Ranking Member of Appropriations Committee. Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, Chair of the Commerce, Justice, State Subcommittee (includes NOAA). Senator Fritz Hollings of South Carolina, Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice, State Subcommittee. Controllers of the purse-strings in the House: Rep. Bill Young of Florida, Chair of Appropriations Committee. Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, Ranking Member of Appropriations Committee. Rep. Harold Rogers of Kentucky, Chair of the Commerce, Justice, State Subcommittee. Rep. Alan Mollohan of West Virginia, Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice, State Subcommittee. Contact information for these members can be found at: www.senate.gov www.house.gov It's hard to imagine that in an era of a budget surplus, the US House would make deep cuts in programs vital to the health of reefs and other coastal ecoystems--but that's exactly what's going to happen if people, particularly scientists with expertise in these areas, don't make some noise about this. Thanks, Osha Osha Gray Davidson Adjunct Assistant Professor International Programs, University of Iowa 14 S. Governor St. Iowa City, IA 52240 Phone: 319-338-4778 http://members.home.net/oshad/books.htm From Mhatziolos at worldbank.org Thu Aug 26 11:38:58 1999 From: Mhatziolos at worldbank.org (Mhatziolos at worldbank.org) Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 18:38:58 +0300 Subject: Support for NOAA Funding Message-ID: <852567D9.0056271E.00@WBLN0014.worldbank.org> Dear Coral Listers, At the urging of Osha Davidson, I am copying the note I recently sent to Senator Snowe seeking her contiuned support for NOAA funding, in the hopes that others would follow suite. Regards, Marea Hatziolos ---------------------- Forwarded by Marea Eleni Hatziolos/Person/World Bank on 08/26/99 06:37 PM --------------------------- Marea Eleni Hatziolos 08/26/99 11:16 AM Phone: 545+213 ENV To: Olympia at Snowe.Senate.Gov cc: Subject: Your support for NOAA funding Dear Senator Snowe, I would like to express my deep appreciation for your efforts to support the vital work of NOAA in safeguarding America's coastal and marine environments. It would, indeed, be a trajedy if the wealthiest country in the world allowed its extraodinary natural endowments in the marine realm to fall prey to shortsighted budget cuts and political expediency. This at a time when we are encouraging many poor nations, under our foreign aid and other programs, to put environmental protection on an equal footing with economic growth. As an American who has dedicated her professional life to helping the poorer countries of the world address their marine resource management concerns, I find it disheartening to see the erosion of our own programs for conservation and management in this country, as we fail to make the same politically difficult decisions that we prescribe to our less well-off neighbors and clients. I hope that you will continue the fight in Congress to provide the necessary support to NOAA and other agencies charged with protecting the marine environment so that we can provide a model to the world of effective marine conservation and preserve its benefits for the enjoyment of our own children--and theirs--for generations to come. Sincerely, Marea E. Hatziolos, PhD Senior Coastal and Marine Resources Specialist Environment Department The World Bank 1818 H St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433 e-mail: Mhatziolos at worldbank.org ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Marea E. Hatziolos Senior Coastal and Marine Resources Specialist Environment Department c/o The World Bank Resident Mission, Sofia 36, Dragan Tzankov Blvd. 1057 Sofia, Bulgaria Tel: (359-2) 918-141, ext. 235 Fax: (359-2) 971-2045 e-mail: Mhatziolos at worldbank.org From tmsgohb at nus.edu.sg Thu Aug 26 21:41:30 1999 From: tmsgohb at nus.edu.sg (Goh Pi Lee,Beverly) Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 09:41:30 +0800 Subject: Asia-Pacific Congress on the Biology of the Environment Message-ID: <4B0D7BF452B9D011899D0020AFFBEE6101E6B156@exs03.ex.nus.edu.sg> International Asia-Pacific Congress on The Biology of the Environment website: http://www.sci-ctr.edu.sg/sciorg/sibio/index.htm 21-24 November, 1999 National University of Singapore Congress Announcement and Final Call for Papers We invite you to participate in this Congress. This is a FINAL call for oral and poster presentations. All abstracts must be submitted postmarked 15th October 1999, accompanied by the Congress Registration Form and Registration Fee to ensure its publication. At