AN EDUCATED TOURIST IS NO ACCIDENT CORAL Leadership Network: CORAL and Hawaiian Partners Launch Innovative New Program to Create an Educated Public

WINTER 2006

Working Together to Keep Coral Reefs Alive

As you step off the plane, the can hurt them and cause biting. the Maui Reef Fund and the warm Maui air envelops you. You Mask in place, you carefully Department of Aquatic Resources head to your hotel and grab your pick a sandy entrance in which to (DAR), Hawaii’s reefs will benefi t suit. On an impulse, you grab adjust your fi ns. The cool water from the success of this project for some snorkeling gear from a little washes away the day’s travels and many years to come. rental hut on the beach. the sun warms your back. Moving Tourism ranks highly as a threat A local youth hands you a bagged over the reef, you avoid touching to Hawaii’s reefs. Some beaches set of gear. He smiles and says, it. And although you are tempted, receive upwards of 2,000 visitors “Please watch the coral on the way you resist tucking that beautiful a day. One person touching a reef in and make sure to adjust your cowrie shell in your pocket. In the or collecting some shells may not fi ns before swimming over the reef. corner of your eye, you see some Mahalo.” movement. A turtle! Hannah Bernard, Maui Reef Fund Unpacking your gear, you notice Coordinator, says “The CORAL a list of guidelines attached to CORAL Leadership Network Leadership Network is a shared dream your snorkel bag also advising reef for most of us in the fi eld of marine friendly behaviors. Our exciting new project, the education here in Hawai’i. We’re Stay horizontal in the water CORAL Leadership Network thrilled to be part of an international when near or above a reef. Take aims to provide environmental effort to increase environmental nothing living or dead out of the education to every Maui visitor. awareness in marine tourism.” water except garbage. Feeding fi sh With help from our partners,

Thousands of tourists visit Maui daily. The have noticeable impact. However, IN THIS ISSUE CORAL Leadership Network uses innovative 2,000 visitors each day touching ways to promote reef friendly behaviors. reefs, kicking coral, or stirring up 1 CORAL Leadership Network sediment can destroy a hundred 2-3 Notes from the Reef: year-old reef in just a few short Mesoamerica & Raja Ampat years. 4-5 Critical Reefs: Belize Studies show that even one 6 Ask CORAL: Is Coral educational interaction can reduce Jewelry Illegal? harmful tourist contact. Education 7 News: Plankton Storing Less prevents further reef damage and CO2 and Climate Change can allow it to recover faster from 8 Member News other natural stresses like rising sea temperatures. (cont’d pg.3)

Winter 2006 9 CORAL CURRENT

CORAL REEF ALLIANCE 417 Montgomery St. Suite 205 San Francisco, CA 94104 www.coral.org NOTES FROM THE REEF

