From bob at westpacfisheries.net Mon Nov 1 17:21:56 1999 From: bob at westpacfisheries.net (Bob Endreson) Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1999 12:21:56 -1000 Subject: Full Hous Votes Message-ID: <015201bf24b8$4f5de840$1e28d5d1@bob> 11/01/99 Full House votes to stop shark finning Today in a unanimous voice vote on the floor of the House of Representatives in Washington D.C., Congress voted to endorse a ban on the practice of shark finning in all US waters. What started as a grass roots campaign 18 months ago here in the Hawaii State Legislature with legislation being introduced by Rep. Brian Schatz, has turned into a global debate and scrutiny of the wasteful practice being condoned by the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council here in Hawaii. Although the House Concurrent resolution (# 189) does not have the force of law to stop the process, it does give credibility to those here in Hawaii that have been fighting for a immediate ban. Both the Hawaii Fishermen's Foundation and the Hawaii Audubon Society along with the Office of Hawaii Affairs, The Big Island Fishermen's Association, the Environmental Defense Fund, Earth Justice Legal Defense Fund and thousands of others here and around the world can feel a sense of pride that our actions have now been formally supported by Congress. This resolution is only the first step. Although Congress may decide to draft more legislation to ban shark finning, we are hopeful that after two stern warnings to "stop finning immediately" from the Department of Commerce to the WESPAC Fisheries Council, that the Department of Commerce will soon step in as a result of the Council not taking action. Along with this latest endorsement from Congress, NMFS has the broad based support to take control of shark management in the Western Pacific. This is a significant event in the course of fisheries management as today's actions by Congress supports the public's call for sound and practical management of all fisheries both here in Hawaii and in all US waters. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19991101/c148c9b3/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: www.westpacfisheries.net.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 384 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19991101/c148c9b3/attachment.vcf From Roger.B.Griffis at noaa.gov Tue Nov 2 15:02:58 1999 From: Roger.B.Griffis at noaa.gov (Roger Griffis) Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1999 20:02:58 GMT Subject: A National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs Message-ID: <199911022002.UAA12182@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> To see a copy of the document, "A National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs," presented at the Third Meeting of the Coral Reef Task Force in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, on November 2, 1999, please visit this URL: http://biogeo.nos.noaa.gov/crtf/ -------------- Roger Griffis Office of Policy and Strategic Planning National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of Commerce From Scoats at flaquarium.org Tue Nov 2 10:32:37 1999 From: Scoats at flaquarium.org (Coats, Sean) Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1999 10:32:37 -0500 Subject: Budding in Montastrea cavernosa. Message-ID: <199911022049.UAA12406@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Has anyone ever witnessed or documented asexual budding in Montastrea cavernosa? I have read of several Pacific species that have exhibited this type of reproduction, but have not found any literature on Caribbean species. If any of you have any information on this, please email me the source. My email is scoats at flaquarium.org. Thanks for your help. R. Sean Coats Sr. Biologist The Florida Aquarium, Inc 701 Channelside Dr. Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 273-4158 scoats at flaquarium.org From Billy.Causey at noaa.gov Tue Nov 2 00:20:59 1999 From: Billy.Causey at noaa.gov (Billy Causey) Date: Tue, 02 Nov 1999 00:20:59 -0500 Subject: Florida Keys NMS Education Coord Message-ID: <199911022048.UAA12848@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Greetings, This note is to inform you that the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is advertising for an Education Coordinator. The position description and other information is given below or in the attachment: U.S. Office of Personnel Management Norfolk Service Center Federal Building 200 Granby Street Norfolk, VA 23510-1886 (757) 441-3355 VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT #AN92329 POSITION: Education Coordinator, GS-1701-11 SALARY: $39,960 - $51,946 AGENCY: Department of Commerce DUTY LOCATION: Marathon, FL National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration WHO MAY APPLY: Any U.S. Citizen VACANCIES: 1 OPENING DATE: October 6, 1999 CLOSING DATE: November 12, 1999 APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY THE CLOSING DATE Major Duties of the Position: This position is located in the Marine Sanctuaries Division (MSD) of the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM). The MSD is responsible for the designation and management of a nationwide system of marine sanctuaries based on the identification and designation of special marine areas for the long-term benefit of the public. On-site programs for research, education and resource protection are carried out to further the mission of the National Marine Sanctuary Program. The incumbent of this position serves as the on- site Education Coordinator assigned to one of the program's sanctuaries, and reports to the Sanctuary Superintendent in the implementation of on-site programs, particularly in the area of education of the public on matters related to the Sanctuary. Special Requirements: May be required to become a NOAA certified scuba diver. Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a bachelor's or graduate degree that included or was supplemented by major study in education or marine science, OR have an equivalent combination of education and directly related experience, where course work would be considered to be equivalent to a major in education or marine science. The total background must provide the equivalent knowledge that would be gained through completion of a bachelor's degree in the field. IN ADDITION to the education requirement, applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, including knowledge of marine science and/or resource management issues, and knowledge of education program development and evaluation. Experience must have included facilitating and coordinating community education efforts; developing and evaluating sanctuary or coastal education activities; providing community-based education on sanctuary or coastal ecology and resource usage; and, reviewing and analyzing the objectives and progress of education programs, and devising modifications to correct any identified deficiencies. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service, as characterized by the scope and level of difficulty of the duties performed. Basis of Rating: Applicants will be rated based upon an evaluation of their application form or r^=C2sum^=C2 and responses to the Supplemental Qualifications Statement Questionnaire. Narrative work experience descriptions in the application/r^=C2sum^=C2 must support the level of experience claim= ed on the questionnaire. Failure to provide supporting documentation may result in receipt of a lower or ineligible rating. Equal Employment Opportunity: All applicants for Federal employment receive consideration without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor. From slcoles at bishop.bishop.hawaii.org Tue Nov 2 19:05:23 1999 From: slcoles at bishop.bishop.hawaii.org (Steve Coles) Date: Tue, 02 Nov 1999 14:05:23 -1000 Subject: Address Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19991102140523.0089ad00@bishop.bishop.hawaii.org> Greetings all, Does anyone have an address or email for Dr. Cristobal Rios Arbuerne in Cuba? Thanks for the help. Steve Coles Bishop Museum From mkgolden at wam.umd.edu Wed Nov 3 11:55:31 1999 From: mkgolden at wam.umd.edu (Marykate Golden) Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1999 11:55:31 -0500 (EST) Subject: Hungry people Message-ID: I urge you all to take time out of your busy days to check out this website. Help to feed people for free. Katie www.thehungersite.com From Scoats at flaquarium.org Wed Nov 3 12:44:03 1999 From: Scoats at flaquarium.org (Coats, Sean) Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1999 12:44:03 -0500 Subject: Asexual reproduction in Montastrea cavernosa Message-ID: I have received several replies to my earlier question and it seems that I need to clarify my question. I have to apologize for not using the correct terminology, but I do not know what else to call it. One of our M. cavernosa started forming bulbous projections on its surface about a year ago. Two weeks ago one of these projections started tearing away from the main colony. This "polyp ball" had formed its own skeleton. I cut the "ball" off of the main colony with scissors and placed it in a holding system. After one week it had four polyps. I am assuming that it will continue to grow and attach to the current substrate. In Delbeek and Sprung they describe this in Pacific species and call it "coral balls". Is there some other more scientific name for this type of asexual reproduction? Julian Sprung wrote be back and stated that he had seen this phenomena in the wild, but I am looking for a literature citation. Thanks and sorry again for the confusion. R. Sean Coats Sr. Biologist The Florida Aquarium, Inc 701 Channelside Dr. Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 273-4158 scoats at flaquarium.org From rkinzie at zoology.zoo.hawaii.edu Thu Nov 4 20:05:08 1999 From: rkinzie at zoology.zoo.hawaii.edu (Dr. Bob Kinzie) Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1999 15:05:08 -1000 Subject: Announcement about K-12 Fellowships Message-ID: <004001bf2729$cd7061e0$5c78ab80@hawaii.edu> Here is an announcement for graduate fellowships for the EECB program at the University of Hawaii Bob Kinzie ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- > The Center for Conservation Research & Training (CCRT) at the University > of Hawaii has been awarded an NSF Training Grant to provide Graduate > Research Fellowships to students admitted into the Ecology, Evolution, and > Conservation Biology (EECB) Graduate Program. . In addition to a minimum > stipend of approximately $14,000/annum, the Graduate Fellows who are > awarded fellowships will be provided with a stipend and a small amount of > funds that can be used to carry out their own research in completing their > degree requirements. The Graduate Fellows will also be required to spend > a minimum of 15 hours per week as partners and mentors to K-12 teachers > and assist in teaching biology (from the perspective of evolutionary and > conservation biology) to K-12 students. It is expected they will > integrate their research into their activities with K-12 teachers and > students as much as possible. Inquiries regarding the GK-12 Fellowship > program can be directed to Dr.Ken Kaneshiro, Director of CCRT (phone > 808-956-6739, email kykanesh at hawaii.edu); or to Dr. Sheila Conant, Chair > of EECB (phone 808-956-8241; email conant at hawaii.edu); or send email > request to Rena Duhl (duhl at hawaii.edu) for information packet about the > EECB Graduate Program. website: http://www.hawaii.edu/eecb > From jch at aoml.noaa.gov Mon Nov 8 10:54:42 1999 From: jch at aoml.noaa.gov (coral-list admin) Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 15:54:42 GMT Subject: Welcome Message Message-ID: <199911081554.PAA32443@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Now and then the Welcome Message is circulated for the benefit of those who have lost it: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Welcome to NOAA's Coral Health and Monitoring Program List-Server! SAVE THIS MESSAGE! It has important information on subscribing and unsubscribing from coral-list. The purpose of the Coral Health and Monitoring list-server is to provide a forum for Internet discussions and announcements among coral health researchers pertaining to coral reef health and monitoring throughout the world. The list is primarily for use by coral health researchers and scientists. Currently, about 1300 researchers are subscribed to the list. Appropriate subjects for discussion might include: o bleaching events o outbreaks of coral diseases o high predation on coral reefs o environmental monitoring sites o incidences of coral spawnings o shipwrecks on reefs o international meetings and symposia o funding opportunities o marine sanctuary news o new coral-related publications o announcements of college courses in coral reef ecology o coral health initiatives o new and historical data availability o controversial topics in coral reef ecology o recent reports on coral research Please do NOT post messages of a purely commercial nature, e.g., commercial dive trips or vacations at coral reef areas. However, if you are a non-profit organization wishing to publicize the existence of a product of benefit to the coral research community, please do so. -- To Subscribe to the List -- Since you just got this message, you are already subscribed to the list! 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One of these days all mail readers may use this feature, but many do not still, and such a message may come out as garbage on a non-HTML compliant mail reader. -- Coral-List Digest -- If you prefer not to receive coral-list messages as they are sent, but would rather receive a weekly digest of messages, please send your messages for subscribing and unsubscribing to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, as above, only use coral-list-digest as the list you'd like to subscribe to. For instance, if you wanted to get off the regular list, and on to the digest list, you'd send the following message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov: unsubscribe coral-list subscribe coral-list-digest Digest messages will be sent once a week, unless the number of messages is over 55 KB in content, in which case a new digest will be generated. -- Help -- To see a list of the functions and services available from the list-server, send an e-mail message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, with the following message (only!) in the body of the text: help -- Other Coral Health Related Information -- The Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP) has a World-Wide Web Home Page at the following URL: http://www.coral.noaa.gov -- Add Your Name to the Coral Researchers Directory! -- After you read this message, you may wish to add your name to the Coral Researchers Directory. To do so, send the following information to lagoon at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, with your name (Last Name, First Name) in the Subject: line of your message: Name: (How you'd like it to appear, e.g., Vice Pres. Al Gore) Title: Institution: (or N/A) Address Line 1: Address Line 2: Address Line 3: City: State or Province: Country: Business Phone: Business Fax: E-mail: Other info: (Add up to, say, 20 lines, if you'd like.) -- Add Your Coral-Related Event to the Coral-List Calendar A calendar of coral related events has been set up at the following URL on the Web: http://calendar.yahoo.com/public/coral_list If you would like to add an event to the calendar, please send the following information, in this format, to coral at coral.aoml.noaa.gov: --- Date and Time (local) Title of Event Short Description Email contact (if available) Web Page info --- Please place the words CALENDAR EVENT in the subject line. This site is a commercial site, but we hope to have a NOAA sponsored calendar software soon. -- Etiquette -- 1) When responding to a posting to the list, do not respond *back* to the entire list unless you feel it is an answer everyone can benefit from. I think this is usually the case, but responses such as, "Yeah, tell me, too!" to the entire list will make you unpopular in a hurry. Double-check your "To: " line before sending. 2) Do not "flame" (i.e., scold) colleagues via the coral-list. If you feel compelled to chastise someone, please send them mail directly and flame away. 3) Please conduct as much preliminary research into a topic as possible before posting a query to the list. (In other words, you shouldn't expect others to do your research for you.) Please consider: o Your librarian (an extremely valuable resource) o The CHAMP Literature Abstracts area at the CHAMP Web: o The CHAMP Online Researcher's Directory (i.e., search for your topic, ask the experts directly) o The CHAMP (and other) Web sites' links page(s) But please *do* avail yourself of the list when you've exhausted other sources. 4) Please carefully consider the purpose of the coral-list before posting a message. This is a forum comprised primarily of researchers who devote major portions of their work time to the study of corals or coral-related issues. 5) Succinct postings are greatly appreciated by all. 6) Archives Archives of all previous coral-list messages can be found at this Web Page: http://www.coral.aoml.noaa.gov/lists/list-archives.html Please review these messages on topics that may have already been discussed in detail before you post new messages on the same topic. -- Problems -- If you have any problems concerning the list, please feel free to drop a line to: hendee at aoml.noaa.gov. We hope you enjoy the list! 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 morelock at coqui.net Mon Nov 8 14:41:36 1999 From: morelock at coqui.net (jack morelock) Date: Mon, 08 Nov 1999 15:41:36 -0400 Subject: graduate student search Message-ID: <38272770.41D02E33@coqui.net> I have an opening for one graduate student for the fall semester 2000. grant support will start spring 2001; two years at $10,000 per year for the student. Student thesis should relate to coral reef research ? effects of nutrients and sediments at Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The research program for the thesis will be supported under the grant. the degree will be in marine sciences, marine geology speciality contact jack morelock - morelock at coqui.net From martinpecheux at minitel.net Mon Nov 8 15:46:57 1999 From: martinpecheux at minitel.net (MARTIN PECHEUX) Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 21:46:57 +0100 (MET) Subject: Reef lichens =?iso-8859-1?Q?=3F bleaching =3F=3F?= Message-ID: <199911082046.VAA24566@smtp-out.minitel.net> Dear all, Pr. RAVEN, from Dundee University, ask me about marine lichens (rare, Lichinia, Arthopyrenia..). I never heard of work on them in reefs. Any specialists or reference ? And the Bingo question : do they bleach like all the other photosynthetic symbioses (cnidarians, mollusks, sponges, forams, ascidians) ?? Thanks all, Martin Pecheux Nice University From cnidaria at earthlink.net Tue Nov 9 08:19:25 1999 From: cnidaria at earthlink.net (James M. Cervino) Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1999 08:19:25 -0500 Subject: Address? Message-ID: I am trying to obtain the correct e-mail address for the Bonaire Marine Park, this one keeps bouncing back. Any help would be appreciated? marinepark at bmp.org *************************************** James M. Cervino Marine Biologist Dept. of Biology/Geology 171 University Pkwy. Aiken South Carolina Zip: 29801 e-mail :cnidaria at earthlink.net *************************************** From otyack at intnet.mu Tue Nov 9 09:58:29 1999 From: otyack at intnet.mu (Olivier Tyack) Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1999 18:58:29 +0400 Subject: mooring buoys Message-ID: <000201bf2ac8$9bcb9720$ac151bc4@otyack> dear james, do you know someone who can help me in our task of producing a pamphlet for sensitisation for mooring buoys. olivier tyack president Mauritius Marine Conservation Society http://pages.intnet.mu/mmcs From pdustan at zeus.cofc.edu Tue Nov 9 17:15:39 1999 From: pdustan at zeus.cofc.edu (Phillip Dustan) Date: Tue, 09 Nov 1999 17:15:39 -0500 Subject: Vieques letter to President Clinton - Please sign on Message-ID: <3.0.32.19991109171334.00b591d4@zeus.cofc.edu> A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 6122 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19991109/6dd3e0ee/attachment.bin From Andrew.Stammer at publish.csiro.au Wed Nov 10 16:01:17 1999 From: Andrew.Stammer at publish.csiro.au (Stammer Andrew) Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 08:01:17 +1100 Subject: Staghorn Corals of the World Message-ID: <199911102228.WAA51988@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> NEW CORAL BOOK Dr Carden Wallace, Director of the Museum of Tropical Queensland, has just published her new book Staghorn Corals of the World: a revision of the genus Acropora, and a new CD-ROM Staghorn Corals of the World: a key to species of Acropora. Information about both titles can be found at http://www.publish.csiro.au/books/detail.cfm?Key=2187 From rkinzie at zoology.zoo.hawaii.edu Wed Nov 10 20:09:19 1999 From: rkinzie at zoology.zoo.hawaii.edu (Dr. Bob Kinzie) Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 15:09:19 -1000 Subject: Position - Marine Behavior Message-ID: <001e01bf2be1$62a3c840$5c78ab80@hawaii.edu> Here is an ad for a marine behavioral biologist. If you are interested please reply to the search committee - not to me and PLEASE not to the coral-list! Bob Kinzie ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, I3, POSITION #83079, Department of Zoology, College of Natural Sciences, and the Hawai?i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), tenure track in Zoology; pending position clearance and availability of funds. Appointment split 50:50 between HIMB and Zoology. The successful candidate will join an active research program in the behavior and ecology of marine organisms at the HIMB Coconut Island laboratory, the broad-based instructional faculty in Zoology and our graduate research and training program in Evolution, Ecology and Conservation Biology (EECB). Teaching responsibilities will include an undergraduate course in ethology and a graduate course in his/her specialty. Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. and postdoctoral experience in an appropriate field, significant research accomplishments beyond the Ph.D., commitment to teaching undergraduate ethology, evidence of extramural research funding success, commitment to study of tropical marine animals and commitment to active participation in the EECB program. Desirable Qualifications: research combines a field and laboratory approach, research takes advantage of the unique opportunities offered by Hawai?i, experience with tropical marine organisms, teaching experience in an appropriate area and successful in obtaining peer-refereed extramural research grants. Letters of application must be accompanied by a curriculum vitae, statements of research and teaching interests and commitments, reprints of up to three peer-reviewed publications and three letters of reference. Applicants may provide the names, addresses, email and telephone contacts of additional references. Apply to: Behavioral Ecology Search Committee, Department of Zoology, 2538 The Mall, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822. Continuous recruitment until position filled; only applications received by 28 Dec., 1999, are assured of receiving full consideration. The University of Hawai?i is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution. See http://www.hawaii.edu/97catalog/a&s/zool.html, http://www.hawaii.edu/HIMB, http://www.hawaii.edu/eecb -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19991110/b4d073a6/attachment.html From sarrameg at ufp.univ-nc.nc Wed Nov 10 23:56:38 1999 From: sarrameg at ufp.univ-nc.nc (SARRAMEGNA Sebastien) Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 15:56:38 +1100 Subject: Single large or several small marine reserves Message-ID: <199911111234.MAA52826@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Hello, I am a Phd Student and I am working on marine protected areas in New Caledonia. In the lagoon of New Caledonia there are several islets and barrier reefs. Some of them are in reserve and other are open to fishing. Differences were found for little islets between reserve and no-reserve but no differences were found for great barrier reef. Does anybody have information on difference between large ands small reserve also named as SLOSS theory. Thank you Sebastien SARRAMEGNA From korrubelj at science.unp.ac.za Thu Nov 11 08:12:36 1999 From: korrubelj at science.unp.ac.za (Jan Korrubel) Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 15:12:36 +0200 Subject: Single large or several small marine reserves Message-ID: Hi C-Listers / Sebastien, >> SARRAMEGNA Sebastien wrote: I am working on marine protected areas....Does anybody have information on difference between large ands small reserve also named as SLOSS theory. Here in South Africa, COLIN ATTWOOD is one of the researchers on marine reserves, sizes of reserves and their suitability / function. He is also a member of the Marine Reserves Task Group who brought out a publication "Towards a new policy on Marine Protected Areas for South Africa" in July 1997. His direct application is to (mathematically) model reserves with respect to linefish and (line) fishing sustainability (and has published some of this) - he may well have some info useful to you.. He is working at MCM (Marine Conservation and Management - used to the Department of Sea Fisheries) in Cape Town, and can be reached at . Hope this helps. Regards, Jan Korrubel University of Natal South Africa. From acmaea at together.net Thu Nov 11 15:20:44 1999 From: acmaea at together.net (Gustav W. Verderber) Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 15:20:44 -0500 Subject: Pigeon Key Subtropical Workshop Message-ID: <002f01bf2c82$3bf8e080$d53829cf@GustavW.Verderber> SUBTROPICAL ECOLOGY AT PIGEON KEY March 5 - 1O, 2000 (6 days/5 nights) Workshop Coordinator/Instructor: Professor Gustav W. Verderber Spend an unforgettable week on an island paradise exploring the marine and subtropical ecology of the Florida Keys. This natural history workshop will explore the coastal and shallow submarine ecosystems of the Florida Keys. We will be based at the Pigeon Key Marine Education Facility on the tiny island of Pigeon Key. Barrier reef, mangrove, and terrestrial communities will be included as well as a snorkel trip to the outer reef and an all-day field trip to the Everglades. For more information and a detailed itinerary of the workshop please visit the "ecotravel" page at my web site: www.GustavWVerderber.com or email me at G.Verderber at Sciencenet.com Workshop cost of $459.00/person includes all transportation from Pigeon Key to field locations, meals, lodging, and instruction. With gratitude and respect, Gustav W. Verderber ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Education * Nature Travel * Writing * Photography * Gallery See "FRAMING NATURE" in the summer/fall, 1999 issue of VERMONT MAGAZINE 1999-2000 Workshops: Acadia National Park/Galapagos Islands/Florida Keys URL: http://www.GustavWVerderber.com E-Mail: G.Verderber at Sciencenet.com P.O. Box 83, Montgomery Ctr., VT 05471 Toll Free: (877) 560-0623 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From acmaea at together.net Thu Nov 11 15:20:44 1999 From: acmaea at together.net (Gustav W. Verderber) Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 15:20:44 -0500 Subject: Pigeon Key Subtropical Workshop Message-ID: <002f01bf2c82$3bf8e080$d53829cf@GustavW.Verderber> SUBTROPICAL ECOLOGY AT PIGEON KEY March 5 - 1O, 2000 (6 days/5 nights) Workshop Coordinator/Instructor: Professor Gustav W. Verderber Spend an unforgettable week on an island paradise exploring the marine and subtropical ecology of the Florida Keys. This natural history workshop will explore the coastal and shallow submarine ecosystems of the Florida Keys. We will be based at the Pigeon Key Marine Education Facility on the tiny island of Pigeon Key. Barrier reef, mangrove, and terrestrial communities will be included as well as a snorkel trip to the outer reef and an all-day field trip to the Everglades. For more information and a detailed itinerary of the workshop please visit the "ecotravel" page at my web site: www.GustavWVerderber.com or email me at G.Verderber at Sciencenet.com Workshop cost of $459.00/person includes all transportation from Pigeon Key to field locations, meals, lodging, and instruction. With gratitude and respect, Gustav W. Verderber ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Education * Nature Travel * Writing * Photography * Gallery See "FRAMING NATURE" in the summer/fall, 1999 issue of VERMONT MAGAZINE 1999-2000 Workshops: Acadia National Park/Galapagos Islands/Florida Keys URL: http://www.GustavWVerderber.com E-Mail: G.Verderber at Sciencenet.com P.O. Box 83, Montgomery Ctr., VT 05471 Toll Free: (877) 560-0623 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From msbb at acd.ufrj.br Thu Nov 11 18:29:15 1999 From: msbb at acd.ufrj.br (Marcos Soares Barbeitos) Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 21:29:15 -0200 Subject: Looking for data on M. cavernosa growth Message-ID: <382B514B.41A1E7E0@acd.ufrj.br> Dear coral-listers, I've been working with Montastrea cavernosa in my master's dissertation and I am having trouble in finding some paper that reports growth rates for this species. There's lots of reports for M. annularis, but I haven't found anything about cavernosa. Does anybody have a tip? I would also like to know (this is even more difficult) if there would be any paper that relates skeleton growth to addition of new polyps to the colonies? tissue. Sort of "for each X cm of skeleton growth, there's addition of Y new polyps to the tissue". I would, of course, be interested in any species for which such information is available. Thanks and best wishes. Marcos -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: vcard.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 369 bytes Desc: Card for Marcos Barbeitos Url : http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19991111/814c2512/attachment.vcf From corals at caribe.net Mon Nov 15 07:02:55 1999 From: corals at caribe.net (CORALations) Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 08:02:55 -0400 Subject: PLEASE ACT NOW Message-ID: <003f01bf2f61$b481c580$406169ce@default> As a marine conservation organization based in Puerto Rico, we ask that you sign on to the following letter to President Clinton asking that he STOP live fire target practice on the island of Vieques. At the recent coral reef executive task force meeting we were surprised that many people did not know the following: -Vieques has a population of over 9,000 people. This is not a deserted island. -The U.S. Navy targets coral reefs in violation of the 1983 Memorandum of Understanding with the local government. -The people of Vieques have been outspokenly opposed to Navy use of the island for live fire target practice for the last 60 years. Last spring a civilian guard named David Sanes was killed, and four others injured when a pilot accidentally dropped bombs which missed the target area. This tragedy has united the people of Puerto Rico who are now asking that the Navy not resume live fire practice on the island. -U.S. Navy makes large amounts of money leasing the island of Vieques to foreign powers for live fire target practice. Last year, the Navy's web site advertised the island of Vieques as follows: "One stop shopping - capability of excellence in all warfare areas with the right vision of the future...yields high return on investment." -With the exception of the target area, this biologically diverse island supports some of the healthiest coral reef with greatest percentage coral coverage remaining in U.S. Caribbean waters. Not unexpectedly, coral coverage and health improves as one moves away from the target area. There are a number of endangered species in the area of impact including seasonal whale populations and Giant Leatherbacks who instinctively return to nest on Navy beaches. We have seen one photo of a Leatherback washed ashore, spilling eggs, bleeding from mouth consistent head trauma from underwater shock. Vieques is also home and provides nesting habitat for many species of endangered sea birds -The decision to resume live fire target practice is now in the hands of President Clinton. Navy contends that live fire target practice on Vieques is an absolute necessity. They say this is an issue of National Security. They said the same thing when the people of Puerto Rico asked them to cease the live fire target practice on the municipal island of Culebra 20 years ago. Today, unexploded ordnance litters coral reefs in Culebra, which has a population approaching 5,000, and other popular dive destinations in Puerto Rico including the uninhabited islands of Desecheo and Mona. -We hope that as experts in coral reef education, management and conservation, you will sign on this letter to the President to aid in his decision. The ecosystem being destroyed is of global importance and we no longer have the "luxury," if we ever had, of targeting biologically diverse tropical ecosystem. Please sign on the letter below if you haven't already, and make a quick call to the White House TODAY. The President will most likely make his final decision within the next two days. PLEASE SIGN ON LETTER BELOW TODAY FOLLOWING COMMENTS FROM PHIL DUSTAN OF COUSTEAU SOCIETY. White House Comment Line Phone: 202-456-1111 White House Fax Line 202-456-2461 Clinton's e-mail: president at whitehouse.gov Gore's e-mail: vice-president at whitehouse.gov White House Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC 20500 ---------- From: Phillip Dustan To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Cc: jhsterne at verner.com Subject: Vieques letter to President Clinton - Please sign on Date: Tuesday, November 09, 1999 6:15 PM Dear Colleagues, I'd like to thank all of you who contributed to my knowledge of Vieques Island two weeks ago. I wanted to learn more about the island as I was going to the US Coral Reef Task Force Meetings in St. Croix and knew it would be an issue at the meeting. The more I found out, the more I came to the realization that the ecology of Vieques is being harmed and perhaps it is time to do something about it. Regardless of your feelings about the politics of Vieques, It seems to me that it is important to stop the bombing ASAP. Jay Sterne, colleague of mine, works for the law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson & Hand in Washington D.C. The firm works on behalf of the Government of Puerto Rico which is opposed to the continued bombing of Vieques Island. Jay is collecting signatures for the following letter to President Clinton. If you would like to be a signatory on this letter, please email your name and affiliation to him at jhsterne at verner.com. Since this issue involves much more than coral reefs (ie. manatees, sea turtles, endemic plant species, birds, and many other groups), please feel free to post this message on any list you feel may be appropriate for the conservation of the island and its surrounding waters. Sincerely, Phil Dustan **************************************************************************** ** DRAFT November __, 1999 President William J. Clinton The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: The undersigned members of the scientific community and organizations are writing to urge you to exercise your authority to permanently halt all live fire military exercises and bombing activities in the vicinity of the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Vieques is home to some of the most extraordinary ecosystems on the planet, including three of the world's seven surviving bioluminescent bays and some of the healthiest and most diverse coral reefs found in U.S. Carribean territorial waters. The island also provides important habitat for numerous species protected under the Endangered Species Act including manatees, brown pelicans, and green, hawksbill, leatherback, and loggerhead sea turtles, as well as several endangered plants. The Navy's nearly year-round use of Vieques for an unparalleled level of bombing has already resulted in significant harm to the Island's fragile marine and terrestrial ecology. Further, we believe further damage must be avoided. A preliminary study of the Navy's impact on the reefs has confirmed damage from direct hits, damage from shock waves caused by ordnance landing in nearby waters, and damage from unexploded ordnance shifted by wave action. Despite having entered into a binding 1983 Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Puerto Rico in which it agreed to stop targeting and shelling offshore coral reefs, the Navy has continued these practices and caused further destruction. Today, large amounts of unexploded ordnance lie on the coral reefs of Vieques. The Navy simply has failed to undertake any meaningful clean-up efforts, or any other steps to stop further degradation of these coral reefs, let alone measures to enhance their protection. The harm to Vieques's coral reefs caused by the Navy's activities is clearly inconsistent with your Executive Order 13089 which seeks to enhance federal protection of coral reefs and specifically requires all federal agencies: "to the extent permitted by law, ensure that any actions they authorize, fund, or carry out will not degrade the conditions of such ecosystems." The Navy's actions clearly violate the letter and spirit of your directive. The Navy continues to violate the Endangered Species Act, which requires federal agencies to: "ensure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by such agency ... . . is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of [critical] habitat." The Navy has failed to perform consultations with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, as required pursuant to ? 7 of the Endangered Species Act, to determine the impact of its actions on endangered or threatened species, including manatees, sea turtles, and brown pelicans. In addition to its disregard for the Endangered Species Act, the Navy continues to violate the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which establish protective standards for water quality and soil contamination, respectively. It has been almost twenty years since the Navy completed its only Environmental Impact Statement on its Vieques operations. The report concluded that "potentially productive" portions of the island had been converted into "wasteland" by its aerial attacks. Finally, there are numerous toxic waste dumps and contamination sites scattered around Vieques, contributing to the release of depleted uranium, cyanide compounds, napalm, RDX, toulene and other hazardous substances into the island's ecosystems. It is unfortunate that the U.S. Navy has consistently disregarded federal environmental protection mandates on Vieques, but it is all the more reason to make the current cessation of its destructive activities permanent. It is also imperative that the Navy begins the crucial task of remediating the considerable contamination it has caused throughout the island. The undersigned members of the scientific community and organizations call on you to stop the Navy from resuming live fire exercises on Vieques, and to authorize and direct the Navy to develop strategy for rehabilitation and clean-up activities on the Island. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Phillip Dustan Department of Biology and Science Adivsor to College of Charleston The Cousteau Society Charleston SC 29424 pdustan at zeus.cofc.edu www.cofc.edu/~coral (843) 953-8086 (843)953-5453 Fax ---------- From J.MCMANUS at CGIAR.ORG Sun Nov 14 22:09:09 1999 From: J.MCMANUS at CGIAR.ORG (John McManus) Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 19:09:09 -0800 Subject: Single large or several small marine reserves Message-ID: <199911151300.NAA84141@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> SLOSS and corridor research are fascinating and important areas of research. A lot of progress has been made, and much more remains to be studied. Interestingly, most of the work has focussed on biological aspects. Management, of course, is a practice of modifying human behavior. As soon as one looks at the socioeconomic side of SLOSS, one realizes that there are (within a typical large country or region) situations in which large reserves are practical (often in areas of sparse habitation), and situations in which only tiny reserves (less than a few sq. km) are practical, lest small scale fishers be excluded from their sources of livelihood. Johannes has rightly emphasized that small village-initiated reserves will often be a key element in a rational conservation strategy, and these would generally have to be set up based on crude guidelines without much outside "expert" inputs (the "dataless reserves"). Thus, in practical terms, the answer to a SLOSS problem is usually going to be a mixture of small and large reserves, and a balance against "background" coastal regulation. Some species need large "hunting" grounds. Others need a range of habitat types to complete their life cycles. Under some conditions of widespread overharvesting and reef degradation, one might be in a situation to put heavy emphasis on setting up reserves to keep the ecosystems healthy. In those cases, a fascinating problem for the biophysical scientist is to determine a range of viable combinations of small and large reserves, with recommendations on minimal priority needs for improving general coastal management. These would then be trimmed down by socioeconomic scientists into a finer "region" of options to be considered by managers and policy makers in interaction with stakeholders. Thus, the answer to a SLOSS problem is generally going to be the determination of a range of viable options, usually involving mixtures, rather than a single answer. For those seeking references, some of this is covered in: McManus, J.W. 1997. Marine reserves and biodiversity: Towards 20% by 2020. In: McManus, J. W., van Zwol, C., Garces, L.R. and Sadacharan, D. (eds) 1998. A Framework for Futrue Training in Marine and Coastal Protected Area Management. ICLARM Conf. Proc. 57, 54 p. There is a lot of material on societal aspects of MPAs in this small proceedings. There may still be copies available from: Coastal Zone Management Centre, P.O. Box 20907, 2500 Ex The Hague. Cheers, John l Message----- From: Jan Korrubel [mailto:korrubelj at science.unp.ac.za] Sent: Thursday, November 11, 1999 9:13 PM To: sarrameg at ufp.univ-nc.nc Cc: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Subject: Re: Single large or several small marine reserves Hi C-Listers / Sebastien, >> SARRAMEGNA Sebastien wrote: I am working on marine protected areas....Does anybody have information on difference between large ands small reserve also named as SLOSS theory. Here in South Africa, COLIN ATTWOOD is one of the researchers on marine reserves, sizes of reserves and their suitability / function. He is also a member of the Marine Reserves Task Group who brought out a publication "Towards a new policy on Marine Protected Areas for South Africa" in July 1997. His direct application is to (mathematically) model reserves with respect to linefish and (line) fishing sustainability (and has published some of this) - he may well have some info useful to you.. He is working at MCM (Marine Conservation and Management - used to the Department of Sea Fisheries) in Cape Town, and can be reached at . Hope this helps. Regards, Jan Korrubel University of Natal South Africa. From kirstenm at gbrmpa.gov.au Mon Nov 15 20:33:48 1999 From: kirstenm at gbrmpa.gov.au (Kirsten Michalek-Wagner) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 11:33:48 +1000 Subject: translocation of Porites bommies Message-ID: <3830B47C.3229B53B@gbrmpa.gov.au> Hi everybody, I am trying to gather information about the possibility of translocating massive Porites colonies with diameters over 2 meters. I am not aware of any published material on this matter nor any attempts undertaken to translocate corals of this size. If anybody knows about groups that have translocated massive corals or can direct me towards published material, I would very much appreciate it if you could drop me a line (kirstenm at gbrmpa.gov.au). Cheers, Kirsten Michalek-Wagner From roz at post.tau.ac.il Tue Nov 16 04:47:54 1999 From: roz at post.tau.ac.il (Michael Rosenfeld) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 11:47:54 +0200 Subject: translocation of Porites bommies In-Reply-To: <3830B47C.3229B53B@gbrmpa.gov.au> Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.19991116114754.007c1c40@post.tau.ac.il> Hi all, Why would somebody move massive Porites colonies with diameters over 2 meters (probably over a 100 years old)? We feel that no scientific work can justify risking such an old coral that survived for that long. Can't the same goal be achieved by using smaller colonies, which are more abundant? Michael Rosenfeld and Maoz Fine >Hi everybody, > >I am trying to gather information about the possibility of translocating >massive Porites colonies with diameters over 2 meters. I am not aware of >any published material on this matter nor any attempts undertaken to >translocate corals of this size. If anybody knows about groups that have >translocated massive corals or can direct me towards published material, >I would very much appreciate it if you could drop me a line >(kirstenm at gbrmpa.gov.au). > >Cheers, > >Kirsten Michalek-Wagner > > From s.r.dunn at ncl.ac.uk Tue Nov 16 09:18:02 1999 From: s.r.dunn at ncl.ac.uk (Simon Dunn) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 14:18:02 +0000 Subject: Aiptasia ID? Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.19991116141802.007e3320@town5.ncl.ac.uk> I would like to ask if anybody knows if there are defined morphological characteristics that can be used to separate Aiptasia pallida from Aiptasia pulchella. As I understand the discrimination at present, the geographical region of origin separates the two species, ie/ A.pallida is from the Caribbean and A. pulchella is Indo /Pacific. This does not really help in identifying animals obtained through the aquarium trade, when the suppliers are unsure of the original source. The length of tentacles against column size, as with pigmentation, may be an artefact of the conditions the anemones are maintained in , therefore, if anybody could help in this matter it would be most appreciated, thank you. Simon Dunn From ljr5 at cornell.edu Tue Nov 16 10:06:35 1999 From: ljr5 at cornell.edu (Laurie Jeanne Raymundo) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 10:06:35 -0500 Subject: translocation of Porites bommies In-Reply-To: <3.0.6.32.19991116114754.007c1c40@post.tau.ac.il> References: <3830B47C.3229B53B@gbrmpa.gov.au> Message-ID: Hello, all: I have to say I agree with Michael Rosenfeld and Maoz Fine: what is the point of risking what is bound to be extensive damage to very old massive Porites colonies by moving them? Why is this necessary and what is to be accomplished? Work by several folks have shown that massives that aren't firmly attached to the substrate after transplantation do not reestablish well. I can't even imagine how one might go about positioning and cementing such colonies. Laurie Raymundo From Kaimasa at aol.com Tue Nov 16 11:10:08 1999 From: Kaimasa at aol.com (Kaimasa at aol.com) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 11:10:08 EST Subject: translocation of Porites bommies Message-ID: <0.27fd52a8.2562dbe0@aol.com> In a message dated 11/16/99 7:20:36 AM Pacific Standard Time, ljr5 at cornell.edu writes: << Work by several folks have shown that massives that aren't firmly attached to the substrate after transplantation do not reestablish well. >> Work by whom?? I believe that was the original question. If you have an idea of who did work that showed that it wasn't a great thing, do tell!!!! Suesan From kava at bio.bu.edu Mon Nov 15 20:31:01 1999 From: kava at bio.bu.edu (Kathryn Kavanagh) Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 20:31:01 -0500 (EST) Subject: Acanthochromis in Wallacea? Message-ID: <199911161625.QAA96826@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Hi - I have a question for those knowledgable of the reef-fish fauna of Southeast Asia. Could you let me know if the damselfish _Acanthochromis polyacanthus_ (Pomacentridae) ("Spiny Chromis") occurs on any of the islands or peninsular areas of Indonesia or Malaysia, including Borneo, and whether this species occurs in the western regions of the Philippines? There is quite an interesting story with this species and the distribution is not reported (or known?) very precisely. Thank you very much for any assistance. Kathryn Kavanagh From delbeek at hawaii.edu Tue Nov 16 11:36:00 1999 From: delbeek at hawaii.edu (J. Charles Delbeek) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 06:36:00 -1000 Subject: translocation of Porites bommies In-Reply-To: <3.0.6.32.19991116114754.007c1c40@post.tau.ac.il> Message-ID: On Mon, 15 Nov 1999, Michael Rosenfeld wrote: > Hi all, > > Why would somebody move massive Porites colonies with diameters over 2 > meters (probably over a 100 years old)? We feel that no scientific work can > justify risking such an old coral that survived for that long. Can't the > same goal be achieved by using smaller colonies, which are more abundant? Harbour construction, dreging etc might necessitate the need to move large corals. The same was planned in Hawaii's Kawaihi area of the Big Island when that harbour was enlarged. Charles From Bprecht at pbsj.com Tue Nov 16 12:19:02 1999 From: Bprecht at pbsj.com (Precht, Bill) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 11:19:02 -0600 Subject: translocation of Porites bommies Message-ID: In cases where there may be unavoidable impacts to such heads or in some cases such as with ship groundings... large-massive coral heads have been righted & moved and re-attached to the bottom using Portland cement... with great success I might add. Presently we are working on numerous - similar projects... please contact me individually for details. William F. Precht, P.G. EcoSciences Program Manager PBS&J Miami phone (305) 592-7275 x488 -----Original Message----- From: Laurie Jeanne Raymundo [mailto:ljr5 at cornell.edu] Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 10:07 AM To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Subject: Re: translocation of Porites bommies Hello, all: I have to say I agree with Michael Rosenfeld and Maoz Fine: what is the point of risking what is bound to be extensive damage to very old massive Porites colonies by moving them? Why is this necessary and what is to be accomplished? Work by several folks have shown that massives that aren't firmly attached to the substrate after transplantation do not reestablish well. I can't even imagine how one might go about positioning and cementing such colonies. Laurie Raymundo From js15 at buffalo.edu Tue Nov 16 12:27:54 1999 From: js15 at buffalo.edu (Juan A. Sanchez) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 12:27:54 -0500 Subject: translocation of Porites bommies References: <3830B47C.3229B53B@gbrmpa.gov.au> Message-ID: <199911161732.RAA98288@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Dear All, I would like to say a couple of things about this interesting issue of moving (transplanting) massive corals. I am pretty sure that Kirsten Michalek-Wagner should have very good reasons to move such huge Porites. I already had a similar experience some years ago in the Colombian Caribbean. Cartagena bay is surrounded by some particular coral reefs, which on the surface fresh waters flow. A steady state of low transparency, sediments, organic and chemical contamination affects those coral reefs since four centuries ago. Those reefs, however, are going to be dredging at the best or physically removed at the worst because of the expansion of the port. We did a transplantation experiment 22 km away from the donor reef (some huge Diplorias and Montastreas). We made sure to find a very similar habitat and we wanted to follow the survivorship of corals. We actually had to switch the analysis to grazing effects and partial mortality because any of the colonies died. Those colonies did spawn and growth during one year. So if those huge colonies (and survivors of a natural experiment of adaptation to rough environments) are worth (as Laurie suggested: "the point of risking them" ), why do not move them away and keep them alive? Many other questions can also be addressed with that sort of experiments. Those colonies have inside their environmental history and that can be compared after some time of transplantation, just to mention something. To answer Laurie's question, there are many products to cement corals underwater. They are just additives to mix with normal cement (SIKA), which are not very toxic to the environment. The corals will be all set in about an hour after transplantation and if the coral is very heavy is even more easy. Cheers, Very sincerely, Juan A. Sanchez Graduate Research assistant http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~js15/ ----- Original Message ----- From: Laurie Jeanne Raymundo To: Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 10:06 AM Subject: Re: translocation of Porites bommies > Hello, all: > > I have to say I agree with Michael Rosenfeld and Maoz Fine: what is the > point of risking what is bound to be extensive damage to very old massive > Porites colonies by moving them? Why is this necessary and what is to be > accomplished? Work by several folks have shown that massives that aren't > firmly attached to the substrate after transplantation do not reestablish > well. I can't even imagine how one might go about positioning and > cementing such colonies. > > Laurie Raymundo > > > From Bprecht at pbsj.com Tue Nov 16 12:32:34 1999 From: Bprecht at pbsj.com (Precht, Bill) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 11:32:34 -0600 Subject: translocation of Porites bommies Message-ID: to also answer some of the comments regarding damaging such heads... we have found that using the proper equipment by trained personnel (i.e. commercial divers with reef restoration experience & know how)- that essentially no damage to living tissue occurs...we then transport the coral using lifts to its predetermined "final" resting place, build a pedastal, and re-attach. we have done this with corals the size of a fist - to the size of a car. cheers, Bill -----Original Message----- From: Precht, Bill Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 12:19 PM To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Subject: RE: translocation of Porites bommies In cases where there may be unavoidable impacts to such heads or in some cases such as with ship groundings... large-massive coral heads have been righted & moved and re-attached to the bottom using Portland cement... with great success I might add. Presently we are working on numerous - similar projects... please contact me individually for details. William F. Precht, P.G. EcoSciences Program Manager PBS&J Miami phone (305) 592-7275 x488 -----Original Message----- From: Laurie Jeanne Raymundo [mailto:ljr5 at cornell.edu] Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 10:07 AM To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Subject: Re: translocation of Porites bommies Hello, all: I have to say I agree with Michael Rosenfeld and Maoz Fine: what is the point of risking what is bound to be extensive damage to very old massive Porites colonies by moving them? Why is this necessary and what is to be accomplished? Work by several folks have shown that massives that aren't firmly attached to the substrate after transplantation do not reestablish well. I can't even imagine how one might go about positioning and cementing such colonies. Laurie Raymundo From EricHugo at aol.com Tue Nov 16 13:40:27 1999 From: EricHugo at aol.com (EricHugo at aol.com) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 13:40:27 EST Subject: translocation of Porites bommies Message-ID: <0.d3ed5e57.2562ff1b@aol.com> In a message dated 11/16/99 10:52:25 AM, delbeek at hawaii.edu writes: << Harbour construction, dreging etc might necessitate the need to move large corals. The same was planned in Hawaii's Kawaihi area of the Big Island when that harbour was enlarged. >> In fact, that is the reason. I hope Kristen will chime in here, but her co-worker mentioned to me today that funding is likely for a channel to a harbor area off Magnetic Island that goes through some large Porites bommies and that the idea to reroute the channel was not taken. If I am not mistaken, I believe that there was a similar situation in Cozumel where large chunks of reef were relocated. Was this done by carrying excised chunks under a barge, if I recall? Kristen, I sent a list of references to Michelle and they were returned for some reason. If you read this, I will try again later. Eric Borneman From kirstenm at gbrmpa.gov.au Tue Nov 16 18:47:52 1999 From: kirstenm at gbrmpa.gov.au (Kirsten Michalek-Wagner) Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 09:47:52 +1000 Subject: translocation of Porites bommies Message-ID: <3831ED28.8B25B25C@gbrmpa.gov.au> Hi everybody, first of all thanks to all of you that have responded to my question on how to possibly relocate Porites bommies. I feel there is the need to clarify the issue, however, because there is no intention to use the bommies for any experimental work. I am trying to assess the possibilty of moving them out of a boat harbour development (for which the permit is currently assessed) WITHOUT destroying such significant colonies. Cheers, Kirsten Michalek-Wagner From Bprecht at pbsj.com Wed Nov 17 00:16:55 1999 From: Bprecht at pbsj.com (Precht, Bill) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 23:16:55 -0600 Subject: translocation of Porites bommies Message-ID: for those who may be interested... the Cozumel project that Eric refered to was performed by Ricardo Munoz-Chagin... and he published some of the methodology and results in the Panama Reef Mtg. Proceedings. The reason the project was implemented was due to a port/dock expansion. They built a combination artificial/natural reef and relocated & transplanted everything they could... with great success I might add....This new reef is adjacent to its original local... and it really looks quite spectacular...a great case of successful "up-front" mitigation. cheers, Bill -----Original Message----- From: EricHugo at aol.com [mailto:EricHugo at aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 1:40 PM To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Subject: Re: translocation of Porites bommies In a message dated 11/16/99 10:52:25 AM, delbeek at hawaii.edu writes: << Harbour construction, dreging etc might necessitate the need to move large corals. The same was planned in Hawaii's Kawaihi area of the Big Island when that harbour was enlarged. >> In fact, that is the reason. I hope Kristen will chime in here, but her co-worker mentioned to me today that funding is likely for a channel to a harbor area off Magnetic Island that goes through some large Porites bommies and that the idea to reroute the channel was not taken. If I am not mistaken, I believe that there was a similar situation in Cozumel where large chunks of reef were relocated. Was this done by carrying excised chunks under a barge, if I recall? Kristen, I sent a list of references to Michelle and they were returned for some reason. If you read this, I will try again later. Eric Borneman From John.Naughton at noaa.gov Tue Nov 16 20:30:51 1999 From: John.Naughton at noaa.gov (John Naughton) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 15:30:51 -1000 Subject: translocation of Porites bommies Message-ID: <199911171213.MAA95080@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Kirsten: If this is a new boat harbor with significant amounts of large Porites bommies, I would consider recommending avoidance. In otherwords, move the harbor, or at a minimum realign the entrance channel or turning basin to avoid these large colonies. In Hawaii we've moved up to 15 tons of coral (including some substantial bommies), but either at a harbor which was begun in the 1970s and never completed (Kawaihae Harbor), or for maintenance dredging of corals which have colonized older existing harbors (several sites in Kaneohe Bay). Very old, large colonies should be avoided whenever possible. Aloha, John John Naughton NMFS, NOAA Honolulu, Hawaii Kirsten Michalek-Wagner wrote: > Hi everybody, > > first of all thanks to all of you that have responded to my question on > how to possibly relocate Porites bommies. I feel there is the need to > clarify the issue, however, because there is no intention to use the > bommies for any experimental work. I am trying to assess the possibilty > of moving them out of a boat harbour development (for which the permit > is currently assessed) WITHOUT destroying such significant colonies. > > Cheers, > > Kirsten Michalek-Wagner From c.wilkinson at aims.gov.au Thu Nov 18 06:42:47 1999 From: c.wilkinson at aims.gov.au (Clive Wilkinson) Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 21:42:47 +1000 Subject: West Pacific and South East Asia information Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19991118214247.0069b0f4@email.aims.gov.au> Coral List. The GCRMN has funding to prepare reports on the Status of Coral Reefs of: Federated States of Micronesia, Eastern Indonesia(Wallace line and east), Eastern Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Palau and Solomon Islands. There are probably many anecdotal and data-rich reports, either unpublished or in the grey literature, that we are not aware of. If you have worked in these areas (or know of reports) could you please pass the information and reports to the following who are coordinating the reports: Federated States of Micronesia and Palau: Noah Idechong and Yimnang Golbuu in Palau c/o Ahser Edward in FSM , and Robert Richmond in Guam Philippines: Edgardo Gomez and Al Licuanan Eastern Indonesia: David Hopley Eastern Malaysia: Annadel Cabanban , Nick Pilcher Papua New Guinea: Philip.Munday , Solomon Islands: Cameron Hay If you have trouble with these addresses, please pass them through me These reports are the first in a series for all countries with coral reefs - and will be the basis for the next Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000. Thank you Clive Wilkinson From emsa at diario1.sureste.com Wed Nov 17 15:33:12 1999 From: emsa at diario1.sureste.com (emsa at diario1.sureste.com) Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 14:33:12 -0600 Subject: translocation of Porites bommies Message-ID: <199911181340.NAA13550@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> As Bill mentioned , four years ago I conducted a huge reef = transplantation program at the construction site of a cruise ships pier = in Cozumel Island. We moved almost all the hard and soft corals, = sponges, zoanthids and complete patch reefs existing from the coastline = to 24 m deep, using lift bags and underwater containers. Corals and = other reef organisms were re-cemented on 44 artificial substrates made = by armed concrete. Patch reefs and some big coral colonies were directly = cemented on an exposed limestone rock which was the base of a living = reef before it was killed because of cruise ships anchoring. Partial = results were included in: Proc. 8th Int. Coral Reef Sym. 2:2075-1078. I have to mention that branched corals are fragile and big colonies = could be difficult to be released and re-cemented without any injury. = Sometimes the colony is fractured and the fragments have to be cemented = separately. Cheers, Ricardo Mu=F1oz Chagin Ecologia y Manejo de Sistemas Arrecifales, S.C.P. emsa at sureste.com From jef199 at soton.ac.uk Wed Nov 17 18:03:32 1999 From: jef199 at soton.ac.uk (Joanna Frame) Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 23:03:32 -0000 Subject: Marine particles Message-ID: <199911181344.NAA13036@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Hi there! I am an undergraduate reading Marine Sciences and I am currently working = on an essay entitled "The Origin and Distribution of Particles in the = Ocean." I have researched the topic well and feel I have sufficient = literature, but I am still having trouble finding information on the = Wentworth Scale and the actual definition of a (marine) particle. If = anyone could help me with this then it would be greatly appreciated. =20 Thank you very much! Joanna Frame From pdustan at zeus.cofc.edu Thu Nov 18 16:20:23 1999 From: pdustan at zeus.cofc.edu (Phillip Dustan) Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 16:20:23 -0500 Subject: Bill Barada Skin Diver reference Message-ID: <3.0.32.19991118162017.00b36c64@zeus.cofc.edu> A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 808 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19991118/70877613/attachment.bin From d.fenner at aims.gov.au Wed Nov 17 09:17:52 1999 From: d.fenner at aims.gov.au (Doug Fenner) Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 09:17:52 Subject: Could bombing benefit Vieques reefs? Message-ID: <199911200030.AAA27086@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Regarding the petitions to stop the bombing of Vieques Is, Puerto Rico, I seem to remember work some years ago reported in one of the International Coral Reef Symposiums that looked at the reefs of Vieques, and found that they were in better shape than the reefs of Puerto Rico. The bombing had done surprisingly little damage to the reefs, and it had kept people out of the area, so they hadn't destroyed the reefs as on Puerto Rico. In Hawaii it has been said that the military are unwittingly one of the islands' biggest conservation agencies, since the islands are dotted with disused military bases where people cannot buy land and build resorts, etc. Maybe it would be ideal to get the Navy to stop bombing and clean up everything, but leave the live ordinance lying around to keep people out. If you let people populate the Vieques as dense as the rest of Puerto Rico and don't have very effective controls of sediment runoff, fishing, etc, the reefs may be worse off than with the military there. What will replace the military? -Doug Douglas Fenner, Ph.D. Coral Biodiversity/Taxonomist Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No 3 Townsville MC Queensland 4810 Australia phone 07 4753 4334 e-mail: d.fenner at aims.gov.au web: http://www.aims.gov.au ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe from coral-list please send the following text in the body of the message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, unsubscribe coral-list To subscribe to coral-list, substitute "unsubscribe" instead with, subscribe coral-list If you wish to change email addresses, you can combine the above commands in a single message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov. .................................................................. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). From lesk at bio.bu.edu Sat Nov 20 09:14:11 1999 From: lesk at bio.bu.edu (Les Kaufman) Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 09:14:11 -0500 (EST) Subject: Could bombing benefit Vieques reefs? In-Reply-To: <199911200030.AAA27086@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Message-ID: Strong endorsement of Doug's point. Several on the list have visited or worked at Johnston Atoll, site of a facility for the disposal of chemical weapons and a place with a history of environmental insults. The reef is mostly in very beautiful condition due to the restrictions on access and use, and is now within a National Wildlife Sanctuary. Les Kaufman Boston University Marine Program lesk at bio.bu.edu 617-353-5560 office 617-353-6965 lab 617-353-6340 fax ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe from coral-list please send the following text in the body of the message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, ???unsubscribe coral-list To subscribe to coral-list, substitute "unsubscribe" instead with, ???subscribe coral-list If you wish to change email addresses, you can combine the above ??commands in a single message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov. .................................................................. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov) in Miami, Florida, USA. From jltorres38 at hotmail.com Sat Nov 20 18:52:33 1999 From: jltorres38 at hotmail.com (Juan Torres) Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 15:52:33 PST Subject: Could bombing benefit Vieques reefs? Message-ID: <19991120235235.52098.qmail@hotmail.com> Although NAVY's restrictions to the bombing areas in Vieques could impede people to frequently fish or dive there, damage has already being performed by the continous bombings. These reefs have been under the attack of the NAVY's bombs for more than 40 years in the area. Also, NAVY's practices in Vieques are with live bombs. This aggravates the situation since it is well known the damage that these can cause to any marine ecosystem. It is not only the destruction of the reefs, but also all the life that accompanies it. The fact is that since it is a restricted area, scientists can't enter there to perform studies regarding the health of these ecosystems. Best regards, Juan L. Torres, MS UPR-Dept. of Marine Sciences >From: Doug Fenner >Reply-To: Doug Fenner >To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov >Subject: Could bombing benefit Vieques reefs? >Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 09:17:52 > >Regarding the petitions to stop the bombing of Vieques Is, Puerto Rico, > > I seem to remember work some years ago reported in one of the >International Coral Reef Symposiums that looked at the reefs of Vieques, >and found that they were in better shape than the reefs of Puerto Rico. >The bombing had done surprisingly little damage to the reefs, and it had >kept people out of the area, so they hadn't destroyed the reefs as on >Puerto Rico. > > In Hawaii it has been said that the military are unwittingly one of the >islands' biggest conservation agencies, since the islands are dotted with >disused military bases where people cannot buy land and build resorts, >etc. > > Maybe it would be ideal to get the Navy to stop bombing and clean up >everything, but leave the live ordinance lying around to keep people out. >If you let people populate the Vieques as dense as the rest of Puerto Rico >and don't have very effective controls of sediment runoff, fishing, etc, >the reefs may be worse off than with the military there. What will >replace the military? -Doug > >Douglas Fenner, Ph.D. >Coral Biodiversity/Taxonomist >Australian Institute of Marine Science >PMB No 3 >Townsville MC >Queensland 4810 >Australia >phone 07 4753 4334 >e-mail: d.fenner at aims.gov.au >web: http://www.aims.gov.au > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >To unsubscribe from coral-list please send the following text >in the body of the message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, >unsubscribe coral-list >To subscribe to coral-list, substitute "unsubscribe" instead with, >subscribe coral-list >If you wish to change email addresses, you can combine the above >commands in a single message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov. >.................................................................. >The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) >sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program >(CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe from coral-list please send the following text in the body of the message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, ???unsubscribe coral-list To subscribe to coral-list, substitute "unsubscribe" instead with, ???subscribe coral-list If you wish to change email addresses, you can combine the above ??commands in a single message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov. .................................................................. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov) in Miami, Florida, USA. From coral_giac at hotmail.com Sat Nov 20 22:54:44 1999 From: coral_giac at hotmail.com (Edwin Hernandez-Delgado) Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 19:54:44 PST Subject: Could bombing benefit Vieques reefs? Message-ID: <19991121035446.97964.qmail@hotmail.com> Dear Coral Listers. This is in response to the comments of Dr. Doug Fenner (AIMS) regarding the destruction of the coral reefs of Vieques Island (Puerto Rico) caused by the bombing activities carried out by the U.S. NAVY and other NATO countries. Dr. Fenner seems to defend the idea that it's better to keep the U.S. Navy blowing out our coral reefs than to have Puerto Ricans developing Vieques island. That view was also supported by Les Kaufman. I agree with the idea that we can not allow Vieques to become another San Juan(P.R.) or another St. Thomas (USVI), in terms of the model of touristic development. As a matter of fact, the local Vieques NGO, Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques (Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques) has already prepared an alternative sutainable development plan for a Vieques Island free of the U.S. Navy. But, I completely disagree with Fenner's point of view of keeping the U.S. NAVY in Vieques. Vieques Island is part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and has a permanent population of nearly 10,000 residents. It is one of the most important touristic destinations in the entire Caribbean. But at the same time, it has been used as a target ground since 1941 by the U.S. Navy and other NATO countries. 58 years of bombing!!! Bombing areas are located just 9 miles upwind of Isabel Segunda, the Viques downtown area. Sometimes, U.S. Navy pilots have missed targets by up to 10 miles, dropping off bombs just 1 mile off downtown Isabel Segunda! Residents of Vieques Island also suffer a 26% incidence of cancer, which is way higher than the average for the main island of Puerto Rico. This means that almost one of every three viequenses will die from cancer!!!!! Can anybody has an explanation for that? Furthermore, all of the most weird type of weapons developed by the U.S. Navy have been tested in Vieques, including napalm, all kinds of missiles and bullets with uranium casings!!!!! And what about biological weapons???? The U.S. Navy keeps residuals of uranium everywhere around the target areas!!! And there is also a lagoon which has been used as a dump-site of toxic wastes. It has been known for more than two decades that it is severely polluted (Sanchez, 1978). Has anybody ever questioned if toxic pollutants are leaching into the coral reefs and segrass beds in the area? Are edible species incorporating toxics? Is this related in any way to the high cancer rate in Vieques? That lagoon became flooded by the sea during the 2-m storm tide and 6-m waves of Hurricane Lenny last Wednesday. The U.S. Navy also smashes turtle nesting beaches by its amphibious vehicles. What about all conservation agencies? This is not only a matter of corals and fish, it's politics! And, furthermore, it's about people!!! The U.S. Navy is slowly killing Viequenses and just killed a civilian on April 19, 1999 because one of their pilots missed the target (again) with a live bomb. Although a Puerto Rican was blown out and split in two pieces by the U.S. Navy, nobody is in jail yet! But, let's get back to the reef problem and bombs! Fenner cited (without mentioning them) the studies of Antonius (1982) published in the Proc. 4th. Coral Reef Symp. Manila (1981), and probably those of Antonius and Dodge (1982), which concluded that hurricanes are more damaging to coral reefs than bombing activities. These studies focused only on shallow reef zones (reef front and backreefs), which by the time of the studies were just smashed by Hurricanes David and Frederick (1979), so their conclusions were obviously biased. Moreover, these studies were requested by the own U.S. Navy. However, independent studies carried out by Rogers et al. (1978) and Carrera-Rodriguez (1978) concluded that there was: 1) severe destruction coral reef frameworks within the maneuver areas; 2) craters were abundant; 3) severe pulverization and fragmentation of coral heads; 4) damage by sedimentation caused by blasting; 5) impacts from shock waves; 6) toxic pollution from chemicals carried out in bombs (Lai, 1978); and 7) significant solid waste disposal in the coral reefs, including, bomb fragments, flare casings, shells, bullets, parachutes, and other military stuff. In addition, according to Cintron (1980) and Vicente (1980), there was also severe damage to seagrass beds in the area due to bombing and by being smashed by amphibious vehicles. Some of my studies in Vieques (Hernandez-Delgado, 1994; 1996; Chapter 2, 3 PhD Dissertation) have shown that Vieques supports coral cover values ranging from about 5% in shallow flat eolianite reefs, to about 45% in deeper reefs. It has been estimated, however, that shelf edge coral reefs support coral cover values of approximately 50-90%. These supports one of the most important reef-based fisheries of the region. So, coral reefs outside of maneuver areas are still in preety good shape. But fringing reefs along the northern Vieques shoreline are suffering the chronic effects of touristic and housing development (Hernandez-Delgado, 1994, 1996, 1997), including the construction of a private resort. This is mostly caused by sedimentation and turbidity. But bombing areas also suffer from severe run-off, which not only carry out sediments to the coastal waters, but possibly toxic and radioactive wastes. Regarding what is the condition of cratered reefs, there is no actual information from Vieques. The U.S. Navy has never allowed independent scientists to study the area, as pointed out by Juan Torres, from UPR-Dept. Marine Sciences. Even, our Coral Reef Research Group tried to obtain a permit to study that area, which recieved no answer. But, I've been able to document in some way the status of former target coral reefs of Culebra Island. Culebra is located 22 km north of Vieques, and 27 km off eastern Puerto Rico, and supports a population of about 2,500 citizens. It was invaded in 1901 by the U.S. Navy and kept bombing the Culebra arhipelago until 1975. In summary, there is a striking difference in the coral reef epibenthic and fish assemblages, when cratered reefs are compared to control sites. Epibenthic communities Parameter Cratered Control Coral species richness Low High H'n Low High Dominance Species Massive adapted to corals disturbance Coral cover <5% 40-90% Recruitment of massive Absent Common coral species* *There is coral recruitment within cratered areas, but the bottom was so much demolished that it is highly unstable and only high-recruiting species adapted to disturbance are common (i.e., Siderastrea radians, Porites spp., Millepora spp.). There is no net recovery of coral reefs that were severely demolished by bombing activities more than 25 years ago. This suggests that it will take several human generations to naturally recover these areas, if that can occur. Fish communities Parameter Cratered Control Fish species richness Low High H'n Low High Average biomass Low High Average sizes Smaller Larger Abundance of predators Lower Higher Availability of shelter Rare/absent High Fish communities are also severely affected more thatn 25 years ago because of the lack of reef recovery, and because of the loss of the natural habitat heterogeneity. Bombs are also known to produce massive fish kills (IDEA, 1970). In synthesis, I agree with Fenner's view that Vieques Island coral reefs must be protected from development, BUT SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED to Puerto Ricans or viequenses. THIS IS AN IMPERIALISTIC APPROACH TO CORAL REEF CONSERVATIONS AND WE, AS PUERTO RICANS, WON'T ACCEPT THAT. There are several basic conditions that must be met by the U.S. Navy before leaving: 1) Give back ALL lands to Puerto Ricans; 2) clean all toxic wastes; 3) remove all ordnance; 4) restore polluted areas, target areas, and destroyed coral reefs and seagrass beds; and 5) provide for the sustainable development of Vieques. My recommendations regarding coral reef conservation in Vieques are: 1) carry out a general assessment of coral reefs and associated habitats within and outside of the target areas; 2) establish permanent monitoring stations; 3) evaluate the possibility of restoring damaged reefs and segrass bed areas; 4) remove all unexploded ordnance; 5) evaluate the status of fish communities in order to identify priority areas for conservation through the designation as a Marine Fishery Reserve. A possible network of MFRs could be an excellent approach to restore overfished stocks outside of the target areas. Fenner's intention of protecting coral reefs is excellent. But Puerto Ricans, specially viequenses and culebrenses, are tired of the imperialistic approach to conservation issues. We, as scientists, need to deal with the reality that we are not dealing only with fish and coral, it's about people!!!!!!! And there are a complex array of sociological and political-historical issues that must be considered when conservation approaches are proposed. Anything must be discussed with the people of Vieques first. Fenner's last question was who will replace the Navy? It would have been easier to recommend why don't the Australian government recieves our bombs. They have plenty of reefs to destroy. Why don't they set a target ground 9 miles off Townsville, just as in Vieques? I agree with Fenner that we should not allow weird developers to destroy what Viequenses have been trying to rescue for 58 years. But to replace the Navy with the Navy itself? Please!!!!!!!! Regards, Edwin A. Hernandez-Delgado, M.Sc., Ph.D.C. Research Associate University of Puerto Rico Department of Biology Coral Reef Research Group P.O. Box 23360 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3360 coral_giac at hotmail.com ************************************ From: Doug Fenner Reply-To: Doug Fenner To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Subject: Could bombing benefit Vieques reefs? Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 09:17:52 Regarding the petitions to stop the bombing of Vieques Is, Puerto Rico, I seem to remember work some years ago reported in one of the International Coral Reef Symposiums that looked at the reefs of Vieques, and found that they were in better shape than the reefs of Puerto Rico. The bombing had done surprisingly little damage to the reefs, and it had kept people out of the area, so they hadn't destroyed the reefs as on Puerto Rico. In Hawaii it has been said that the military are unwittingly one of the islands' biggest conservation agencies, since the islands are dotted with disused military bases where people cannot buy land and build resorts, etc. Maybe it would be ideal to get the Navy to stop bombing and clean up everything, but leave the live ordinance lying around to keep people out. If you let people populate the Vieques as dense as the rest of Puerto Rico and don't have very effective controls of sediment runoff, fishing, etc, the reefs may be worse off than with the military there. What will replace the military? -Doug Douglas Fenner, Ph.D. Coral Biodiversity/Taxonomist Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No 3 Townsville MC Queensland 4810 Australia phone 07 4753 4334 e-mail: d.fenner at aims.gov.au web: http://www.aims.gov.au ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe from coral-list please send the following text in the body of the message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, ???unsubscribe coral-list To subscribe to coral-list, substitute "unsubscribe" instead with, ???subscribe coral-list If you wish to change email addresses, you can combine the above ??commands in a single message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov. .................................................................. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov) in Miami, Florida, USA. From wallison at dhivehinet.net.mv Sun Nov 21 00:04:52 1999 From: wallison at dhivehinet.net.mv (William Allison) Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 10:04:52 +0500 Subject: ReefBomb: A Coral Reef Protection Program(me) References: <19991120235235.52098.qmail@hotmail.com> Message-ID: <005201bf33de$0d99c200$7fc101ca@wallison> Doug Fenner's suggestion to leave live ordinance lying about has the merit of being economical but the policy has increased rather than decreased site usage in some locations. Instead, controlled charge placement and magnitude would more effectively discourage site use, control collateral damage, and facilitate scientific interpretation of results. Additional issues to be explored for which some of the experiments have been conducted include: Does nuclear or conventional weapons testing afford the better ecosystem protection?Does the approach work in other ecosystems? &c. At one level this is a serious discussion about a real issue. At another level a discussion about bombing reefs to protect them from people seems surreal. Bill William (Bill) Allison Ma. Maadheli Majeedhee Magu Male 20-03 MALDIVES Tel: (960) 32 9667 Fax: (960) 32 6884 email: wallison at dhivehinet.net.mv ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe from coral-list please send the following text in the body of the message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, ???unsubscribe coral-list To subscribe to coral-list, substitute "unsubscribe" instead with, ???subscribe coral-list If you wish to change email addresses, you can combine the above ??commands in a single message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov. .................................................................. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov) in Miami, Florida, USA. From bob at westpacfisheries.net Sun Nov 21 11:57:48 1999 From: bob at westpacfisheries.net (Bob Endreson) Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 06:57:48 -1000 Subject: Fw: Could bombing benefit Vieques reefs? Message-ID: <002a01bf3441$8e132080$3b28d5d1@default> Why not consider the same plan for Vieques Island as Kahoolawe here in Hawaii. The Navy returned it to the State and created a Marine Protected Area. No fishing, no development just an education center and a living lab. Bob Endreson -----Original Message----- From: Edwin Hernandez-Delgado To: d.fenner at aims.gov.au ; coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov ; eco-isla at earthsystems.org Date: Saturday, November 20, 1999 7:51 PM Subject: Re: Could bombing benefit Vieques reefs? >Dear Coral Listers. > >This is in response to the comments of Dr. Doug Fenner (AIMS) regarding the >destruction of the coral reefs of Vieques Island (Puerto Rico) caused by the >bombing activities carried out by the U.S. NAVY and other NATO countries. >Dr. Fenner seems to defend the idea that it's better to keep the U.S. Navy >blowing out our coral reefs than to have Puerto Ricans developing Vieques >island. That view was also supported by Les Kaufman. > >I agree with the idea that we can not allow Vieques to become another San >Juan(P.R.) or another St. Thomas (USVI), in terms of the model of touristic >development. As a matter of fact, the local Vieques NGO, Comite Pro Rescate >y Desarrollo de Vieques (Committee for the Rescue and Development of >Vieques) has already prepared an alternative sutainable development plan for >a Vieques Island free of the U.S. Navy. But, I completely disagree with >Fenner's point of view of keeping the U.S. NAVY in Vieques. > >Vieques Island is part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and has a >permanent population of nearly 10,000 residents. It is one of the most >important touristic destinations in the entire Caribbean. But at the same >time, it has been used as a target ground since 1941 by the U.S. Navy and >other NATO countries. 58 years of bombing!!! Bombing areas are located just >9 miles upwind of Isabel Segunda, the Viques downtown area. Sometimes, U.S. >Navy pilots have missed targets by up to 10 miles, dropping off bombs just 1 >mile off downtown Isabel Segunda! > >Residents of Vieques Island also suffer a 26% incidence of cancer, which is >way higher than the average for the main island of Puerto Rico. This means >that almost one of every three viequenses will die from cancer!!!!! Can >anybody has an explanation for that? > >Furthermore, all of the most weird type of weapons developed by the U.S. >Navy have been tested in Vieques, including napalm, all kinds of missiles >and bullets with uranium casings!!!!! And what about biological weapons???? >The U.S. Navy keeps residuals of uranium everywhere around the target >areas!!! And there is also a lagoon which has been used as a dump-site of >toxic wastes. It has been known for more than two decades that it is >severely polluted (Sanchez, 1978). Has anybody ever questioned if toxic >pollutants are leaching into the coral reefs and segrass beds in the area? >Are edible species incorporating toxics? Is this related in any way to the >high cancer rate in Vieques? That lagoon became flooded by the sea during >the 2-m storm tide and 6-m waves of Hurricane Lenny last Wednesday. > >The U.S. Navy also smashes turtle nesting beaches by its amphibious >vehicles. What about all conservation agencies? > >This is not only a matter of corals and fish, it's politics! And, >furthermore, it's about people!!! The U.S. Navy is slowly killing >Viequenses and just killed a civilian on April 19, 1999 because one of their >pilots missed the target (again) with a live bomb. Although a Puerto Rican >was blown out and split in two pieces by the U.S. Navy, nobody is in jail >yet! > >But, let's get back to the reef problem and bombs! > >Fenner cited (without mentioning them) the studies of Antonius (1982) >published in the Proc. 4th. Coral Reef Symp. Manila (1981), and probably >those of Antonius and Dodge (1982), which concluded that hurricanes are more >damaging to coral reefs than bombing activities. These studies focused only >on shallow reef zones (reef front and backreefs), which by the time of the >studies were just smashed by Hurricanes David and Frederick (1979), so their >conclusions were obviously biased. Moreover, these studies were requested >by the own U.S. Navy. > >However, independent studies carried out by Rogers et al. (1978) and >Carrera-Rodriguez (1978) concluded that there was: 1) severe destruction >coral reef frameworks within the maneuver areas; 2) craters were abundant; >3) severe pulverization and fragmentation of coral heads; 4) damage by >sedimentation caused by blasting; 5) impacts from shock waves; 6) toxic >pollution from chemicals carried out in bombs (Lai, 1978); and 7) >significant solid waste disposal in the coral reefs, including, bomb >fragments, flare casings, shells, bullets, parachutes, and other military >stuff. > >In addition, according to Cintron (1980) and Vicente (1980), there was also >severe damage to seagrass beds in the area due to bombing and by being >smashed by amphibious vehicles. > >Some of my studies in Vieques (Hernandez-Delgado, 1994; 1996; Chapter 2, 3 >PhD Dissertation) have shown that Vieques supports coral cover values >ranging from about 5% in shallow flat eolianite reefs, to about 45% in >deeper reefs. It has been estimated, however, that shelf edge coral reefs >support coral cover values of approximately 50-90%. These supports one of >the most important reef-based fisheries of the region. So, coral reefs >outside of maneuver areas are still in preety good shape. But fringing reefs >along the northern Vieques shoreline are suffering the chronic effects of >touristic and housing development (Hernandez-Delgado, 1994, 1996, 1997), >including the construction of a >private resort. This is mostly caused by sedimentation and turbidity. But >bombing areas also suffer from severe run-off, which not only carry out >sediments to the coastal waters, but possibly toxic and radioactive wastes. > >Regarding what is the condition of cratered reefs, there is no actual >information from Vieques. The U.S. Navy has never allowed independent >scientists to study the area, as pointed out by Juan Torres, from UPR-Dept. >Marine Sciences. Even, our Coral Reef Research Group tried to obtain a >permit to study that area, which recieved no answer. > >But, I've been able to document in some way the status of former target >coral reefs of Culebra Island. Culebra is located 22 km north of Vieques, >and 27 km off eastern Puerto Rico, and supports a population of about 2,500 >citizens. It was invaded in 1901 by the U.S. Navy and kept bombing the >Culebra arhipelago until 1975. > >In summary, there is a striking difference in the coral reef epibenthic and >fish assemblages, when cratered reefs are compared to control sites. > >Epibenthic communities > >Parameter Cratered Control > >Coral species richness Low High >H'n Low High >Dominance Species Massive > adapted to corals > disturbance >Coral cover <5% 40-90% >Recruitment of massive Absent Common >coral species* > >*There is coral recruitment within cratered areas, but the bottom was so >much demolished that