this point of time, we have seven confirmed plenary speakers: Prof Walter Erdelen (Germany), Prof Anthony Cheshire (Australia), Prof Lam Toong Jin (Singapore), Assoc. Prof Peter K.L. Ng (Singapore), Prof Eric Pianka (USA), Dr Ettore Randi (Italy), Prof Clifford Smith (USA) We invite you to register now to participate in this International Congress. Organised by The Singapore Institute of Biology National University of Singapore (Department of Biological Sciences) Nanyang Technological University (School of Science) Tropical Marine Science Institute (NUS) National Parks Board Singapore National Academy of Science Congress Secretariat: Assoc Prof Shirley S.L. Lim Hon. Secretary c/o School of Science Nanyang Technological University NIE, 469 Bukit Timah Road Singapore 259756 Tel: (65)460-5321 Fax: (65)460-8952 E-mail: slim at nie.edu.sg TOPICS FOR SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS Habitat restoration Conservation/preservation of habitat Biodiversity Endangered species Species interactions Environmental molecular biology Environmental modelling Delegates who wish to organise a workshop are welcome to do so. All proposals must be sent to the Hon. Secretary. Workshop convenors may also wish to publicise their workshop programme to their colleagues. The Congress Organising Committee will assist in arrangements for rooms and other logistical requirements. All such requests must be received before 1st Oct 1999. ATTEND THE CONGRESS AND BE PART OF THE MILLENNIAMANIA CELEBRATIONS In conjunction with the Millenniamania campaign celebrations organised by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, every visitor to Singapore during the period from June 1999 to August 2000, will stand a chance to win a return vacation to Singapore through a daily lucky draw. Visitors will also stand a chance to win the Grand Draw prize of a free luxury return holiday for himself and 20 of his guests. Scientific Programme 21 Nov 1999 0900-1700 Registration (Sunday) Venue: Lecture Theatre 31 National University of Singapore 1730-1900 Social mixer Guild House, National University of Singapore Function Room - Evans 1 22 Nov 1999 0800-0900 Registration (Monday) 0900-0940 Opening Ceremony Welcome Addresses Speech by Guest-of-Honour Lecture Theatre 31 National University of Singapore 0940-1000 Tea Reception 1000-1040 Plenary Lecture I(A) The role of phylogeny in ecology Prof Eric Pianka Section of Integrative Biology University of Texas, Austin USA 1040-1240 Scientific Session(s) I(a) 1240-1400 Lunch 1400-1440 Plenary Lecture I(B) Why the heck do you need a taxonomist? Assoc. Prof Peter K.L. Ng Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore 1440-1540 Scientific Session(s) I(b) 1540-1600 Tea Break 1600-1800 Scientific Session(s) I(c) 23 Nov 1999 0830-0910 Plenary Lecture II(A) (Tuesday) Marine fish larvae: endogenous deficiencies, exogenous compensations Prof Lam Toong Jin Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore 0910-1010 Scientific Session(s) II(a) 1010-1030 Tea Break 1030-1110 Plenary Lecture II(B) Molecular genetics and the conservation of biodiversity Dr Randi Ettore Department of Conservation Biology & Conservation Genetics Iatituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica, Italy 1110-1225 Scientific Session(s) II(b) 1225-1330 Lunch 1330-1410 Plenary Lecture II(C) Invasive species: The Hawaiian experience Prof Clifford Smith Department of Botany University of Hawaii, USA 1410-1510 Scientific Session(s) II(c) 1510-1530 Tea Break 1530-1610 Plenary Lecture II(D) Biodiversity conservation in Indonesia: Challenge for a megadiversity Prof Walter Erdelen Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia 1610-1710 Scientific Session(s) II(d) 1900-2200 CONGRESS BANQUET-CUM-25th ANNIVERSARY DINNER Awards Ceremony 24 Nov 1999 0830-0910 Plenary Lecture III(A) (Wednesday) The role of modelling in ecology Prof Anthony Cheshire School of Natural Sciences University of Adelaide, Australia 0910-1011 Scientific Session(s) III(a) 1010-1030 Tea Break 1030-1245 Scientific Session(s) III(b) 1245-1400 Lunch 1400-1500 PANEL DISCUSSION by all keynote speakers 1500-1520 Tea Break 1520-1600 SIBiol Distinguished Biologist Lecture 1600-1630 Closing Ceremony CONGRESS REGISTRATION FORM website: http://www.sci-ctr.edu.sg/sciorg/sibio/index.htm ASIA-PACIFIC CONGRESS ONTHE BIOLOGY OF THE ENVIRONMENT Date: 21-24 November 1999 Venue: National University of Singapore A/P Shirley Lim Hon Secretary, Congress Organising Committee c/o School of Science, Nanyang Technological University NIE, 469 Bukit Timah Road Fax : (65) 469-8952 Singapore 259756 E-mail : slim at nie.edu.sg (1) I