CORAL STAFF Brian Huse Project for Sustainable Marine Business Executive Director Janine Kraus Standards Overcomes Obstacles Development Director CORAL Looks to Find Cost-Effective Means of Gathering Rick MacPherson Feedback from Mesoamerican Countries and Finds a Digital Divide Program Director Tom Meshishnek Sometimes, small obstacles can slow progress; a bump in the road can Finance & Administration Director bring things to a screeching halt. In Mesoamerica, we came across one Sherry Flumerfelt serious bump. Program Manager Rich Wilson Program Manager The Digital Divide To resolve this issue, Wilson created Eileen Weckerle CORAL knows from experience that impromptu workshops in each area to Membership & Communications Manager you need to involve everyone affected help participants get started. Reena Cornejo when creating a set of standardized “Sometimes it’s hard to get started Dive In To Earth Day Coordinator practices. on something completely new. The Kate Dillon While helping the countries of unfamiliar can be a big obstacle. Development Coordinator Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and This is especially true when asking Michelle Mulholland Honduras to create sustainable marine extremely busy people to volunteer Administrative Associate business standards, CORAL set out their time. Once we were able to sit Sirilo “Didi” Dulunaqio to gather information from every down and work through the process Field Representative: Fiji group. This included dive and snorkel face-to-face, we started to get a lot more Johnny Singh businesses, marine park managers, participation,” says Wilson. Field Representative: Fiji academics, conservation groups, and Wilson adds that the idea of helping Liz Foote government ofﬁ cials. reefs in other countries also motivated Field Representative: Hawaii With the help of software provided participants, “…when people in Kenneth Johnson Diaz by Underwriters Laboratories Inc., we Belize started to see comments on the Field Representative: Mexico found a way to get that information in standards from Honduras and Mexico, Cam Hollows the most cost effective way possible– it really hit them that this project could Field Representative: Papua New Guinea through the internet. have wide-reaching affects.” Rich Wilson, CORAL Program In addition to the workshops, Wilson Manager for Mesoamerica, was excited worked extensively with Underwriters CORAL BOARD by how many people had agreed to Laboratories to make the software more OF DIRECTORS participate in the standards process. user-friendly. CORAL also translated Lyn Ciocca, Chair But he was equally dismayed at the the entire system into Spanish. Dr. Leah Bunce limited activity post sign-up. Without The efforts resulted in participation Jason DeSalvo the participation of these groups, the from nearly 200 people of diverse Dr. James Foght standards would have little chance of interest groups across the four Dr. Rod Fujita being used. countries. During this process, they Paula Hayes remotely created, modiﬁ ed, and Kathryn Patterson CORAL Workshop approved standards for sustainable Dr. Randall Kramer Conquers the Divide marine tourism businesses in diving, Dennis H. Liberson snorkeling, and boating. Rob Townsend Wilson discovered that participants Hearing of CORAL’s success in Elizabeth Ulmer were having a series of small but Mesoamerica, government and business Chris Wachholz incapacitating setbacks. groups in Maui are also interested in Gil Williamson Some people were not entirely developing similar standards. CORAL comfortable working on computers, is currently beginning work on this others lived in areas where phone project and will hold meetings to enlist service was intermittent, and still participation in December 2006. others reported that they found the standards software overly complicated. Photos: Cover Rick MacPherson; Top - Mike Hurley

2 Winter 2006 Working Together to Keep Coral Reefs Alive A PLAN TO PROTECT Currently, CORAL is working with Conservation International to increase support for conservation with local villagers by helping them develop ideas for sustainable livelihoods related to tourism. Papuan dive operators and resorts Raja Ampat, CORAL’s would like to see locally guided tours of caves and indigenous Newest Project Site These isolated islands are virtual fl ora, farms to provide fruit and Containing Highest species factories. However, CI vegetables for live-aboard dive researcher and senior advisor, Mark Diversity Threatened vessels, and organized handicraft Erdmann explains that the region faces production. by Logging and Mining immediate threats such as the use of dynamite and cyanide by locals to stun An additional project may include and capture live fi sh for export. training local Papuans as guide Erdmann said that a potentially interns through live-aboard dive Raja Ampat, an archipelago of greater problem could be the vessels and resorts. islands located off the western edge introduction of commercial fi shing. of Papua, have fl ourished in their One Chinese fi shing company may add remoteness. Until recently, they have 100 vessels to the area over the next remained almost untouched. two years to target offshore fi sh stocks. Reef surveys of Raja Ampat done This level of fi shing could collapse the by CORAL partner, Conservation fi shery within three to fi ve years. International (CI), report an absolutely Indonesia and its provinces rely astounding diversity of life. on selling their natural resources to Over the past two years, 50 maintain their economy. Our challenge new species have been discovered. is to help local governments develop Additionally, 600 different kinds of sustainable tourism that reduces the corals and 1,200 species of fi sh have need for immediate but unsustainable been identifi ed. It has the highest income from logging, mining, and number of fi sh species (283) seen commercial fi shing rights. Next year, Chinese fi shing companies may during a single dive and two types of add 100 vessels off the shores of Raja Ampat’s “walking sharks” that use their fi ns to islands if revenue besides granting fi shing move across the ocean fl oor! licenses is not developed. This could collapse the fi sheries in three to fi ve years.