it is highly unstable and only high-recruiting species >adapted to disturbance are common (i.e., Siderastrea radians, Porites spp., >Millepora spp.). > >There is no net recovery of coral reefs that were severely demolished by >bombing activities more than 25 years ago. This suggests that it will take >several human generations to naturally recover these areas, if that can >occur. > > >Fish communities > >Parameter Cratered Control > >Fish species richness Low High >H'n Low High >Average biomass Low High >Average sizes Smaller Larger >Abundance of predators Lower Higher >Availability of shelter Rare/absent High > >Fish communities are also severely affected more thatn 25 years ago because >of the lack of reef recovery, and because of the loss of the natural habitat >heterogeneity. Bombs are also known to produce massive fish kills (IDEA, >1970). > >In synthesis, I agree with Fenner's view that Vieques Island coral reefs >must be protected from development, BUT SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED to Puerto >Ricans or viequenses. THIS IS AN IMPERIALISTIC APPROACH TO CORAL REEF >CONSERVATIONS AND WE, AS PUERTO RICANS, WON'T ACCEPT THAT. > >There are several basic conditions that must be met by the U.S. Navy before >leaving: 1) Give back ALL lands to Puerto Ricans; 2) clean all toxic wastes; >3) remove all ordnance; 4) restore polluted areas, target areas, and >destroyed coral reefs and seagrass beds; and 5) provide for the sustainable >development of Vieques. > >My recommendations regarding coral reef conservation in Vieques are: 1) >carry out a general assessment of coral reefs and associated habitats within >and outside of the target areas; 2) establish permanent monitoring stations; >3) evaluate the possibility of restoring damaged reefs and segrass bed >areas; 4) remove all unexploded ordnance; 5) evaluate the status of fish >communities in order to identify priority areas for conservation through the >designation as a Marine Fishery Reserve. A possible network of MFRs could >be an excellent approach to restore overfished stocks outside of the target >areas. > >Fenner's intention of protecting coral reefs is excellent. But Puerto >Ricans, specially viequenses and culebrenses, are tired of the imperialistic >approach to conservation issues. We, as scientists, need to deal with the >reality that we are not dealing only with fish and coral, it's about >people!!!!!!! And there are a complex array of sociological and >political-historical issues that must be considered when conservation >approaches are proposed. Anything must be discussed with the people of >Vieques first. > >Fenner's last question was who will replace the Navy? It would have been >easier to recommend why don't the Australian government recieves our bombs. >They have plenty of reefs to destroy. Why don't they set a target ground 9 >miles off Townsville, just as in Vieques? I agree with Fenner that we >should not allow weird developers to destroy what Viequenses have been >trying to rescue for 58 years. But to replace the Navy with the Navy >itself? Please!!!!!!!! > >Regards, > >Edwin A. Hernandez-Delgado, M.Sc., Ph.D.C. >Research Associate >University of Puerto Rico >Department of Biology >Coral Reef Research Group >P.O. Box 23360 >San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3360 > >coral_giac at hotmail.com > > >************************************ > >From: Doug Fenner >Reply-To: Doug Fenner >To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov >Subject: Could bombing benefit Vieques reefs? >Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 09:17:52 > >Regarding the petitions to stop the bombing of Vieques Is, Puerto Rico, > > I seem to remember work some years ago reported in one of the >International Coral Reef Symposiums that looked at the reefs of Vieques, and >found that they were in better shape than the reefs of Puerto Rico. The >bombing had done surprisingly little damage to the reefs, and it had kept >people out of the area, so they hadn't destroyed the reefs as on Puerto >Rico. > > In Hawaii it has been said that the military are unwittingly one of the >islands' biggest conservation agencies, since the islands are dotted with >disused military bases where people cannot buy land and build resorts, etc. > > Maybe it would be ideal to get the Navy to stop bombing and clean up >everything, but leave the live ordinance lying around to keep people out. If >you let people populate the Vieques as dense as the rest of Puerto Rico and >don't have very effective controls of sediment runoff, fishing, etc, the >reefs may be worse off than with the military there. What will replace the >military? -Doug > >Douglas Fenner, Ph.D. >Coral Biodiversity/Taxonomist >Australian Institute of Marine Science >PMB No 3 >Townsville MC >Queensland 4810 >Australia >phone 07 4753 4334 >e-mail: d.fenner at aims.gov.au >web: http://www.aims.gov.au > > >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >To unsubscribe from coral-list please send the following text >in the body of the message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, > unsubscribe coral-list >To subscribe to coral-list, substitute "unsubscribe" instead with, > subscribe coral-list >If you wish to change email addresses, you can combine the above > commands in a single message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov. >.................................................................. >The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) >sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program >(CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov) in Miami, Florida, USA. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe from coral-list please send the following text in the body of the message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, ???unsubscribe coral-list To subscribe to coral-list, substitute "unsubscribe" instead with, ???subscribe coral-list If you wish to change email addresses, you can combine the above ??commands in a single message to majordomo at coral.aoml.noaa.gov. .................................................................. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov) in Miami, Florida, USA. From d.fenner at aims.gov.au Mon Nov 22 14:11:19 1999 From: d.fenner at aims.gov.au (Doug Fenner) Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 14:11:19 Subject: reef bombing Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19991122141119.00af46c0@email.aims.gov.au> Coralisters, I would like to thank those who have given us more of the facts about the situation on the reefs of Vieques & Cuelebra off Puerto Rico. The future of the Navy and land use there will not only impact reefs, but many people as well. And people have a right to control their own destiny and live free of bombs that miss their targets, and militaries that avoid responsibilities. It seemed to me that we were being asked to support the removal of the Navy, without knowing what was going to replace them, and without factual basis to support what appeared to be an obvious fact, that bombing damages reefs. I was saying, 'wait a minute, could it be a bit more complicated?'. I wouldn't for a minute advocate bombing reefs to conserve them. I would fully support a cessation of bombing, strafing, polluting lands and waters (Activities which the military of the US and many other nations have carried on in a variety of other locations, and which will cost billions to clean up- to some extent legacies of the cold war and a lack of concern for the environment.). Also those who made the pollution cleaning it up. I suggested leaving the live ordinance around, not continued bombing. My concern is that dense human populations, whether for tourism development, rural agriculture, or the building of towns and cities, tends to have very detrimental effects on coral reefs. Effects that may even be worse than the military. No one doubts that corals are damaged in bomb craters, or in the tracks of landing vehicles. But in between the bombs and tracks, the corals may be in very good shape (and the craters and tracks may cover only part of the reef). As has been pointed out, we will not know until the military allows independent investigators in, or the military leaves. (and it would be good to remove live ordinance if the normal destructive effects of dense human populations are avoided) Someone has suggested that Bikini and Enewetok atolls may have some of the most pristine reefs in the world at this point. Simply because they have been uninhabited since the 50's when the US tested atomic bombs there. It does not follow that we should encourage the military to bomb other coral reefs. But it does call into question whether bombing is more damaging to coral reefs over the long term, or large human populations and their activities. And a military reservation without any activities may preserve reefs very well indeed. I suggest that the planning for uses after the military leaves is crucial. The number of people allowed into the area, how much construction will be allowed, whether sediment runoff from construction will be trapped on land, whether sewage will be treated and piped far out beyond the reefs, whether fishing will be allowed uncontrolled, whether nutrients will be running off of the land, whether people will be upstream or downstream of the reefs- these matters (and others) may be critical. I'd guess that the reefs of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii before the sewage outfalls were diverted, or Jamaican north shore reefs since 1980 with massive over fishing and nutrient runoff are in worse shape than the Vieques reef between the bomb craters. (I may be wrong) Of course, with massive bleaching due to El Nino/Global warming, it may all be a moot question in a couple decades anyhow. Where did I park my gas-guzzeler? Just a note- my views have nothing to do with AIMS, I'm a US Citizen, and there is indeed a bombing range in the ocean not far off of Townsville, Australia, where the Royal Australian Air Force practices, I am told. -Doug Douglas Fenner, Ph.D. Coral Biodiversity/Taxonomist Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No 3 Townsville MC Queensland 4810 Australia phone 07 4753 4334 e-mail: d.fenner at aims.gov.au web: http://www.aims.gov.au From arnfried.antonius at univie.ac.at Mon Nov 22 10:16:19 1999 From: arnfried.antonius at univie.ac.at (arnfried.antonius at univie.ac.at) Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 15:16:19 +0000 Subject: Vieques reef bombing Message-ID: <199911221330.OAA34054@mailbox.univie.ac.at> Hello coraleros, long ago it has been shown that the damage of Navy bombings on reefs is negligible when compared to naturally occurring reef destruction. Reference: Antonius, A. & Weiner, A.. 1982. Coral Reefs under Fire. P.S.Z.N.I: Marine Ecology, 3 (3): 255-277. Would be interesting to find out whether the situation is still the same (or at least similar) today. Best regards, Arnfried --------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Arnfried J. ANTONIUS phone: 0043-1-31336-9734 Institute of Palaeontology fax: 0043-1-31336-784 University of Vienna Geozentrum Althanstr. 14 A-1090 WIEN e-mail: arnfried.antonius at univie.ac.at Austria ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instrucitons on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. From lesk at bio.bu.edu Mon Nov 22 09:11:51 1999 From: lesk at bio.bu.edu (Les Kaufman) Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 09:11:51 -0500 (EST) Subject: reef bombing In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19991122141119.00af46c0@email.aims.gov.au> Message-ID: Doug Fenner's comments obviously reflect the voice of reason, but we still need a consistent policy of "no net loss" for coral reefs to local disturbance, just as we (more or less) have for wetlands in the US. The military reserves that happen to include coral reefs are an irreplaceable resource that it is now time to safeguard. The military is already doing quite a bit to this end. The problem arises when military facilities are decomissioned. Who bears responsibility for problems that emerge after final clean-up? Shouldn't all coral reef areas under military stewardship automatically become national wildlife refuges? We're not talking about that much area in total. Where a native people is involved, they too must be taken into consideration, for they are being denied the opportunities for economic development that others take for granted, or for greed. Les Kaufman Boston University Marine Program Department of Biology 5 Cummington Street Boston, MA 02215 lesk at bio.bu.edu 617-353-5560 office 617-353-6965 lab 617-353-6340 fax ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instrucitons on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. From msommer at oce.orst.edu Mon Nov 22 12:02:55 1999 From: msommer at oce.orst.edu (Maggie Sommer) Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 09:02:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: reef bombing In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I concur with Les Kaufman's point that coral reefs in areas under military control may be likely to be in relatively good condition (excepting, of course, the occasional crater) and should be priority candidates for reserve status. A number of points came to mind as I considered the issue: IF the relevant parties are in agreement that reserves are a necessary means of preservation, then I suggest that decommissioned military zones may have a relatively low impact on local {fishing} populations, as these people must have already altered their fishing practices to avoid the off-limits region; whereas the declaration of a new area as a reserve would be a burden in the form of further changes. It also could be the case in some areas that where there has been limited human impact on a reef system, it already harbors large, fecund populations of harvestable species, which would {does already?} serve to perform one of the goals of a marine protected area--to enhance fisheries in neighboring, exploited waters. On the other hand, perhaps it would be more beneficial to people and reef to allow fishing in the previously, de facto, protected area; and to set aside a more 'degraded' section of reef for recovery, as in a rotating scheme. Short-term gain for fishers in terms of access to new areas/fish; potential long-term gain from recovery (from fishing pressure, at least; unless matters such as sediment/nudrient runoff etc. are addressed in conjunction with reserve designation) of previously impacted zones. And now back to the other side of the fence for one last point--are we confident in the military's ability to remove all live ordnance from a marine practice area? There certainly has been a lot of news coverage recently on the huge number of unexploded bombs of all shapes and sizes, land mines, etc. throughout the world (Laos in particular was the subject of a NPR story last week). As [one hopes] people using a marine environment for resource extraction or recreation will have less contact with the bottom and thus any live munitions overlooked by military clean-up crews than would farmers in a mined or bomb-strewn region, it should be less of a threat than on land. But is it worth the risk of even one fisherman getting blown to bits? I suppose after all these twists I come out in favor of recommending that demilitarized reef areas be made reserves. And one question--I don't see how a "no net loss" policy similar to the wetlands practices is feasible in coral reef systems: it is my understanding (but I may be wrong on any of these points) that no net loss is achieved by "creating" wetlands roughly equivalent in size and function to ones destroyed during development. I suspect this is done by grading with heavy equipment, then planting specimens of appropriate plant varieties which have been grown in a lab/nursery until they are already fairly large and hardy, and then hoping that if they build it, the insects, birds, amphibians etc. will come. It seems to me that this process would be much more difficult to accomplish with a reef, due to much slower growth of corals and difficulty with culture and transportation (large bommie translocation discussion notwithstanding, since the point of 'no net loss' would be to replace damaged/destroyed reef with "new" reef, not just relocated corals etc.). I hope Mr. Kaufman will forgive me if I have misunderstood his comments, and I certainly invite any corrrections to my assumptions, or further comments. Maggie Sommer M.S. student Marine Resource Management Program College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon On Mon, 22 Nov 1999, Les Kaufman wrote: > Doug Fenner's comments obviously reflect the voice of reason, but we still > need a consistent policy of "no net loss" for coral reefs to local > disturbance, just as we (more or less) have for wetlands in the US. The > military reserves that happen to include coral reefs are an irreplaceable > resource that it is now time to safeguard. The military is already doing > quite a bit to this end. The problem arises when military facilities are > decomissioned. Who bears responsibility for problems that emerge after > final clean-up? Shouldn't all coral reef areas under military stewardship > automatically become national wildlife refuges? We're not talking about > that much area in total. Where a native people is involved, they too must > be taken into consideration, for they are being denied the opportunities > for economic development that others take for granted, or for greed. > > Les Kaufman > Boston University Marine Program > Department of Biology > 5 Cummington Street > Boston, MA 02215 > lesk at bio.bu.edu > 617-353-5560 office > 617-353-6965 lab > 617-353-6340 fax > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) > sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program > (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site > for instrucitons on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From jo_lopez at rumac.uprm.edu Mon Nov 22 15:29:58 1999 From: jo_lopez at rumac.uprm.edu (Jose Manuel Lopez-Diaz) Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 16:29:58 -0400 Subject: Vieques reef bombing Message-ID: <199911231327.NAA00980@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> It is high time to revisit this question by independent investigators. Vieques reefs offer a unique opportunity. Massive destruction, radioactive and chemical contamination will be evidenced. To extrapolate the specific "findings" of Antonius and Weiner (1982) that "Navy bombings on reefs is negligible" is a serious mistake. Who paid for that study anyway? JMLopez ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Monday, November 22, 1999 11:16 AM Subject: Vieques reef bombing > Hello coraleros, > > long ago it has been shown that the damage of Navy bombings on reefs is negligible > when compared to naturally occurring reef destruction. Reference: > > Antonius, A. & Weiner, A.. 1982. Coral Reefs under Fire. P.S.Z.N.I: Marine Ecology, > 3 (3): 255-277. > > Would be interesting to find out whether the situation is still the same (or at least > similar) today. > > Best regards, Arnfried > --------------------------------------------------------------- > Dr. Arnfried J. ANTONIUS phone: 0043-1-31336-9734 > Institute of Palaeontology fax: 0043-1-31336-784 > University of Vienna > Geozentrum > Althanstr. 14 > A-1090 WIEN e-mail: arnfried.antonius at univie.ac.at > Austria > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) > sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program > (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site > for instrucitons on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From flinnc at hotmail.com Tue Nov 23 17:59:06 1999 From: flinnc at hotmail.com (Flinn Curren) Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 14:59:06 PST Subject: Position Announcement Message-ID: <19991123225908.9268.qmail@hotmail.com> The following position is currently open: Chief Biologist Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources American Samoa Government Pago Pago, AS Qualifications: The minimum of an M.Sc. in marine biology or closely related field with a strong background in tropical multi-species fisheries monitoring and research, and demonstrated management and interpersonal skills in cross-cultural situations. Responsibilities: Supervision of wildlife and fisheries research programs, analysis of fisheries data, develop, coordinate and conduct research programs and activities in conjunction with other territorial and federal agencies, preparation of proposals and reports. Salary: $28,000 per year with a two year contract. Leave: Annual and sick leave accumulate at 8 hours and 4 hours per bi-weekly pay period. Subsidized housing and medical services. Closing Date: December 15, 1999 Please view the website listed below for more information. Contact: Ray Tulafono, Director Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources P.O. Box 3730 Pago Pago, AS 96799 telephone: (684) 633-4456 fax: (684) 633-5944 email: dmwr at samoatelco.com Subject: Chief Biologist Recruitment website: http://wpacfin.nmfs.hawaii.edu/as/as_dmwr_fram.htm ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From mjen at tv2.dk Wed Nov 24 11:46:47 1999 From: mjen at tv2.dk (Michael Jensen) Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 17:46:47 +0100 Subject: Cyanid and Dynamite vs corals Message-ID: <13ECAFDF66D2D21193DD0008C70DD94F17DBCE@oberon.tv2.dk> Dear List I have a project doing an article about how some people are fishing in Vietnam, with Cyanid and Dynamite and on how they offcause destroy the corals. Dos anybode know where to find more material on this matter.?? Thanking in advance. Michael Jensen Denmark ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From hnearing at duke.edu Wed Nov 24 14:33:44 1999 From: hnearing at duke.edu (Helen Nearing) Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 13:33:44 -0600 Subject: Duke Univ Marine Lab summer program Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19991124133344.00910bc0@mail-hn.mail.duke.edu> PLEASE EXCUSE CROSS LISTING Duke University Integrated Marine Conservation Program The Nicholas School of the Environment Marine Laboratory at Duke University is offering an unparalleled educational opportunity from July 10 to August 11, 2000. Duke's Integrated Marine Conservation Program teaches the principles necessary for the conservation and preservation of the coastal and oceanic environment. The focus is on interdisciplinary problem solving--using natural and social science theory to resolve real world environmental problems. The Duke summer faculty will be joined by distinguished scholars from around the country for this intensive five week program. Participants in the Integrated Marine Conservation Program usually enroll in the program's 'core' course (Conservation Biology and Policy) and one of seven elective courses offered concurrently. Enrollment in any one course is also possible. Scholarships are available, including several earmarked for international students. In order to receive full consideration, applications for general scholarships must be received by March 1. Applications for international student scholarships must be received by April 1. Applications for the Integrated Marine Conservation Program will be accepted until the program is full. For further information, see our web site at http://www.env.duke.edu/marinelab/mlterm2.html or contact Ms. Helen Nearing at hnearing at duke.edu, (252) 504-7502. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From JSobel at DCCMC.ORG Wed Nov 24 14:12:46 1999 From: JSobel at DCCMC.ORG (JSobel at DCCMC.ORG) Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 14:12:46 -0500 Subject: Vieques Island: Protection should be comprehensive! Message-ID: <9188D24F318ED31198E300A0C9D81E0401B607@smtp.dcccmc.org> The coral reef list-server has once again provided an excellent, neutral forum for sharing many perspectives and providing much useful information regarding the controversial and emotional issues facing Vieques Island's coral reefs and military use of this important area. The dialogue to date has been very instructive and informative to me and I would like to thank the List-server providers and all of those who have shared their perspectives on Vieques. Here is one more: As ecosystem director for the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC), I was approached both through the list-server and directly by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the law firm representing them, local NGO's from Puerto Rico, and coral reef scientists with requests to sign onto a group letter emphasizing the need to stop the bombing and get the military out of Vieques due to its impact on coral reefs. I also had the privilege of attending the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in St. Croix and hearing several excellent presentations on Vieques and discussing this with presenters and attendees familiar with Vieques. CMC elected not to sign onto the group letter that was circulated due to its sole focus on the bombing issue and our belief that any solution to protecting Vieques' coral reefs would have to be more comprehensive and long-term. Instead, we sent our own letter (see below) together with EDF that supported an end to the bombing and other military activities impacting the island's coral reefs and other natural resources, but stressing that a more comprehensive solution is essential, especially if the military pulls out. Our belief is that such a solution will need to include protected areas on land and in the water and stringent conservation measures applicable to those areas that are developed. Designation of a National Wildlife Refuge, as was done for Culebra and other former military lands, may be a piece of this solution. There are other approaches worth considering and we don't believe a comprehensive solution need be "Imperialistic", but must address issues other than bombing and military activities and provide concrete protection with regard to other threats. The list-server dialogue has strengthened my belief that the more comprehensive approach called for in our letter is absolutely critical. Simply promoting "sustainable development", without defining what this means will likely not protect Vieques reefs, other natural resources, or the human community on Vieques for that matter. Edwin Hernandez-Delgado indicated in his email that a local Vieques NGO, Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques, has prepared an altenative sustainable development plan for a Vieques Island free of the Navy. We would like to see this plan posted or at least have information on how to obtain it provided. In our conversations with those who were asking us to sign the group letter, those representing the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and others voiced support for more comprehensive protection, but were unwilling to state or commit to a written position other than calling for an immediate end to the bombing and withdrawal of the military. This position concerns us, in that, if the military does withdraw, development pressures similar to those that occurred elsewhere in Puerto Rico and beyond may overwhelm good intentions with respect to Vieques and its local community, unless there is already a comprehensive protection plan in place for its coral reefs and other natural resources. The time to provide such protection is prior to any decision on a military pull-out. The letter we sent follows: November 16, 1999 President William J. Clinton The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), we are writing to urge you to exercise all of your relevant authorities to permanently protect the coral reefs and associated tropical marine and coastal ecosystems on and surrounding the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. We encourage you to find a resolution to current Department of Defense (DOD) activities that may threaten these systems and the fish and wildlife that depend on them, and a long-term solution that would provide comprehensive protection for these vital natural resources. In particular, we ask that you (1) extend the current moratorium and secure a permanent ban on all live fire military exercises and bombing activities that threaten natural resources in the vicinity of Vieques; and (2) develop and implement a strategy to fully and permanently protect the coral reef and related ecosystems on and near Vieques, including development of a national wildlife refuge, national park, or other appropriate protected area(s). Vieques is home to some of the most extraordinary ecosystems on the planet, including three of the world's seven surviving bioluminescent bays and some of the healthiest and most diverse coral reefs found in U.S. Carribean territorial waters. The Island also provides important habitat for numerous species protected under the Endangered Species Act including manatees, brown pelicans, and green, hawksbill, leatherback, and loggerhead sea turtles, as well as several endangered plants. While naval bombing and use of Vieques has resulted in some significant harm to the Island's fragile marine and terrestrial ecology and raised legitimate concerns among the island's population, the federal holdings on the island have also forestalled other potentially harmful development and limited natural resource extraction that may pose an equal or greater long-term threat to the island's natural resources. Any long-term strategy to protect Vieques' natural resources must include not only a cessation of bombing, but also a comprehensive approach that protects these sensitive systems from coastal development and natural resource extraction. Your Executive Order 13089 on Coral Reef Protection sets very high standards for Federal agencies and the Nation to both prevent degradation and enhance protection for coral reef ecosystems. Its stated policy requires all Federal agencies to: (1) "utilize their programs and authorities to protect and enhance the conditions of such ecosystems" (2) "ensure that any actions they authorize, fund, or carry out will not degrade the conditions of such ecosystems." With regard to Vieques, continued live bombing of the island's coral reef ecosystems appears clearly inconsistent with the no-degradation standard of the Executive Order and to require implementation of an extended moratorium and permanent prohibition. However, addressing only the bombing issue would fall far short of the Executive Order's stated policy regarding the protection and enhancement of coral reef ecosystems. DOD and all federal agencies are also required to use their programs and authorities to protect such systems. Given the relatively healthy condition and importance of Vieques' coral reef ecosystems, the policy requires that all agencies maintain and enhance that level of protection. In our view, cessation of bombing must be combined with more comprehensive protection to fulfill the letter and spirit of the Executive Order. Development and implementation of a national wildlife refuge or similar protective regime would be one way of accomplishing this. Sincerely, Jack Sobel, Ecosystem Director Doug Rader, Senior Scientist Center for Marine Conservation Environmental Defense Fund <> ********************************* Jack Sobel, Director Ecosystem Program Center for Marine Conservation 1725 DeSales St. NW, Suite #600 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 429-5609 Fax: (202) 872-0619 Email: jsobel at dccmc.org ********************************* -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ViequesLetter.rtf Type: application/rtf Size: 7644 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19991124/ec2936b5/attachment.rtf From vvizcaino at hotmail.com Wed Nov 24 19:12:54 1999 From: vvizcaino at hotmail.com (Veronica Vizcaino) Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 16:12:54 PST Subject: coral recruitment... Message-ID: <19991125001254.86180.qmail@hotmail.com> Hola. I'm working with coral recruitment in the mexican Pacific, and I need to know if anybody can confirm me if the photo attached is a coral recruit? any information about coral recruitment is welcome... Thanks for your interest. Veronica Vizcaino vvizcaino at hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: coralitoA.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 20863 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19991124/4a39cf85/attachment.jpg From bpotter at irf.org Thu Nov 25 13:36:12 1999 From: bpotter at irf.org (Potter at Island Resources) Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 13:36:12 -0500 Subject: Vieques Island: Protection should be comprehensive! In-Reply-To: <9188D24F318ED31198E300A0C9D81E0401B607@smtp.dcccmc.org> References: <9188D24F318ED31198E300A0C9D81E0401B607@smtp.dcccmc.org> Message-ID: Jack Sobel and Doug Rader have presented an excellent statement of the need for US protection of the natural coastal and marine resources on the Navy gunnery ranges on Vieques, especially the reef communities. Their message, however, ignores two important issues: 1) The political issue of Puerto Rican "sovereignty" over "national" assets (a debatable concept, but one which needs to be acknowledged at some level to secure commitment to a resolution of the continuing conflict over the bombing); 2) The economic issue of the need for ANY long-term resolution to address SUSTAINABLE USE of the natural resources of Vieques and adjacent waters to generate acceptable income for [at least] the people of Vieques. Given the intensity of resource use in the Caribbean, and the high rate of poverty in Puerto Rico, a resolution which ignores income generating needs is failure prone. (I'm not sure of the income levels of families in Vieques, but cutting back on Navy use of the island would obviously reduce employment and other business opportunities). I think the implications would be for low intensity tourism with a large component of diving activities and other marine and tourist services, but that's at the END of a long process of exploration of alternatives and development of those elements. Much as I recognize the need to protect the reefs of Vieques, I would oppose any settlement which fenced off the resources with no provision for income generating activities for [at least] local residents. The Sobel/Rader letter might lead to the unfortunate conclusion that local inhabitants are mostly significant as "threats" to the natural resources of the area. bruce potter for himself ..... --------------------------------------------- >The coral reef list-server has once again provided an excellent, neutral >forum for sharing many perspectives and providing much useful information >regarding the controversial and emotional issues facing Vieques Island's >coral reefs and military use of this important area. The dialogue to date >has been very instructive and informative to me and I would like to thank >the List-server providers and all of those who have shared their >perspectives on Vieques. Here is one more: > >As ecosystem director for the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC), I was >approached both through the list-server and directly by the Commonwealth of >Puerto Rico, the law firm representing them, local NGO's from Puerto Rico, >and coral reef scientists with requests to sign onto a group letter >emphasizing the need to stop the bombing and get the military out of Vieques >due to its impact on coral reefs. I also had the privilege of attending the >U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in St. Croix and hearing several >excellent presentations on Vieques and discussing this with presenters and >attendees familiar with Vieques. > >CMC elected not to sign onto the group letter that was circulated due to its >sole focus on the bombing issue and our belief that any solution to >protecting Vieques' coral reefs would have to be more comprehensive and >long-term. Instead, we sent our own letter (see below) together with EDF >that supported an end to the bombing and other military activities impacting >the island's coral reefs and other natural resources, but stressing that a >more comprehensive solution is essential, especially if the military pulls >out. Our belief is that such a solution will need to include protected >areas on land and in the water and stringent conservation measures >applicable to those areas that are developed. Designation of a National >Wildlife Refuge, as was done for Culebra and other former military lands, >may be a piece of this solution. There are other approaches worth >considering and we don't believe a comprehensive solution need be >"Imperialistic", but must address issues other than bombing and military >activities and provide concrete protection with regard to other threats. >The list-server dialogue has strengthened my belief that the more >comprehensive approach called for in our letter is absolutely critical. > >Simply promoting "sustainable development", without defining what this means >will likely not protect Vieques reefs, other natural resources, or the human >community on Vieques for that matter. Edwin Hernandez-Delgado indicated in >his email that a local Vieques NGO, Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de >Vieques, has prepared an altenative sustainable development plan for a >Vieques Island free of the Navy. We would like to see this plan posted or >at least have information on how to obtain it provided. In our >conversations with those who were asking us to sign the group letter, those >representing the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and others voiced support for >more comprehensive protection, but were unwilling to state or commit to a >written position other than calling for an immediate end to the bombing and >withdrawal of the military. This position concerns us, in that, if the >military does withdraw, development pressures similar to those that occurred >elsewhere in Puerto Rico and beyond may overwhelm good intentions with >respect to Vieques and its local community, unless there is already a >comprehensive protection plan in place for its coral reefs and other natural >resources. The time to provide such protection is prior to any decision on >a military pull-out. The letter we sent follows: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > November 16, 1999 > > >President William J. Clinton >The White House >1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. >Washington, D.C. 20500 > >Dear Mr. President: > >On behalf of the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) and the Environmental >Defense Fund (EDF), we are writing to urge you to exercise all of your >relevant authorities to permanently protect the coral reefs and associated >tropical marine and coastal ecosystems on and surrounding the Island of >Vieques, Puerto Rico. We encourage you to find a resolution to current >Department of Defense (DOD) activities that may threaten these systems and >the fish and wildlife that depend on them, and a long-term solution that >would provide comprehensive protection for these vital natural resources. >In particular, we ask that you (1) extend the current moratorium and secure >a permanent ban on all live fire military exercises and bombing activities >that threaten natural resources in the vicinity of Vieques; and (2) develop >and implement a strategy to fully and permanently protect the coral reef and >related ecosystems on and near Vieques, including development of a national >wildlife refuge, national park, or other appropriate protected area(s). > >Vieques is home to some of the most extraordinary ecosystems on the planet, >including three of the world's seven surviving bioluminescent bays and some >of the healthiest and most diverse coral reefs found in U.S. Carribean >territorial waters. The Island also provides important habitat for numerous >species protected under the Endangered Species Act including manatees, brown >pelicans, and green, hawksbill, leatherback, and loggerhead sea turtles, as >well as several endangered plants. While naval bombing and use of Vieques >has resulted in some significant harm to the Island's fragile marine and >terrestrial ecology and raised legitimate concerns among the island's >population, the federal holdings on the island have also forestalled other >potentially harmful development and limited natural resource extraction that >may pose an equal or greater long-term threat to the island's natural >resources. Any long-term strategy to protect Vieques' natural resources >must include not only a cessation of bombing, but also a comprehensive >approach that protects these sensitive systems from coastal development and >natural resource extraction. > >Your Executive Order 13089 on Coral Reef Protection sets very high standards >for Federal agencies and the Nation to both prevent degradation and enhance >protection for coral reef ecosystems. Its stated policy requires all Federal >agencies to: > >(1) "utilize their programs and authorities to protect and enhance the >conditions of such ecosystems" > >(2) "ensure that any actions they authorize, fund, or carry out will not >degrade the conditions of such ecosystems." > >With regard to Vieques, continued live bombing of the island's coral reef >ecosystems appears clearly inconsistent with the no-degradation standard of >the Executive Order and to require implementation of an extended moratorium >and permanent prohibition. However, addressing only the bombing issue would >fall far short of the Executive Order's stated policy regarding the >protection and enhancement of coral reef ecosystems. DOD and all federal >agencies are also required to use their programs and authorities to protect >such systems. Given the relatively healthy condition and importance of >Vieques' coral reef ecosystems, the policy requires that all agencies >maintain and enhance that level of protection. In our view, cessation of >bombing must be combined with more comprehensive protection to fulfill the >letter and spirit of the Executive Order. Development and implementation of >a national wildlife refuge or similar protective regime would be one way of >accomplishing this. > >Sincerely, > > > > >Jack Sobel, Ecosystem Director Doug Rader, Senior Scientist >Center for Marine Conservation Environmental Defense Fund > > <> >********************************* >Jack Sobel, Director >Ecosystem Program >Center for Marine Conservation >1725 DeSales St. NW, Suite #600 >Washington, DC 20036 >Phone: (202) 429-5609 >Fax: (202) 872-0619 >Email: jsobel at dccmc.org >********************************* > > >Attachment converted: Macintosh HD:ViequesLetter.rtf (RTF /MSWD) (0000A74F) Island Resources Foundation 27 Years of Environmental Planning for Development ><+><+><+><+><+>< Web Site><+>< Island Resources Foundation |+|Island Resources Foundation Headquarters & Library |+|Contributions and Publications 6292 Estate Nazareth No. 100 |+|1718 "P" Street NW, Suite T-4 St. Thomas, VI 00802-1104 |+|Washington, DC 20036 Phone 340/775-6225 |+|Phone 202/265-9712 fax 779-2022 |+|fax 232-0748 Internet: etowle at irf.org |+|bpotter at irf.org -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Promote Island Resources---Send Your $35 Membership to the DC Office -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From rainesbk at cybertime.net Thu Nov 25 13:20:29 1999 From: rainesbk at cybertime.net (Bret Raines) Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 10:20:29 -0800 Subject: 'Leptoseris paschalensis' citation needed..... Message-ID: <199911291223.MAA01326@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> I don't normally post to the list, however, I have found myself behind = the power curve, and I need some help. =20 I'm having some difficulties citing the author and year for 'Leptoseris = paschalensis', a coral species from Easter Island. This information is = urgently needed to meet a publication deadline. =20 Sincerely, Bret Raines *************************************************************************= **** Bret K. Raines Museum Associate - Invertebrate Zoology (Malacology) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County =20 Email address: rainesbk at cybertime.net Postal address: Bret Raines, P.O. Box 612, Victorville, CA 92393 *************************************************************************= **** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From jch at aoml.noaa.gov Mon Nov 29 07:14:17 1999 From: jch at aoml.noaa.gov (Listserver Administrator) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 12:14:17 GMT Subject: coral workstation down Message-ID: <199911291214.MAA01102@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> My apologies, but our aging coral workstation crashed again during the evening of Nov 26. As a consequence, coral-list and coral-list-digest listservers were inoperative during those times. My apologies for any inconvenience. Cheers, Jim Hendee listserver maintainer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov Mon Nov 29 07:42:13 1999 From: Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov (Jim Hendee) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 07:42:13 -0500 (EST) Subject: FYI: public meeting Dec 6 Message-ID: [I'm forwarding this; I have no further information.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kenneth E. Osborn, Quality Assurance Officer, MS 59 East Bay Municipal Utility District Laboratory Services Division, Oakland, California, kosborn at ebmud.com has kindly forwarded information on the recent announcement in the Federal Register regarding a public meeting to discuss the trade in non-food fish coral reef species, the effects of this trade on coral reefs, and measures which the United States should consider to minimize these effects and promote coral reef conservation. Representatives of other agencies involved in the Trade Subgroup will participate in the meeting to answer questions and receive public comments on potential conservation actions. The public meeting will be held on Monday, December 6 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm in Room 7000A and B, of the Interior, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, DC. Further information is available from Sheila Einsweiler, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, telephone (703) 358-1949, fax (703) 358-2271, E-mail: Sheila__Einsweiler at fws.gov Anyone wishing to speak at the meeting should contact Ms Einsweiler. For people who are unable to attend but who wish to comment, comments should be mailed to r9oma__cites at fws.gov submissions should be in an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. You should include "Attn: Public Meeting on U.S. Coral Reef Task Force" and your name and return address in your Internet message. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From deevon at bellsouth.net Sun Nov 28 19:36:59 1999 From: deevon at bellsouth.net (DeeVon Quirolo) Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 19:36:59 -0500 Subject: Vieques Island: Protection should be comprehensive! References: <9188D24F318ED31198E300A0C9D81E0401B607@smtp.dcccmc.org> Message-ID: <3841CAAA.E1587220@bellsouth.net> JSobel at DCCMC.ORG wrote: > The coral reef list-server has once again provided an excellent, neutral > forum for sharing many perspectives and providing much useful information > regarding the controversial and emotional issues facing Vieques Island's > coral reefs and military use of this important area. The dialogue to date > has been very instructive and informative to me and I would like to thank > the List-server providers and all of those who have shared their > perspectives on Vieques. Here is one more: > > As ecosystem director for the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC), I was > approached both through the list-server and directly by the Commonwealth of > Puerto Rico, the law firm representing them, local NGO's from Puerto Rico, > and coral reef scientists with requests to sign onto a group letter > emphasizing the need to stop the bombing and get the military out of Vieques > due to its impact on coral reefs. I also had the privilege of attending the > U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in St. Croix and hearing several > excellent presentations on Vieques and discussing this with presenters and > attendees familiar with Vieques. > > CMC elected not to sign onto the group letter that was circulated due to its > sole focus on the bombing issue and our belief that any solution to > protecting Vieques' coral reefs would have to be more comprehensive and > long-term. Instead, we sent our own letter (see below) together with EDF > that supported an end to the bombing and other military activities impacting > the island's coral reefs and other natural resources, but stressing that a > more comprehensive solution is essential, especially if the military pulls > out. Our belief is that such a solution will need to include protected > areas on land and in the water and stringent conservation measures > applicable to those areas that are developed. Designation of a National > Wildlife Refuge, as was done for Culebra and other former military lands, > may be a piece of this solution. There are other approaches worth > considering and we don't believe a comprehensive solution need be > "Imperialistic", but must address issues other than bombing and military > activities and provide concrete protection with regard to other threats. > The list-server dialogue has strengthened my belief that the more > comprehensive approach called for in our letter is absolutely critical. > > Simply promoting "sustainable development", without defining what this means > will likely not protect Vieques reefs, other natural resources, or the human > community on Vieques for that matter. Edwin Hernandez-Delgado indicated in > his email that a local Vieques NGO, Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de > Vieques, has prepared an altenative sustainable development plan for a > Vieques Island free of the Navy. We would like to see this plan posted or > at least have information on how to obtain it provided. In our > conversations with those who were asking us to sign the group letter, those > representing the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and others voiced support for > more comprehensive protection, but were unwilling to state or commit to a > written position other than calling for an immediate end to the bombing and > withdrawal of the military. This position concerns us, in that, if the > military does withdraw, development pressures similar to those that occurred > elsewhere in Puerto Rico and beyond may overwhelm good intentions with > respect to Vieques and its local community, unless there is already a > comprehensive protection plan in place for its coral reefs and other natural > resources. The time to provide such protection is prior to any decision on > a military pull-out. The letter we sent follows: > November 16, 1999 > > President William J. Clinton > The White House > 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. > Washington, D.C. 20500 > > Dear Mr. President: > > On behalf of the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) and the Environmental > Defense Fund (EDF), we are writing to urge you to exercise all of your > relevant authorities to permanently protect the coral reefs and associated > tropical marine and coastal ecosystems on and surrounding the Island of > Vieques, Puerto Rico. We encourage you to find a resolution to current > Department of Defense (DOD) activities that may threaten these systems and > the fish and wildlife that depend on them, and a long-term solution that > would provide comprehensive protection for these vital natural resources. > In particular, we ask that you (1) extend the current moratorium and secure > a permanent ban on all live fire military exercises and bombing activities > that threaten natural resources in the vicinity of Vieques; and (2) develop > and implement a strategy to fully and permanently protect the coral reef and > related ecosystems on and near Vieques, including development of a national > wildlife refuge, national park, or other appropriate protected area(s). > > Vieques is home to some of the most extraordinary ecosystems on the planet, > including three of the world's seven surviving bioluminescent bays and some > of the healthiest and most diverse coral reefs found in U.S. Carribean > territorial waters. The Island also provides important habitat for numerous > species protected under the Endangered Species Act including manatees, brown > pelicans, and green, hawksbill, leatherback, and loggerhead sea turtles, as > well as several endangered plants. While naval bombing and use of Vieques > has resulted in some significant harm to the Island's fragile marine and > terrestrial ecology and raised legitimate concerns among the island's > population, the federal holdings on the island have also forestalled other > potentially harmful development and limited natural resource extraction that > may pose an equal or greater long-term threat to the island's natural > resources. Any long-term strategy to protect Vieques' natural resources > must include not only a cessation of bombing, but also a comprehensive > approach that protects these sensitive systems from coastal development and > natural resource extraction. > > Your Executive Order 13089 on Coral Reef Protection sets very high standards > for Federal agencies and the Nation to both prevent degradation and enhance > protection for coral reef ecosystems. Its stated policy requires all Federal > agencies to: > > (1) "utilize their programs and authorities to protect and enhance the > conditions of such ecosystems" > > (2) "ensure that any actions they authorize, fund, or carry out will not > degrade the conditions of such ecosystems." > > With regard to Vieques, continued live bombing of the island's coral reef > ecosystems appears clearly inconsistent with the no-degradation standard of > the Executive Order and to require implementation of an extended moratorium > and permanent prohibition. However, addressing only the bombing issue would > fall far short of the Executive Order's stated policy regarding the > protection and enhancement of coral reef ecosystems. DOD and all federal > agencies are also required to use their programs and authorities to protect > such systems. Given the relatively healthy condition and importance of > Vieques' coral reef ecosystems, the policy requires that all agencies > maintain and enhance that level of protection. In our view, cessation of > bombing must be combined with more comprehensive protection to fulfill the > letter and spirit of the Executive Order. Development and implementation of > a national wildlife refuge or similar protective regime would be one way of > accomplishing this. > > Sincerely, > > Jack Sobel, Ecosystem Director Doug Rader, Senior Scientist > Center for Marine Conservation Environmental Defense Fund > > <> > ********************************* > Jack Sobel, Director > Ecosystem Program > Center for Marine Conservation > 1725 DeSales St. NW, Suite #600 > Washington, DC 20036 > Phone: (202) 429-5609 > Fax: (202) 872-0619 > Email: jsobel at dccmc.org > ********************************* > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Name: ViequesLetter.rtf > ViequesLetter.rtf Type: Rich Text Format (application/rtf) > Encoding: quoted-printable The Federal Government is not capable of saving coral reefs. This has been proven in the Florida Keys where the coral has died under the watch of the FKNMS and all of the National NGO's that are clueless as to the real situation regarding coral and it's demise. CQ of Reef Relief ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From deevon at bellsouth.net Sun Nov 28 19:27:37 1999 From: deevon at bellsouth.net (DeeVon Quirolo) Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 19:27:37 -0500 Subject: Vieques Island: Protection should be comprehensive! References: <9188D24F318ED31198E300A0C9D81E0401B607@smtp.dcccmc.org> Message-ID: <3841C878.9D0573BE@bellsouth.net> JSobel at DCCMC.ORG wrote: > The coral reef list-server has once again provided an excellent, neutral > forum for sharing many perspectives and providing much useful information > regarding the controversial and emotional issues facing Vieques Island's > coral reefs and military use of this important area. The dialogue to date > has been very instructive and informative to me and I would like to thank > the List-server providers and all of those who have shared their > perspectives on Vieques. Here is one more: > > As ecosystem director for the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC), I was > approached both through the list-server and directly by the Commonwealth of > Puerto Rico, the law firm representing them, local NGO's from Puerto Rico, > and coral reef scientists with requests to sign onto a group letter > emphasizing the need to stop the bombing and get the military out of Vieques > due to its impact on coral reefs. I also had the privilege of attending the > U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in St. Croix and hearing several > excellent presentations on Vieques and discussing this with presenters and > attendees familiar with Vieques. > > CMC elected not to sign onto the group letter that was circulated due to its > sole focus on the bombing issue and our belief that any solution to > protecting Vieques' coral reefs would have to be more comprehensive and > long-term. Instead, we sent our own letter (see below) together with EDF > that supported an end to the bombing and other military activities impacting > the island's coral reefs and other natural resources, but stressing that a > more comprehensive solution is essential, especially if the military pulls > out. Our belief is that such a solution will need to include protected > areas on land and in the water and stringent conservation measures > applicable to those areas that are developed. Designation of a National > Wildlife Refuge, as was done for Culebra and other former military lands, > may be a piece of this solution. There are other approaches worth > considering and we don't believe a comprehensive solution need be > "Imperialistic", but must address issues other than bombing and military > activities and provide concrete protection with regard to other threats. > The list-server dialogue has strengthened my belief that the more > comprehensive approach called for in our letter is absolutely critical. > > Simply promoting "sustainable development", without defining what this means > will likely not protect Vieques reefs, other natural resources, or the human > community on Vieques for that matter. Edwin Hernandez-Delgado indicated in > his email that a local Vieques NGO, Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de > Vieques, has prepared an altenative sustainable development plan for a > Vieques Island free of the Navy. We would like to see this plan posted or > at least have information on how to obtain it provided. In our > conversations with those who were asking us to sign the group letter, those > representing the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and others voiced support for > more comprehensive protection, but were unwilling to state or commit to a > written position other than calling for an immediate end to the bombing and > withdrawal of the military. This position concerns us, in that, if the > military does withdraw, development pressures similar to those that occurred > elsewhere in Puerto Rico and beyond may overwhelm good intentions with > respect to Vieques and its local community, unless there is already a > comprehensive protection plan in place for its coral reefs and other natural > resources. The time to provide such protection is prior to any decision on > a military pull-out. The letter we sent follows: > November 16, 1999 > > President William J. Clinton > The White House > 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. > Washington, D.C. 20500 > > Dear Mr. President: > > On behalf of the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) and the Environmental > Defense Fund (EDF), we are writing to urge you to exercise all of your > relevant authorities to permanently protect the coral reefs and associated > tropical marine and coastal ecosystems on and surrounding the Island of > Vieques, Puerto Rico. We encourage you to find a resolution to current > Department of Defense (DOD) activities that may threaten these systems and > the fish and wildlife that depend on them, and a long-term solution that > would provide comprehensive protection for these vital natural resources. > In particular, we ask that you (1) extend the current moratorium and secure > a permanent ban on all live fire military exercises and bombing activities > that threaten natural resources in the vicinity of Vieques; and (2) develop > and implement a strategy to fully and permanently protect the coral reef and > related ecosystems on and near Vieques, including development of a national > wildlife refuge, national park, or other appropriate protected area(s). > > Vieques is home to some of the most extraordinary ecosystems on the planet, > including three of the world's seven surviving bioluminescent bays and some > of the healthiest and most diverse coral reefs found in U.S. Carribean > territorial waters. The Island also provides important habitat for numerous > species protected under the Endangered Species Act including manatees, brown > pelicans, and green, hawksbill, leatherback, and loggerhead sea turtles, as > well as several endangered plants. While naval bombing and use of Vieques > has resulted in some significant harm to the Island's fragile marine and > terrestrial ecology and raised legitimate concerns among the island's > population, the federal holdings on the island have also forestalled other > potentially harmful development and limited natural resource extraction that > may pose an equal or greater long-term threat to the island's natural > resources. Any long-term strategy to protect Vieques' natural resources > must include not only a cessation of bombing, but also a comprehensive > approach that protects these sensitive systems from coastal development and > natural resource extraction. > > Your Executive Order 13089 on Coral Reef Protection sets very high standards > for Federal agencies and the Nation to both prevent degradation and enhance > protection for coral reef ecosystems. Its stated policy requires all Federal > agencies to: > > (1) "utilize their programs and authorities to protect and enhance the > conditions of such ecosystems" > > (2) "ensure that any actions they authorize, fund, or carry out will not > degrade the conditions of such ecosystems." > > With regard to Vieques, continued live bombing of the island's coral reef > ecosystems appears clearly inconsistent with the no-degradation standard of > the Executive Order and to require implementation of an extended moratorium > and permanent prohibition. However, addressing only the bombing issue would > fall far short of the Executive Order's stated policy regarding the > protection and enhancement of coral reef ecosystems. DOD and all federal > agencies are also required to use their programs and authorities to protect > such systems. Given the relatively healthy condition and importance of > Vieques' coral reef ecosystems, the policy requires that all agencies > maintain and enhance that level of protection. In our view, cessation of > bombing must be combined with more comprehensive protection to fulfill the > letter and spirit of the Executive Order. Development and implementation of > a national wildlife refuge or similar protective regime would be one way of > accomplishing this. > > Sincerely, > > Jack Sobel, Ecosystem Director Doug Rader, Senior Scientist > Center for Marine Conservation Environmental Defense Fund > > <> > ********************************* > Jack Sobel, Director > Ecosystem Program > Center for Marine Conservation > 1725 DeSales St. NW, Suite #600 > Washington, DC 20036 > Phone: (202) 429-5609 > Fax: (202) 872-0619 > Email: jsobel at dccmc.org > ********************************* > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Name: ViequesLetter.rtf > ViequesLetter.rtf Type: Rich Text Format (application/rtf) > Encoding: quoted-printable just as comprehensive as the FKNMS that was on watch during the death of Florida's coral reefs. Government cannot save coral. This has been proven. CQ from Reef Relief ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From emueller at mote.org Mon Nov 29 11:41:52 1999 From: emueller at mote.org (Erich Mueller) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 11:41:52 -0500 (Eastern Standard Time) Subject: Pigeon Key Message-ID: Education Programs at Pigeon Key Still Going Strong! As announced here some months ago, Mote Marine Laboratory has moved its tropical facilty from Pigeon Key to Summerland Key. Some of you may have gotten the impression that Pigeon Key is no longer available for educational opportunities. Not true! The Pigeon Key Foundation continues to offer residential marine education programs at a variety of levels throughout the year. Please contact Dr. Dan Gallagher, Education Director for more information: dang at marathonkey.com phone: (305) 289-9632 FAX: (305) 289-0139 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Erich Mueller, Ph.D., Director Phone: (305) 745-2729 Mote Marine Laboratory FAX: (305) 745-2730 Center for Tropical Research Email: emueller at mote.org 24244 Overseas Highway (US 1) Summerland Key, FL 33042 Mote Marine Laboratory Website-> http://www.mote.org Remarks are personal opinion and do not reflect institutional policy unless so indicated. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From gene at fearless.er.usgs.gov Mon Nov 29 09:58:45 1999 From: gene at fearless.er.usgs.gov (Gene Shinn) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 09:58:45 -0500 Subject: Vieques reefs Message-ID: <199911291652.QAA03656@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Re: Doug Fenners comments. I too remember the report that said the reefs at Vieques were in better shape (and there were more fish) than elsewhere in Puerto Rico. It concluded that the reason was that fisherman can't get in. The report came to mind when I first read that the leader of the movement to get the Navy out is the head of the Fishermans Association. Gene "If we lose our capacity to be wrong, we are not doing the business of science" Charles L. Drake ------------------------------------ ----------------------------------- Gene Shinn | email eshinn at usgs.gov USGS Center for Coastal Geology | http://coastal.er.usgs.gov 600 4th St. South | voice (727) 803-8747 x3030 St.Petersburg, FL 33701 | fax (727) 803-2032 ------------------------------------ ----------------------------------- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From JSobel at DCCMC.ORG Mon Nov 29 12:58:01 1999 From: JSobel at DCCMC.ORG (JSobel at DCCMC.ORG) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 12:58:01 -0500 Subject: Vieques Island Letter: Multiple Comments from REEF RELIEF Message-ID: <9188D24F318ED31198E300A0C9D81E0401B61C@smtp.dcccmc.org> My first temptation was not to respond to a series of comments posted by either Craig Quirilo or Devon Quirilo or both of REEF RELIEF, on the Coral-list server, with regard to a letter sent by the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) on Vieques Island. However, having now received five versions of rambling, incoherent, and seemingly irrelevant comments from them that were posted to the Coral-list server, I think a few clarifying remarks are in order: (1)The letter sent by us did not propose a marine sanctuary nor pre-judge what mechanism might be best to protect the reefs and other resources surrounding Vieques, but emphasized the need to stop all bombing impacting Vieques' reefs and provide more comprehensive protection than simply an end to the bombing, especially if the Navy were to pull out. Based on my understanding of REEF RELIEF's own mission and policies, they would agree that the bombing should be stopped and that other protection should also be afforded. (2)We would agree that neither the federal government nor any form of government can provide the whole answer to coral reef protection on its own in Vieques or elsewhere, but federal and other forms of government can and should play a role in and afford protection for coral reefs. An active well-informed public is essential for this to happen, which is part of the reason we exist. We assume REEF RELIEF would agree with this as well, presumably its why they exist. (3)So what was REEF RELIEF really tring to say? I confess that I don't know. Their two recurring themes seem to be that (A) National NGOs don't have a clue about the problems facing coral reefs, only REEF RELIEF does; and (B) the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has been responsible for the death of the Florida Keys Reef Tract, despite being around for only a few years, and its creation proves that government can't do anything to prevent reef destruction. If this was REEF RELIEF's message, we clearly disagree with them on both themes. (4)We believe that the threats facing the Florida Reef Tract and many other Caribbean reefs, potentially including Vieques, are multiple, long-term, and synergistic, and will require similarly comprehensive solutions. Although we have not always been satisfied with the level of protection afforded by the FKNMS, we believe it is an essential tool for the protection and recovery of the Florida Reef Tract, that it is already contributing to its conservation, and that it can and will contribute more in the future, provided the public keeps demanding it. The TORTUGAS 2000 initiative, if and when implemented, will be a major step forward in this regard. (5)REEF RELIEF's claim that the failure of the FKNMS to put an immediate end to all threats and degradation of the Florida Reef Tract proves that government and/or the Federal