would like to participate in the Congress as follows (please tick): ( ) Attend the Congress ( ) Present a paper at the Congress. ( ) Present a poster at the Congress (2) My particulars are as follows: Name: Prof/Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms _______________________________________________ [Family/Last name] [Given name(s)] Affiliation:______________________________________________________________ Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ E-mail:_______________________Tel:________________ Fax:___________________ Accompanying person(s) Name: Prof/Dr/Mr/Ms _______________________________________________ [Family/Last name] [Given name(s)] (3) I enclosed the following (please tick): ( ) Congress Registration Form ( ) Registration fees (bankdraft/international money order in Singapore/U.S. dollars ( ) Hotel/Hostel Registration Form Signature: _____________________________ Date: ____________________________ Secretariat use only: Registration No: ______________________ Date Received: _______________________ ABSTRACT SUBMISSION You are invited to submit your abstract now. The abstract must have a title, name(s) of author(s) and complete address(es), and is no more than 250 words. The abstract, must be sent in together with the registration form, and registration fees before 31 October 1999. We cannot ensure the publication of your abstract if it is received after this date. Oral presentations will be allotted 12 minutes for talk and 3 minutes for questions. Authors will receive written confirmation by e-mail regarding the scheduling of their presentations in late October. Proceedings of the Congress will not be published. However, all presenters are encouraged to submit their full manuscripts for publication in our Institute's journal, The Asian Journal of Tropical Biology. Papers will be accepted for publication in the journal subject to the normal review process and policy of the journal. Instructions to authors are enclosed. REGISTRATION FEES & PAYMENT Overseas participants $250 (US$175) Local participants Members $150 Non-members $200 Students (overseas) $ 72 (US$50) Students (local) $ 30 All registration fees must be paid in Singapore or US dollars by a bankdraft/international money order drawn on a Singapore bank and made payable to "Singapore Institute of Biology Environment Congress". Personal cheques are not acceptable from overseas participants. The Congress registration fee includes Welcome reception, coffee or tea during breaks, Congress bag, official name badge, book of abstracts, final scientific programme and other materials, and Congress Banquet. Registration fees for students do not cover the welcome reception or the banquet. OFFICIAL LETTER OF INVITATION Official letters of invitation which are intended to help overcome administrative difficulties will be issued on request. Such letters do not imply commitment of financial or other support by the organising committee. Please provide relevant information to assist with the preparation of the letter of invitation. SCIENTIFIC EXHIBITION A trade exhibition will be held in conjunction with the Congress. REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IN HOSTEL ACCOMMODATIONS [Note: Do not return this Form if you wish to make your own arrangements for accommodation. Registrants who wish to make reservations at the University Hostel must return this completed Form] PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT LEGIBLY Name: Prof/Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms Address: Telephone: Office Fax: E-mail If sharing accommodation, please provide the full name of roommate: HOSTEL RATE ARRIVAL DATE DEPARTURE DATE Hostel Guest Room S$50 (Single) _______________ ___________________ NUS campus $60 (Double) _______________ ___________________ University Hostel Room NUS campus $16.50 (Single) _______________ ___________________ $14.40 (Double) _______________ ___________________ Please note that there are only a limited number of Hostel Guest Rooms available. They will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. UNIVERSITY HOSTEL REGISTRATIONS: Please do not send payment for University Hostel Reservations. Your payment will be processed upon arrival. Please complete and return the form to: A/P Shirley Lim Hon. Secretary, Congress Organising Committee c/o School of Science Nanyang Technological University Tel: (65)460-5321 NIE, 469 Bukit Timah Road Fax: Fax: (65)460-8952 Singapore 259756 E-mail: slim at nie.edu.sg HOTEL ACCOMMODATION Below is a list of hotels that we have negotiated for conference rates. Please contact them directly. Registrants must