[] TL: CORAL REEFS AT RISK
SO: INTERNATIONAL OCEANS NEWSLETTER Greenpeace International (GP)
DT: October 26, 1993
Keywords: environment oceans fisheries greenpeace gp  algae coral
/

CORAL REEFS AT RISK

More than 100 top coral reef scientists from thirty countries
have concluded that, although data is scarce, the available
information shows a "distressingly consistent" worldwide pattern
of reef degradation near centres of human population. 
  The warning came at the end of a three-day meeting at the
University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric
Sciences in June. Acording to conference organiser Dr. Robert
Ginsburg, the results of the meeting confirmed what had
previously been only a vague impression among those who study
reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and in the Caribbean. 

  "In each region, there are still pristine reefs with abndant
natural resources. However, there are a growing number of reefs,
particularly those near urban centres, that are showing dramatic
degradation," Ginsburg said. "There are five major laboratories
located on the rim of the Caribbean basin where scientists over
the past foty years have documented a dramatic decrease of up to
fifty per cent of the previously abundant corals and significant
reductions in numbers of reef fish," added Dr Jeremy Jackson of
the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama.

  The researchers ranked sewage, siltation from poorly planned
land use, and overfishing as the top causes of reef damage. The
meeting agreed to designate 1996 as "International Coral Reef
Year" and to establish a permanent coral reef monitoring network.
The network would link marine research labs worldwide and set up
a global database on reef health.  Two international agencies,
the World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Britain and the
International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management in
the Philippines, are setting up the database; they plan to use
dive groups, marine park managers, fisheries regulators and
scientific publications around the world to help collect data.  
"We can no longer simply do science as usual, but we need to
dramatically increase the attention we give to management of
coral reefs," Ginsburg said.
  "Coral reefs have been on this Earth for more than 260
million years and have survived all manner of catastrophes
including meteorites, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions and so must
be considered robust or hearty ecosystems," said Dr Richard
Griggs of the University of Hawaii.
  "What strikes me as signficant and alarming is that in just  
forty years, how many of these lovely reefs close to population
centers have been degraded. Our challenge for the future is to
turn this situation around by protecting those still pristine
reefs from human encroachment, and improving conditions to enable
recovery of those reefs that have been damaged."


ATTENTION! INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY BY AND FOR NGOs WORKING ON
CORAL REEF ISSUES

Greenpeace is inviting you to contribute to the publication of
the Coral Reef Network Directory. This directory will be the
first of its kind to highlight NGOs worldwide working to protect
coral reefs.
  The Coral Reef Network Directory will contain comprehensive
profiles of NGOs working on coral reef issues, describing their
objectives, current activities and areas of expertise.
Organisations that exclusively focus on coral reef issues and
those that may have a coral reef-oriented project are equally
welcome to contribute.
  The Directory will help promote cooperation, collaboration and
support among NGOs worldwide concerned about coral reef
ecosystems and livelihoods they sustain. The growing numbers of
groups working on coral reef issues have a great deal to learn
from each other, and the Directory will be one means of opening
more lines of communication. A copy of the Directory will be
provided to each contributor.
  Please make sure your organization -- or any organizations with
which you may work -- are included, by filling out a
questionnaire and returning it no later than November 1, 1993.
For more information, and/or copies of the questionnaire, please
write to: Project coordinator, Coral Reef Network Directory,
Greenpeace, 139 Townsend St., San Francisco, CA 94107, United
States. 
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