CORAL Leadership Network (cont’d) CORAL Associates, such as dive where we have well-established Overcoming Turnover and snorkel guides, boat captains, local partners. “I can see this CORAL, DAR, and members kayak operators, kiosk attendants, model working everywhere of the Maui Reef Fund all have and concierges will be well versed tourists and reefs meet.” extensive experience in outreach in supplying every tourist with Generous support from the and education. We have had quick environmental education. Environmental Protection great success in training tourism Liz Foote, CORAL Program Agency, the National Oceanic and employees in delivering efﬁ cient Manager and Hawaiian resident, Atmospheric Administration, and and effective environmental sees a day when “…every from CORAL members like you education for visitors. However, visitor to Maui will interact have made this project possible. the need for training new with a CORAL Associate employees is never-ending. and choose environmentally If becoming a CORAL Leader or Associate CORAL’s new Leadership friendly behaviors like no- interests you or you would like to be informed Network aims to meet this need by contact snorkeling. They would of businesses that train their employees training a select group of leaders understand the harm created by as CORAL Leaders and Associates please in Maui’s marine environmental touching coral or feeding animals.” contact Eileen Weckerle at eweckerle@coral. education community to become After piloting this program in org or call 415.834.0900 ext 315. CORAL Leaders. These leaders Maui, CORAL Program Director, will become CORAL’s partners on Rick MacPherson, says he’s the ground, providing continual ready to replicate the CORAL training for Maui’s tourism Leadership Network in the Big

Photos: Inset - Mark Erdmann employees as CORAL Associates. Island of Hawaii, another area Winter 2006 3 CORAL CURRENT

CRITICAL REEF UPDATE

FAST FACTS

BELIZE SIZE Reef area : 1330 km2 Mangrove area : 719 km2 Reefs at Risk: 63%

BIODIVERSITY 57 species of coral 317 species of ﬁ sh 5 species of mangroves REEF THREATS RECREATIONAL DAMAGE NATURAL DISTURBANCES FISHING INDUSTRIES

Due to a drop in sugar and banana Hurricanes, coral diseases, and coral Lobster, conch, and grouper are some trade, tourism has become more bleaching due to rising sea surface of Belize’s top earning exports. Al- important to Belize’s economy and temperatures all create stress for though legislation exists to sustain- is on the rise. Reefs in tourism sites coral reefs. ably manage these ﬁ sheries, illegal are beginning to show damage from ﬁ shing is threatening these popula- trampling, repetitive anchoring, and tions and the role they play in the boat collisions. balance of coral reef health. Each or- ganism has a function in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. CORAL RESULTS AND PLANS

Creating and Testing Sustainable Strengthening Marine Protected Supporting No-Take Reserves Marine Business Standards Areas Strategically placed areas where fi sh- Businesses, government offi cials, and Studies on reefs all over the world, ing is prohibited can help threatened marine park managers in Mexico, as well as in the Hol Chan Marine fi sh populations stabilize. CORAL Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras ap- Reserve, show that reefs within well partner, Hol Chan Marine Reserve proved a set of sustainable marine busi- managed marine protected areas works closely with local tour guide and ness standards in a year-long process recover more quickly from natural fi shermen associations. Tour guides facilitated by CORAL. Businesses in disturbances. They are also more able play an important part in the success Placencia and Hol Chan Marine Reserve to withstand diseases. of the no take zone through voluntary will be testing and modifying the stan- compliance and assisting staff in mini- dards over the next year. mizing illegal activities in the area.

Preventing Anchor Damage Helping Protect Grouper Through Mooring Installations Spawning Placencia and Hol Chan Marine Re- Grouper gather by the thousands to serve both identiﬁ ed anchor damage as reproduce in mass spawnings. These a problem for their reef. CORAL pro- gatherings are easily overexploited. vided $16,000 to buy installation and CORAL partners, The Nature Conser- mooring equipment. CORAL also hopes vancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, to train locals in installation and main- and Friends of Nature have been in-

tenance for future projects. strumental in researching and protect- Photos: courtesy NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Image by Reto Stökli; enhancements by Robert Simmon ing these sites. 4 Winter 2006 Working Together to Keep Coral Reefs Alive

Hol Chan Marine Reserve BELIZE

CORAL Looks to Strengthen Ambergris Caye Reserve’s Proven Success with Newly Approved Sustainable Marine Business Standards