identify themselves as attending the Asia-Pacific Congress on the Biology of the Environment to receive conference rates. . In the case of YMCA (Stevens Road), please mention that it is the corporate rate offered to the National Institute of Education. All prices are quoted in Singapore dollars. HOTEL RATE TEL. # FAX # E-MAIL Copthorne Orchid $124 (Single) (65)350-4419 (65)255-4494 roomres at orchidsing.com.sg 214 Dunearn Road (Ms Shin Mi-Yuen) Singapore 299526 Orchard Hotel $140 (Single/Twin) (65)739-6794 (65)739-6605 orcharde at singnet.com.sg 442 Orchard Road (Mr Keeson Tan) Singapore 238879 Orchard Parade Hotel $126 (Single) (65)731-7061 (65)235-9436 feohotel at pacific.net.sg 1 Tanglin Road $137 (Double) (Mr Alex Tjio) Singapore 247905 YMCA (Stevens Road) $70 (Single/Twin) (65)731-0790 (65)235-5528 lodge at mymca.org.sg 60, Stevens Road Singapore 257854 (outside the Central Business District) YMCA (Orchard Road) $81.58 (Single) (65)336-6000 (65)337-3140 hostel at ymca.org.sg 1 Orchard Road $95.17 (Double) Singapore 238824 (inside the Central Business District) York Hotel $125 (Single/Twin) (65)830-1108 (65)738-5810 salesmkg at yorkhotel.com.sg 21 Mount Elizabeth (Ms Lynn Lim) Singapore 228516 Tours and Field trips The Congress Organising Committee has planned the following tours and field trips. Details are available in the final Scientific Programme and at the Registration desk on your arrival. Night Safari, at Singapore Zoological Gardens The Night Safari is the world's first wildlife park built to be viewed at night. Set in 40 hectares of dense secondary forest, the Night Safari offers guests the unique experience of exploring wildlife in a tropical jungle at night. Through the use of subtle lighting technique. Guests are able to view over 1000 nocturnal animals of 100 species in vast naturalistic habitats. Sungei Buloh Nature Park & Aerogreen Technology Farm This is Singapore's first wetland nature park, a 87 hectares refuge for migratory birds that use the east Asia flyway. Flocks of migrants like plovers and sandpipers sometimes arrive at the park in thousands. Visitors can expect to see more than 187 species of birds, as well as monitor lizards, and other wetland plants and animals. Located across the park, is Aerogreen Technology Farm, Singapore's first commercial aeroponics farm in Asia. Situated in the Agrotechnology Park, Aerogreen Farm is the only the farm that uses aeroponics technology to grow food plants, including several temperate vegetables. Singapore River Cruise The journey sets sail from Raffles Landing Site, where in January 28, 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles set the wheel of Singapore's contemporary history in motion when he stepped ashore on the northern bank of the Singapore River. It was his foresight that resulted in Singapore's development, with the Singapore River as its lifeline. Today, while cruising the Singapore River, one will marvel at the extravagent contrast between the richly-mellowed old architecture and striking skyscraper skyline of modern Singapore rearing up behind them. The cruise passes by not less than five grand old bridges of diverse designs decorated with quaint old lamps of a bygone era. Singapore By Night Enjoy dinner at Boat Quay, Singaporean's latest haunt at sunset. After dinner, enroute to our stop at Bugis Street where you can take in the beautiful sight of the Central Business Street and Singapore's skyline by night via Benjamin Sheares Bridge. At Bugis street, you will stroll along the night market or "pasar malam" where you may chance upon bargains you have never imagined. Then, a drive along the Esplanade for a glimpse of the Merlion before stopping at the famous Raffles Hotel to sample Singapore's very own "Singapore Sling"- as the saying goes: "If you have not been to Raffles, you have not been to Singapore". Congress Organising Committee Chairman Prof CHOU Loke Ming Vice-chairman A/Prof TAN Teck Koon Hon. Secretary A/Prof Shirley S.L. LIM Assistant Secretary A/Prof CHIA Tet Fatt Hon. Treasurer A/Prof YEOH Hock Hin Assistant Treasurer Asst Prof Wendell SUN Subcommittees Chairperson: A/Prof Mulkit SINGH (scientific and programme) Asst Prof N. SODHI (logistics) A/Prof HO Shuit Hung (accommodations) Ms FOONG Lai Leong (social) Ms Jennifer TAN (trade exhibition) Ms Adeline KOH (conference materials) Dr. Beverly Goh Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI) National University of Singapore 14 Kent Ridge Road, SINGAPORE 119223 Tel: +65 774 9883 / 9658 / 9652 Fax: +65 774 9654 email: tmsgohb at nus.edu.sg From hdandigne at usa.net Fri Aug 27 03:30:02 1999 From: hdandigne at usa.net (h d'Andign?) Date: 27 Aug 99 01:30:02 MDT Subject: SST & Bleaching. Message-ID: <19990827073002.22059.qmail@nw128.netaddress.usa.net> Dear Lister I am presently doing a research in la R?union Island (Indian ocean) about the caracterisation of significant SST anomalies as a cause for coral bleaching. More specifically, I am looking for in situ temperature measurement and reliable (comparable) observation of bleaching in the Indian ocean. I will appreciate any help and summarise the results. Thank In Advance. Herv? ... ------------------------------------------ herv? d'andign? hdandigne at usa.net -------------------------------------------- ____________________________________________________________________ Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.netaddress.com/?N=1 From Oceanwatch at aol.com Fri Aug 27 15:40:41 1999 From: Oceanwatch at aol.com (Oceanwatch at aol.com) Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 15:40:41 EDT Subject: Shrimp Farm in Bonaire Message-ID: Coral Listers I recently heard about a shrimp aquaculture project on Bonaire. Does anyone know about this project, i.e., if any permits or controls were imposed that might prevent the kind of physical damage or release of pollutants into the coastal zone that are associated with shrimp farming? thanks Cliff McCreedy >><((;> ><((;> ><((;> Oceanwatch 2101 Wilson Boulevard Suite 900 Arlington, VA 22201 phone 703-351-7444 fax 703-351-7472 e-mail: Oceanwatch at aol.com http://www.enviroweb.org/oceanwatch From geertjes at bonairenet.com Fri Aug 27 21:30:50 1999 From: geertjes at bonairenet.com (Gerard Geertjes) Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 21:30:50 -0400 Subject: Shrimp Farm in Bonaire Message-ID: <01bef0f4$f66a4a40$bbd36020@default> The effluent of the shrimp farm at Bonaire is directed straight into the evaporation ponds of the Bonaire solar salt works. No pollutants are dumped in the coastal zone. Gerard J. Geertjes Groningen University Department of Marine Biology Kaya Dorado 12, Bonaire Netherlands Antilles geertjes at bonairenet.com phone: + 599 7 5879 fax: + 599 7 2595 -----Original Message----- From: Oceanwatch at aol.com To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Date: Friday, August 27, 1999 4:57 PM Subject: Shrimp Farm in Bonaire >Coral Listers > >I recently heard about a shrimp aquaculture project on Bonaire. Does anyone >know about this project, i.e., if any permits or controls were imposed that >might prevent the kind of physical damage or release of pollutants into the >coastal zone that are associated with shrimp farming? > >thanks >Cliff McCreedy >>><((;> ><((;> ><((;> >Oceanwatch >2101 Wilson Boulevard >Suite 900 >Arlington, VA 22201 >phone 703-351-7444 >fax 703-351-7472 >e-mail: Oceanwatch at aol.com >http://www.enviroweb.org/oceanwatch > From dbaker at tm.net.my Sun Aug 29 09:21:29 1999 From: dbaker at tm.net.my (Don Baker) Date: Sun, 29 Aug 1999 06:21:29 -0700 Subject: The Reef Project / Call for CVs for Directorship Position Message-ID: <000f01bef221$6b2ff460$1741bcca@oemcomputer> THE REEF PROJECT I - What is it? What is it all about? THE REEF PROJECT is a unique facility concerned primarily with coral reef education, conservation, rehabilitation, and restoration. To accomplish these features, there are two major missions of the Sabah, Malaysia / Pulau Gaya facility. Designated as "The Reef Project I", it is hoped that similar facilities will be developed throughout South East Asia. This is an effort to bring the communities of the region to a more knowledgeable level of understanding about their unique coral reef ecosystems and how they can effectively and efficiently utilize them in a sustainable manner for the benefit of the entire world. Mission One Public education & awareness of the importance of the coral reef ecosystem - be it for food on the dinner plate, for tourist generated income, or for its exotic natural marine flora & fauna wonders yet to be discovered. This mission is initiated from the local community level. Means to accomplish this Mission are: a.. "Living" Coral Reef Aquarium Exhibits & Themes b.. Public & Community Seminars & Functions c.. Brochures / Handouts d.. Internet Communications & Coral Reef Information Database Evolution e.. Quarterly REEF REPORT Newsletter Mission Two Coral Reef ecosystem research & development for determining restoration & rehabilitation methodology - rebuilding the coral reefs by applying various principles associated with other biological and engineering disciplines. Undergraduate practical and post graduate degree programs for university students are also supported in this mission. Means