government can not contribute to coral reef protection is absurd on its face. Such a conclusion would be equivalent to stating that the failure of REEF RELIEF (which has been around much longer) to halt the degradation of the Florida Reef Tract demonstrates that local grassroots organizations can't contribute to coral reef protection. We are not ready to draw such a conclusion. Coral reef protection will require the hard, cooperative work of government, NGOs, and many others, at all spatial scales to make important contributions. ********************************* Jack Sobel, Director Ecosystem Program Center for Marine Conservation 1725 DeSales St. NW, Suite #600 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 429-5609 Fax: (202) 872-0619 Email: jsobel at dccmc.org ********************************* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From niebuhr at vims.edu Mon Nov 29 13:12:53 1999 From: niebuhr at vims.edu (David Niebuhr) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 13:12:53 -0500 Subject: Vieques reefs References: <199911291652.QAA03656@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Message-ID: <3842C224.F9A0BC67@vims.edu> Dear Gene: The situation on Vieques is complex. Yes, one of the leaders of the movement to remove the Navy from Vieques is the president of the local Fishermans' Association. He is also an avid supporter of several grass-roots efforts to protect and preserve the island's natural resources and has a keen respect for the island, its people, and its unique habitats. He has helped me in my research and has provided boats and manpower for efforts to monitor and protect Puerto Mosquito. I caution you not to assume that because this gentleman is a a fisherman he only wants to see the Navy out so fishermen can exploit the local resources. I repeat, the Vieques situation is complex. The Viequense have been isolated on their own island, there is tremendous pressure to "modernize" and "develop" the island for "the sake of the people," and the island harbors some healthy reefs and two of the last (monoculture- Pyrodinium bahamense) bioluminescent bays in the Caribbean. There are many "interests" involved in the Vieques situation and very few of them are concerned with protecting coral, bioluminescent bays or any other important habitat. I have conducted research on both Vieques' reef systems and on Puerto Mosquito (biobay). I have worked with local environmental groups (Vieques Conservation and Historic Trust) and I have provided expert evidence in a law suit filed against the Municipality of Isabel Segunda, the Dept. of the Interior, the EPA and the Navy for violations of the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. I have been quietly amused while this discussion has raged on the coral list. I am glad so many people have taken interest in this small island's welfare, but I'm afraid that witohut knowing the island many folks are looking for simple answers to an extremely difficult question. The state of the coral and other important habitats located at Vieques is not solely the result of limited fishing harvest (they fish is most areas except during periods of bombing), but is also the result of limited urban and suburban development and the relatively low environmental impacts of the Navy's presence on the island. The only way to move forward and solve this problem is to move slowly. The local government, grass roots organizations the Navy and the federal government need to frame a plan that will solve this problem while protecting Vieques' unique resources. Gene Shinn wrote: > It concluded that the reason was that fisherman can't get in. > The report came to mind when I first read that the leader of the movement > to get the Navy out is the head of the Fishermans Association. --David Niebuhr *********************************************************************** David H. Niebuhr, Ph.D. Education and Communications Coordinator Chesapeake Bay NERR in Virginia/School of Education College of William and Mary POB 1346 Gloucester Pt., VA 23062 Phone: 804.684.7144 Fax: 804.684.7120 niebuhr at vims.edu *********************************************************************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19991129/6fa75da7/attachment.html From coral_giac at hotmail.com Mon Nov 29 13:35:17 1999 From: coral_giac at hotmail.com (Edwin Hernandez-Delgado) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 10:35:17 PST Subject: Vieques reefs Message-ID: <19991129183518.23042.qmail@hotmail.com> Dear Coral-Listers: This is to thank you all for bringing into the public forum the Vieques (Puerto Rico) bombing issue. There have been excellent recommendations. However, there are still two aspects that require additional comments. First, Arnfried Antonius commented a few days ago that it has been long known that bombs do not harm coral reefs. This is simply false and the conclusions of that study can not be used as an excuse to keep the US Navy bombing our coral reefs and killing Puerto Rican civilians. The effects of hurricanes and bombs will be different, depending on the spatial and temporal scales being measured. Hurricanes do harm coral reefs at larger spatial scales than bombs do, but to my knowledge, no hurricane has been able to open 25 meter wide, 5 meter deep craters in a coral reef, such as those present in Vieques and Culebra islands. No hurricane has been able to crack or pulverize huge coral heads such as those demolished by bombs in Vieques and Culebra. Furthermore, no hurricane has been able to cause massive fish kills in a matter of seconds such as bombing does. We should not try to minimize the physical destruction caused by the massive cratering of Vieques reefs. So, we should not confuse one thing with the other, and should not use it as an excuse to protect the US Navy interests. More recently, Gene Shinn brought back the issue and added the comment that there were more fish in that area than elsewhere in Puerto Rico, adding that no wonder why the head of the Vieques fishermen association in the leader of the movement against the US Navy here. 1. I haven't had the opportunity to see that report, but would like to see the data to which comparisons were made. My own studies (Ph.D. Dissertation; and Hernandez-Delgado and Sabat, in press) show that there is a clear gradient of increasing fish species richness, diversity, abundance, average size and standing stock biomass as we move across the insular shelf from environmentally-degraded and over-exploited coral reefs to offshore remote coral reefs. Vieques' coral reefs are considered remote in relation to highly degraded coastal areas in the main island of Puerto Rico. 2. Nobody has actualized quantitative information about the status of coral reef fish communities n Vieques to establish a baseline ata bank, and to compare the status of fish communities within and outside of target areas. We have tried to seek a permit for that and did not even recieved an answer. 3. I didn't understand Shinn's comment regarding the fishermen, but everybody should know that, not only fishermen, but the whole Vieques Island community, many political, syndical and women organizations, students and faculty from all univerities, the Catholic Church, as well as many other local, national and international religious, social, political, grassroots and environmental organizations support Vieques in their struggle to finish bombing by the US Navy. Even, most of our politicians support viequenses. Just to clarify that this is not a matter of fishing or not within target areas because even target areas have been sporadically fished. Edwin A. Hernandez-Delgado Research Associate University of Puerto Rico Department of Biology Coral Reef Research Group P.O. Box 23360 San Juan, Puerto Rico Tel. (787) 764-0000, x-4855 Fax (787) 764-2610 e-mail: coral_giac at hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From Santavy.Debbie at EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV Mon Nov 29 15:48:57 1999 From: Santavy.Debbie at EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (Santavy.Debbie at EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 14:48:57 -0600 Subject: Post-Doc Opportunity Message-ID: <85256838.00725A68.00@EPAHUB2.RTP.EPA.GOV> There are research opportunities for one pre-doc and one post-doc to develop cooperative and collaborative scientific research and training opportunities at the US Environmental Protection Agency, at Gulf Breeze, Florida. The individuals will develop research under the mentorship of Dr. Deborah L. Santavy and are expected to spend a portion of their time at the laboratory in Gulf Breeze. POST-DOC Reef Coral Stressors. The Post Doctoral Research Associate will investigate the effects of anthropogenic and climate change stressors on reef corals. The effects of UVB in combination with locally identified stresses such as temperature, turbidity, nutrients, and pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are known to be photochemically enhanced, are largely unexplored and will be the focus of research. PRE-DOC Coral Reef Diseases. Graduate Student to investigate histopathology, etiology, microbiology, and/or ecology of disease processes in the dominant coral species, Acropora palmata, in the Florida Keys. The major objective of this research is to determine if infectious diseases and/or abiotic stressors are responsible for tissue necrosis and loss of corals in the Florida Keys. GED/UWF Science Training in Ecology Program (STEP) is designed to provide undergraduate and graduate students as well as post-doctoral level researchers with cooperative and collaborative scientific research and training opportunities. It is anticipated that most, if not all, research will be conducted at the Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Gulf Ecology Division, Gulf Breeze, FL (GED) (http://www.epa.gov/ged/). Students and postdoctoral associates from colleges and universities within the United States are eligible to participate and will be selected via a competitive application procedure. All candidates must be US citizens. The deadline for applications has recently been extended until December 31, 1999. Applicant information can be found at: http://www.uwf.edu/~step/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From coral_giac at hotmail.com Mon Nov 29 17:10:59 1999 From: coral_giac at hotmail.com (Edwin Hernandez-Delgado) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 14:10:59 PST Subject: Vieques Message-ID: <19991129221059.71140.qmail@hotmail.com> Dear coral-listers. The letter attached below was sent as a carbon copy (CC) to me by Dr. Gene Shinn. I decided to post it simply because there is still people who claims that this is more an emotional issue than a scientific issue. Certainly, we have to deal with both things. But blaming fishermen for all problems in Puerto Rican coral reefs outside of Navy's waters is like only being looking at the point of the iceberg. Yes, there are many emotional aspects nvolved in this issue. Fifty eight years of bombs pounding in the backyards of nearly 10,000 residents has obviously been emotional. A 27% cancer rate has obviously been emotional. And Viequenses are very clear, no more bombs! Please, let's not forget that we are dealing, not only with coral and fish, but with people. Let's discuss possible management alternatives. But, has anybody ever asked the simple question of what are we going to discuss about if there is no baseline data about the actual status of coral reefs and reef fisheries within target areas? Should we start by that fact? We have the expertise to carry out that type of studies in the University of Puerto Rico, but the U.S. and the Puerto Rican government seem to be not interested in that. Any suggestions? Edwin A. Hernandez-Delgado University of Puerto Rico From: Gene Shinn To: niebuhr at vims.edu CC: coral_giac at hotmail.com Subject: Vieques Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 14:28:12 -0500 Dear David, Thank you for your calm and collected response to my brief comment on the Vieques situation. I realize this is a highly complex issue and the reef is probably just the tip of the political iceberg. Wish now I had stayed out of the fracus. There is certainly more emotion than science involved in this issue. You might be interested to know that I established 3 coral monitoring stations on Culebra after they were impacted by hurricane Hugo and have spent a few months on the island. Did get a good sense of local feelings and of course almost everyday we heard the bombs over on Vieques..The bottom line on our monitoring (have turned the whole project over to Ginger Garrison USGS/BRD at St. John VI) was that the reefs (both windward, leeward, and a polluted site off the canal that drains the village) were recovering rapidly after the Hurricane but then in the late 1990s diseases set in and corals that had regrown started to die. It is an interesting problem and unfortunately it is Caribbean-wide. I could go on and on but will wait until we learn more about what kills corals in isolated parts of the Caribbean where the human population is low. Thanks again for your calm and informative response. Gene "If we lose our capacity to be wrong, we are not doing the business of science" Charles L. Drake ------------------------------------ ----------------------------------- Gene Shinn | email eshinn at usgs.gov USGS Center for Coastal Geology | http://coastal.er.usgs.gov 600 4th St. South | voice (727) 803-8747 x3030 St.Petersburg, FL 33701 | fax (727) 803-2032 ------------------------------------ ----------------------------------- ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From coral_giac at hotmail.com Mon Nov 29 17:55:24 1999 From: coral_giac at hotmail.com (Edwin Hernandez-Delgado) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 14:55:24 PST Subject: Info about Vieques Message-ID: <19991129225524.24915.qmail@hotmail.com> For more information about the Vieques situation, please contact: http://www.viequeslibre.org For information regarding the draft proposed sustainable development plan of a Navy-free Vieques, please contact: Robert Rabin Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques (Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques) bieke at coqui.net Regards, Edwin Edwin A. Hernandez-Delgado Investigador Asociado Universidad de Puerto Rico Departamento de Biologia Grupo de Investigacion en Arrecifes de Coral P.O. Box 23360 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3360 Tel. (787) 764-0000, x-4855 Fax (787) 764-2610 e-mail: coral_giac at hotmail.com diploria at coqui.net ****************************************** ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From slkyshrk at sgi.net Mon Nov 29 23:12:38 1999 From: slkyshrk at sgi.net (Wendy Jo) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 20:12:38 -0800 Subject: Vieques reefs In-Reply-To: <19991129183518.23042.qmail@hotmail.com> Message-ID: <199911300117.UAA04719@pisces.tcg.sgi.net> Although I am not a scientist (working on it) I find this discussion between hurricane damage and bombing damage quite intriguing, but some points are sorely being missed on this aspect. Hurricanes are Mother Nature's way of replanting, replenishing, recycling, killing, giving birth to, and fixing whatever needs to be, the way she sees fit, in ways that we can't even begin to comprehend. Although we do try so hard sometimes. That's science. There's nothing "emotional" about it. Bombing by humans can never be compared to nature's way of doing things, not under any circumstances, no matter how wonderful a scientist one is. Bombing is humans way of saying "I do this because I can." Even after reading the threads on this, I still cannot see the benefit of destroying this island, or parts of it, that is inhabited by fellow human beings, and diverse wildlife. What DO we know about the island and it's inhabitants? (ALL of them). Ever stop to think that the diverse plantlife we're choking and destroying could be a cure for some disease? When, pray tell, will we ever fight a human against human war such as we did 50 years ago, using this particular "technology"? I fear that the next will be with sticks and stones. (And I can't remember who said that.) Like the age of DDT, what are we gonna do 20, 30, 40 years from now. Say "Whoops."?? I think we should be tired of that mentality by now. As a child, my mom and dad always taught me to "Look before you Leap". It's a policy that, as an adult, I live by. If we learn to think further ahead to the future of our current endeavors, we might be able to end the battle that we've waged on this one and only life support system that we have. Sincerely, Wendy Jo "The library of life is on fire, and we must put it out." ~~Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway >>)):> >>)):> >>)):> >>)):> >>)):> >>)):> >>)):> >>)):> Wendy Jo Shemansky Graduate Student Environmental Research Science and Management Duquesne University Environmental News Director, West Penn Scuba Divers Pittsburgh, PA slkyshrk at sgi.net (412) 244 - 3318 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From firefish at sltnet.lk Tue Nov 30 08:53:30 1999 From: firefish at sltnet.lk (Prasanna Weerakkody) Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 07:53:30 -0600 (GMT) Subject: Vieques Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19991130075424.11f7312e@sltnet.lk> On the issue of Vieques; I am located far away in the Indian Ocean and wathching the dialogue I Just wandered how the reefs are better off with bombs going off all around. We see the impact of underwater explosions on reefs commonly as the practice of Fish dynamiting is common here where we work. Even with the small charges used the sea floor damage can be drastic in situations and it sure has a major impact on the fish species composition on the reef. The reef is soon cleared of all big Jacks, Groupers, Parrots, Sweetlips and the like. Fish loss is not only by being killed by the blast but they seem to avoid these reefs as well. In the East coast of Sri Lanka where the coastline is under Navy command, Regular underwater blasts are carried out to keep terorist divers from penitrating the defence barries. Diving on a reef aproximately 1.5Km. away from blast zone the same conditions were true. The reef was intact (as no blasting occured on the reef itself) and most fish were in good numbers (actualy better than neibouring areas subjected to fishing) but no big fish was seen on these reefs as was the experiance with the Southern reefs subjected to fish Dynamiting. Prasanna Weerakkody Nature Conservation Group (Natcog) No.9, Balapokuna place, Colombo 6. Sri Lanka Phone: (941) 856041 E-mail: firefish at sltnet.lk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From rainesbk at cybertime.net Tue Nov 30 05:52:58 1999 From: rainesbk at cybertime.net (Bret Raines) Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 02:52:58 -0800 Subject: Leptoseris paschalensis Message-ID: <00ed01bf3b21$115c89a0$25cd169d@user> I now have the information I need. Thank you to everyone that provided support. Sincerely, Bret -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19991130/1540dede/attachment.html From EricHugo at aol.com Tue Nov 30 08:12:36 1999 From: EricHugo at aol.com (EricHugo at aol.com) Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 08:12:36 EST Subject: Vieques Message-ID: <0.acf74091.25752744@aol.com> I had not read this thread until this morning, having saved it for what has become an almost "novel-istic" foray of banter and enlightening discussion. I do have a question that has occurred to me, perhaps from stepping back from the more involved day-to-day postings. Notwithstanding the other complex issues that must be addressed, but in terms of the bombing in Vieques and elsewhere, Why coral reefs at all? If a military decides for any reason at all (however senseless and with whatever locale, human, and other aspects that may be forthcoming), are there not shallow areas less threatened, less biodiverse, and less ecologically invasive than the actual coral reefs? A sandy area a few km's away? Is there something special about bombing a reef? I doubt that invertebrates are being used as animal test subjects for projectile impact studies later....after all, the US military uses higher primates from even more threatened habitats for that end! Seemingly, the use of areas of low biodiversity nearby would also still passively protect fisheries and other useries by proximity alone. And "Wendy Jo": It was Einstein who quoted, "I don't know how World War 3 will be fought, but I do know how World War 4 will be fought...with sticks and stones." If you like that, you should read his other thoughts on peace, disarmament, and the general state of man. The US military and out world should engage such ideas, as well. Eric Borneman ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From shenker at fit.edu Mon Nov 29 13:18:28 1999 From: shenker at fit.edu (Jon Shenker) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 13:18:28 -0500 Subject: Summer Courses in Australia Message-ID: <199911301852.SAA13285@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> My apologies for cross-postings. The Florida Institute of Technology and the University of New South Wales are offering a 6-credit summer program studying the marine and terrestrial biology and ecology of Australia. Students will spend most of the 6 week course in the field, at sites including the Kakadu National Park, Lady Elliott Island, the Daintree Rainforest, and a live-aboard dive boat on the edge of the Coral Sea. This popular course will be limited to 22 students, so interested participants should apply in the near future. For more information, visit our web site: http://www.bio.fit.edu/summer/aust.htm or contact Dr. Jon Shenker: shenker at fit.edu > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From gcarter at orf.org Tue Nov 30 22:16:54 1999 From: gcarter at orf.org (Greg L. Carter) Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 19:16:54 -0800 Subject: ORF Newsletter References: <199905042052.UAA19750@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Message-ID: <38449326.47559E1E@orf.org> Greetings Coral-listers, The latest issue of Currents, the publication of the Oceanic Resource Foundation has been posted to the ORF website at www.orf.org/CURRENTS/autumn99.pdf. This is an Adobe Acrobat Reader file. This issue contains articles on sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica, coral bleaching in Palau, environmental conservation in Pulau Banyak (Indonesia), the challenges of environmental protection facing the Black Sea and the Republic of Abkhazia, and information about the 2nd annual Baja Tortuguero meeting to be held in Loreto, Baja California in January 2000. Individuals who are unable to open the online version and are interested in receiving the printed version of the publication may request copies via email to Greg Carter at gcarter at orf.org. At this time we are also seeking articles from interested researchers for the next issue. Best regards, Greg -- "Mother, mother ocean I have heard your call, Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall." Jimmy Buffet Greg L. Carter http://www.orf.org gcarter at orf.org Oceanic Resource Foundation -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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