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<DIV><FONT size=2>Dear coral-listers</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I am forwarding this to you as I know there is a lot of
expertise on tropical systems out there, and perhaps someone can
help:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><BR>Please see the urgent message below from Selby Remie who
is our IUCN contact<BR>in the Seychelles (a state member of IUCN) and the
person largely<BR>responsible for environmental affiars in
government.<BR><BR>Does anyone have an answer to any of Selby's questions or do
we know who can<BR>address this problem URGENTLY?<BR><BR>Clearly there is
urgency if the temptation is there to eat these shrimps as<BR>the wash up on the
shore. So any response would be greately appreciated -<BR>direct to Selby
and/or to us at EARO and/or to Mariano at IUCN Species<BR>programme at HQ in
Gland (<A href="mailto:mgd@iucn.org">mgd@iucn.org</A>)<BR><BR>This is one of the
reasons for having a group in our region - so can we find<BR>the answers
quickly?<BR><BR>With regards,<BR><BR>Geoffrey Howard<BR>Regional Programme
Coordinator for IUCN in Eastern Africa<BR><BR>> -----Original
Message-----<BR>> From: Selby Remie [<A
href="mailto:SMTP:sel82@hotmail.com">SMTP:sel82@hotmail.com</A>]<BR>> Sent:
Friday, November 02, 2001 8:57 AM<BR>> To: <A
href="mailto:mail@iucnearo.org">mail@iucnearo.org</A><BR>> Subject: <BR>>
<BR>> <BR>> Attention Geofrey<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Dear
Geofrey,<BR>> <BR>> Can you please assist urgently. We have a strange
thing happening in <BR>> Seychelles. There are million of matis shrimps being
washed up on various <BR>> beaches. According to SFA this phenomenon extend
to east Africa and <BR>> Zanzibar. Can you please confirm. Can you also try
and offer explanation<BR>> as <BR>> to why this is happening. I cannot
identify the specie yet. It is small<BR>> max <BR>> lengt 8cm. greenish. I
think it is an Orastosquilla, but this is only<BR>> based <BR>> on a
not so accurate ID guide.<BR>> <BR>> Some people want to eat this shrimp.
I know it will be difficult for you<BR>> to <BR>> confirm if this is safe,
but I am assuming that you know of similar <BR>> instances. Please reply
urgently, because this is hot news right now and<BR>> it <BR>> is
necessary for us to produce a plausible explanation quickly.<BR>> <BR>>
Thanks<BR>> <BR>> Selby<BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>