to accomplish this Mission are: a.. Laboratories & Associated Equipment b.. Dive Locker & Mechanical Worktable c.. Coral Reef Field Monitoring Programs d.. Marine Life Research Tanks & Raceways e.. Sea-Scaping Reef Field Study Site f.. Degraded coral reef ecosystem [P. Gaya] g.. Cooperative Research Programs with other institutions and NGOs. Further information about THE REEF PROJECT can be obtained through the Internet at: reefprj at hotmail.com reefprj at tm.net.my Telephone: 6088 302 007 [Voice & Fax on Request] THE REEF PROJECT G16 Wisma Sabah / 88000 Kota Kinabalu / Sabah, Malaysia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990829/0a288cec/attachment.html From clips at ghg.net Sat Aug 28 17:50:37 1999 From: clips at ghg.net (Gary Riley) Date: Sat, 28 Aug 1999 16:50:37 -0500 Subject: CLIPS: New Web Page In-Reply-To: <000001bef08d$5296c4a0$532152ce@antimatter> References: <000001bef08d$5296c4a0$532152ce@antimatter> Message-ID: I've set up a page on the CLIPS web site for CLIPS related job postings. Individuals/companies wanting to add a job posting to the web page should send email to clips at ghg.net. Gary Riley clips at ghg.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CLIPS Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.ghgcorp.com/clips/CLIPS-FAQ CLIPS WWW Page: http://www.ghg.net/clips/CLIPS.html CLIPS Download Page: http://www.ghgcorp.com/clips/download/ -- To subscribe or unsubscribe, send email to clips-request at discomsys.com with your request (subscribe, unsubscribe) in the BODY of the message. The official CLIPS homepage resides at: http://www.ghg.net/clips/CLIPS.html From edward.vowles at pembroke.oxford.ac.uk Sun Aug 29 17:50:38 1999 From: edward.vowles at pembroke.oxford.ac.uk (Edward Vowles) Date: Sun, 29 Aug 1999 22:50:38 +0100 Subject: Diving expedition Message-ID: An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: not available Url: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990829/bbdf3b37/attachment.pl From dbaker at tm.net.my Mon Aug 30 16:27:05 1999 From: dbaker at tm.net.my (Don Baker) Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1999 13:27:05 -0700 Subject: CV Request/ Directorship /The Reef Project Message-ID: <000e01bef327$91c47cc0$f653bcca@oemcomputer> REEF PROJECT Managing Director JOB SUMMARY Individual must be well versed in the field of marine ecology and have experience in mariculture applications for reef species - especially giant clams. Experience in reef survey work, field data collection, and advanced scuba certification is required. This individual will be responsible for the following areas. * Full Management & Directorship of the Reef Project and associated personnel * Directorship and Advisor for all types of research and field surveys * Lead representative for public relations and Project promotions * Quarterly Operations & Management Report * Quarterly "The REEF PROJECT" Newsletter editing & in house publishing * Environmental & Ecological Advisor to Gayana Resort * International & National "Reef Project Concept" cooperative programs * Training for Malaysian citizens employed with the Reef Project * Management of the Reef Project and Gayana Resort Bay aquarium displays This person must be computer literate and experienced in INTERNET use. WEB Page design experience would be helpful. Experience in personnel and office management is also required. Individual must be willing to live at the Pulau Gaya facility and associated Gayana Resort. Must also be willing to learn Bahasa Malay if candidate is not a Malaysian national. Certain amenities with the Resort are part of the benefit & salary. CVs & Salary proposals should be sent via Email or Postal to: THE REEF PROJECT Attn: Don Baker C/O Gayana Resort G16 Wisma Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia ******************************* THE REEF PROJECT I CORAL REEF & GIANT CLAM REHABILITATION Pulau Gaya Facility - Sabah - Malaysia THE REEF PROJECT I - What is it? What is it all about? THE REEF PROJECT is a unique facility concerned primarily with coral reef education, conservation, rehabilitation, and restoration. To accomplish these features, there are two major missions of the Sabah, Malaysia / Pulau Gaya facility. Designated as "The Reef Project I", it is hoped that similar facilities will be developed throughout South East Asia. This is an effort to bring the communities of the region to a more knowledgeable level of understanding about their unique coral reef ecosystems and how they can effectively and efficiently utilize them in a sustainable manner for the benefit of the entire world. Mission One Public education & awareness