The talcum powder beaches reserve managers, tour operators, may be exacerbated by increasing surrounding the little town of and tourists—all want the same sea surface temperatures, San Pedro slide gently into a thing. We want to keep Belize reefs agricultural runoff, and sewage. calm sea. From the boardwalk healthy. CORAL can help make that The reserve, created in 1987, you can peer into unbelievably a reality.” conserves a small but complete transparent waters and see the He refl ects that “We want to start portion of this reef ecosystem blue and yellow stripes of schooling by using these business practices to including reef, lagoon, and grunts, rays poking out of the support the reserve’s management mangrove habitats. sand, and trumpetfi sh trying to be plan because it lessens recreational Despite mounting threats, the Hol inconspicuous. damage and increases industry Chan Marine Reserve has shown San Pedro rests at the southern tip support for the reserve. Using continued success. Surveys show of Ambergris Caye just off the coast standards that all reef users had a that fi sh remain larger and more of Belize and is home to Hol Chan voice in creating unites them in the numerous both in the reserve and Marine Reserve, CORAL’s partner common goal for reef conservation. nearby areas. Reserve reefs also in marine conservation. This type of cooperation is critical to have fewer diseases and recover CORAL Program Manager, Rich a marine reserve’s success.” more quickly from bleaching. Wilson, is excited to strengthen This past decade marked a decline Wilson states, “Hol Chan has had this partnership. “Hol Chan Marine in Belize reefs with increased a history of environmental successes Reserve has a lot of momentum and fi shing pressures and several and CORAL looks forward to support. We began our partnership natural disasters. As much as 62% building on them. We see Hol Chan with two microgrants totaling of some reef areas never recovered becoming a model and a resource for $6,000. The reserve is using the from a 1998 bleaching event. newer and less developed marine funds to install mooring buoys and More recently, Belizean reefs have reserves in the area.” wants to use this momentum to been attacked by diseases which increase community support for coral reef conservation.” Miguel Alamilla, the marine Despite mounting threats to Belize reefs, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve has shown continued success. reserve manager, would like to Surveys show that fi sh remain larger and more numerous both in the reserve and in nearby areas. see newly approved sustainable marine business standards support the reserve’s management plan. Businesses, government offi cials, and marine park managers throughout the four countries along the Mesoamerican reef approved these business standards in a year- long process facilitated by CORAL. Simmon

Examples of some of these voluntary standards include: Robert limiting underwater tour groups by to eight or less; providing environmental brieﬁ ngs to all dive and snorkel guests; and enhancements

implementing procedures to ensure no one is left at sea. Stökli; Wilson remarks that, “We found

Reto Photos: Marty Casado that we—CORAL, the marine

Winter 2006 5 CORAL CURRENT ASK CORAL

Looking for the perfect piece of red jewelry for yourself or for a gift? Q: Is Buying Coral Jewelry Illegal or Just a Bad Decison? Try these bead options: Carnelian A: In the jewelry showcase of a busy department store sits a beautiful Cherry Quartz necklace. Roughly shaped red stones offset Balinese silver beads. It is at Fire Agate once exotic, primitive, and elegant. Goldstone Mookaite Unfortunately, as I look closer, I realize that these are not stones but pieces of coral. I imagine how it once looked; alive and vibrant red against a school of Mahogany Obsidian yellow ﬁ sh ﬂ itting amongst its branches. Orange Calcite Red Botswana Agate Red coral, Corallium rubrum, is in the subclass of corals called Gorgonians and Red Adventurine looks similar to sea rods or sea fans. This particular species is mostly mined off the coasts of the Mediterranean, China, and Japan. Red cast resin Red glass beads I have also noticed bead stores selling “dyed” coral. This is derived from a Red Jade branching coral known as bamboo coral and is also found in non-tropical waters Red Jasper such as New Zealand. Rubylite Is it illegal to import coral? Is it sustainable?

It is generally thought that these types of non-tropical corals mature in ﬁ ve to seven years. At that rate, coral growth can’t keep pace with commercial mining and will eventually become endangered. What’s more, demand for red coral is increasing.

Several years ago, black coral, which grows at a similar rate to red coral, became a popular jewelry item. Today it is endangered. As such, it is illegal to import this type of coral (Antipatharia), as well as any stony coral, under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Unfortunately, due to lack of information on the effects of red coral trade and “In the last 10 years, mining, it is not yet listed under CITES and is still legal for trade. Seaweb, coral has started to get a public awareness organization, is currently compiling research and has hot because of per- proposed that red coral trade also be restricted. ceived limit on supply. It Whether or not coral trade is legal, we know that it is not good for the is like ivory, but no one ecosystem. If you are buying a piece of jewelry with red beads, please ask about has a stigma against the stone’s origins and refrain from buying coral pieces. Let other interested people know about this dilemma by passing on this article (also available buying coral. No online) www.coral.org. customer shuns it or is offended.” For more information on how CITES operates please visit www.cites.org. - Antique Dealer, New York City Photos: Top - © Wolcott Henry, 2005;