of the importance of the coral reef ecosystem - be it for food on the dinner plate, for tourist generated income, or for its exotic natural marine flora & fauna wonders yet to be discovered. This mission is initiated from the local community level. Means to accomplish this Mission are: - "Living" Coral Reef Aquarium Exhibits & Themes - Public & Community Seminars & Functions - Brochures / Handouts - Internet Communications & Coral Reef Information Database Evolution - Quarterly REEF REPORT Newsletter Mission Two Coral Reef ecosystem research & development for determining restoration & rehabilitation methodology - rebuilding the coral reefs by applying various principles associated with other biological and engineering disciplines. Undergraduate practical and post graduate degree programs for university students are also supported in this mission. Means to accomplish this Mission are: - Laboratories & Associated Equipment - Dive Locker & Mechanical Worktable - Coral Reef Field Monitoring Programs - Marine Life Research Tanks & Raceways - Sea-Scaping Reef Field Study Site - Degraded coral reef ecosystem [P. Gaya] - Cooperative Research Programs with other institutions and NGOs. Further information about THE REEF PROJECT can be obtained through the Internet at: reefprj at hotmail.com reefprj at tm.net.my Telephone: 6088 302 007 [Voice & Fax on Request] THE REEF PROJECT G16 Wisma Sabah / 88000 Kota Kinabalu / Sabah, Malaysia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19990830/b78cd58e/attachment.html From habari at candwbvi.net Sun Aug 29 08:45:37 1999 From: habari at candwbvi.net (Ian Ripper and Maggie Watson) Date: Sun, 29 Aug 1999 08:45:37 -0400 Subject: Reef Encounter 26, call for contributions Message-ID: <199908301612.QAA38647@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> REEF ENCOUNTER No. 26 NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR REEF STUDIES CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS Dear all, We are currently looking for articles for the next issue of Reef = Encounter. We would welcome contributions from a few hundred words to a = couple of pages on any aspect of reef studies, including news, comments, = short reviews (but not original scientific data) and especially = illustrations/cartoons. Our deadline is 1st October and text sent by = email is strongly preferred. You can also send illustrations (and text = if desired) to the address at the end of this message. Please email your articles to one of us at: Maggie Watson, habari at candwbvi.net Kristian Teleki, kat1003 at cus.cam.ac.uk If you are interested in joining the International Society for Reef = Studies and receiving Reef Encounter please contact Richard Aronson, = raronson at jaguar1.usouthal.edu=20 Thanks, Maggie and Kristian Maggie Watson OR Suite 158 Inland Messenger Service Suite 158 Tortola, P. O. = Box 305498 British Virgin Islands St. Thomas = VI00803 U S = Virgin Islands From MMcGuire at HBOI.edu Mon Aug 30 16:54:15 1999 From: MMcGuire at HBOI.edu (Maia McGuire) Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1999 16:54:15 -0400 Subject: GPS results Message-ID: <705E975A40BED211949800105A1C2F4C4F8A20@SAILFISH> Thanks to everyone who replied to my request for feedback about handheld GPS units. Almost everyone who responded was happy with their units. Two people did feel that the lat/long digits on the display of the Magellan NAV 6000 were too small, but this was the only complaint anyone had. Many of you seem to be using the Garmin GPS 12 and find that it is adequate for most needs. We have opted to purchase the Garmin GPS 48, largely on the recommendation of a salesman at West Marine (marine supplies store) who felt that the design of the antenna on this particular model was better than any of the others (it is a swivelling antenna, not fixed). Otherwise, there was not much to choose between models. We are purchasing a differential unit which will be mounted on our boat, and are looking into getting a long cable so that we can wander around in shallow water with the handheld unit. A couple of people recommended Trimble GPS units-they sound terrific, but the cheapest handheld starts at around $3000...we are getting the Garmin handheld and differential for around $650 (including cables, software, brackets, etc). Thanks again for all your advice! Maia McGuire Post-doctoral investigator Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution From SDeHanas at winrock.org Mon Aug 30 14:16:32 1999 From: SDeHanas at winrock.org (Sinikka DeHanas) Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1999 13:16:32 -0500 Subject: Red Sea Marine Operations Expert Message-ID: <199908302032.UAA36917@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Could you please post the position announcement below. We are searching for candidates at this time and will field as soon as possible. Thank you very much for your help. Sinikka DeHanas Winrock International sdehanas at winrock.org ___________ Red Sea Marine Park Operations Expert Winrock International is searching for candidates for Marine Park Operations Expert position based in Hurghada, Egypt. This will be a full-time appointment for approximately an 18-month period, starting around September 1999. The position requires previous experience in marine park operations and with USAID projects, a good foundation in marine sciences, and ability and interest to work based on the Red Sea coast of Egypt. The candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The candidate selected will be hired through Winrock International and will be eligible for an excellent benefits package and for housing, shipping and other allowances as approved by USAID. Winrock International is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer. Women, Minorities and Veterans are encouraged to apply. Send a cover letter and resume to sdehanas at winrock.org. The full position description is below. Provides support and technical assistance to the Red Sea Protectorates Staff in the day-to-day management of the Park. Manages local contract staff assigned to the Hurghada Office. Responsible for development of a coral reef monitoring system and a park zoning plan, designing and implementing a park patrol and staffing plan, advising EEAA in equipment procurement and facility expansion, operations and maintenance of park facilities and equipment, and training needs. Will be expected to provide significant contributions to the development of the RSPMP draft plan. Responsible for outreach to local NGOs, private sector groups, and local communities. Acts as the principal liaison between the contractor staff in the Red Sea and the Marine Park EU-funded staff in the Gulf of Aqaba. Responsible for coordinating activities and operational policies with the other marine protectorates. Reports to the Red Sea Marine Park Management Advisor. Extensive management and team building experience in developing countries and previous USAID project experience required. Should possess at least 5 years field-based experience in coral reef monitoring and/or marine park management. An advanced degree in coral reef ecology, marine biology, or related field is required. From scip9051 at nus.edu.sg Mon Aug 30 22:47:37 1999 From: scip9051 at nus.edu.sg (James Rolfe Guest) Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 10:47:37 +0800 Subject: Spawnwatch! Message-ID: <415039BB7DE8D011BC4600805F311E1602CA6BED@exs25.ex.nus.edu.sg> Dear coral-list, I am writing to ask for help from universities, conservation groups and diving groups in the SE Asia region. I am collaborating with Gilly Llewellyn (conservation science advisor to the WWF Indonesia Wallacea Program) to recruit volunteers or potential partners for an informal, regional effort to help improve monitoring of SE Asian coral spawning activity. Ideally this program would become a network of dive centers, scientists, university dive groups and conservation groups, who would plan night dives around the full moon (or whenever is most likely) to try and observe coral spawning. Such a program could serve as a powerful education and awareness raising tool as well as being of great practical conservation value (and is a perfect excuse for a night dive). Spawnwatch is the suggested name (with apologies to Baywatch) but alternative titles are welcome. We are keen to hear from anyone who wants to become involved, or who has past experience in coral spawning monitoring programs. Interested parties should contact us by e-mail either to Gilly (Gllewellyn at wwfnet.org) or directly to me (scip9051 at nus.edu.sg). Thanks in advance, James Guest. James. R. Guest Reef Ecology Laboratory Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore 10 Kent Ridge Crescent Singapore 119260 Tel: (65) 778-7112 (office) (65) 774-8873 (home) Fax: (65) 779-6155 / 772-2486 E-mail: scip9051 at nus.edu.sg / jrguest at hotmail.com Gilly Llewellyn Conservation Science Program Manager WWF Indonesia Wallacea Office Jl Hayam Wuruk 179 Denpasar 80235 Bali James. R. Guest Reef Ecology Laboratory Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore 10 Kent Ridge Crescent Singapore 119260 Tel: (65) 778-7112 (office) (65) 774-8873 (home) Fax: (65) 779-6155 / 772-2486 E-mail: scip9051 at nus.edu.sg / jrguest at hotmail.com