6 Winter 2006 Working Together to Keep Coral Reefs Alive REEFS IN THE NEWS

Phytoplankton

Less Able to Store storing less CO2 than previously areas with iron to see if it would thought. And lack of iron seems boost production. CO2 Due to Iron to be the reason. If these new Known as “The Geritol Effect,” the Defi ciency, assumptions are correct, scientists tests had immediate and surprising will need to adjust current climate results. “We could see immediately Global Climate change predictions for the worse. how the phytoplankton responded Change Models May to the iron. Their photosynthetic Ocean Anemia effi ciency increased tremendously in Need Adjustment Iron defi ciency, which causes the fi rst 48 hours,” says Behrenfeld. anemia in humans, also limits The effect lasted two weeks. Phytoplankton plays a critical role plankton growth and their ability to However, giving the ocean

in the storing the earth’s excess store CO2. Iron gives a boost to the iron supplements is no quick

carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse plankton’s ability to use the sun’s ﬁ x to dealing with the world’s gas contributing to global climate energy to draw CO2 from the ocean. overproduction of CO2. change. New calculations indicate This allows the ocean to store up to Behrenfeld adds that, “Too many

that plankton may be storing 80 times more CO2 than air. factors would erase any increase in up to two billion tons less CO2 Some ocean regions are naturally CO2 absorption, not to mention the annually. To reduce this much CO2, iron deﬁ cient. Until today, the risks of such a huge environmental approximately 563 million people extent of that deﬁ ciency and its manipulation.” would have to drive their cars effect on plankton’s ability to

12,000 miles less each year. store CO2 had not been accurately Source: AAAS, Science 312: 1750-1751 Coral Predictions on global climate assessed. Reefs and the Global Network of Marine change are partially based on how Protected Areas. The Geritol Effect Mora, C., Andréfou, S., Costello,M.J., much CO2 the oceans can store. Kranenburg, C., Rollo, A., Veron, J., Gaston, K.J., However, a recent paper in the To determine if iron was a crucial Myers, R.A. journal Nature reports that in factor in plankton growth, scientists certain ocean regions plankton are tried supplementing low plankton

Predictions on global climate change are partially based on how much CO2 the oceans can store.

A recent paper in the journal, Nature, reports that plankton are storing less CO2 than previously thought. If these assumptions are correct, scientists will need to adjust predictions. Photos: Top - Mike Hurley; Bottom Brian Bill NOAA Fisheries

Winter 2006 7 MEMBER NEWS CORAL CURRENT The Newsletter of The Coral Reef Alliance

Member’s Support for Quick and Easy Gifts Papua New Guinea for This Holiday Project Pours In Season

Many thanks to each of you who Why not give CORAL gift gave a special gift to protect Papua memberships this holiday season? You New Guinea’s reefs. Your support, can purchase them online or by phone totaling almost $19,000, brought us and notify your special someone very close to our goal of $25,000. These instantly with one of our beautiful gifts will supply 105 new boat mooring new underwater e-cards! They Electronic gift memberships to CORAL are an sites, training for locals to become will also receive a welcome packet easy and meaningful way to take care of your environmental guides, and funding including a 2007 coral reef wall holiday giving. Notify your lucky recipient for patrol boats to stop illegal ﬁ shing calendar, members-only newsletter, instantly with one of our new electronic cards. ﬂ eets. Special thanks to one member, and membership materials. Great for who prefers to remain anonymous, for teachers, mail carriers, and neighbors her gift of $5,000 towards this effort. too! Contact (415) 834.0900 ext. 314 or www.coral.org/joingive

Occasionally, CORAL exchanges member mailing addresses with similar organizations. CORAL does not share email addresses. If you would like your name to be excluded from these exchanges please ﬁ ll out our online opt out form at www.coral.org/privacy/optout or call 415.834.0900 ext. 314. To see our full privacy policy visit www.coral.org/privacy.

DESIGN { DAMIEN SCOGIN | [email protected]}

CORAL REEF ALLIANCE Nonproﬁ t Org. 417 Montgomery St. Suite 205 U.S. Postage Paid San Francisco, CA 94104 Tucson, AZ www.coral.org Permit No. 271

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8 Winter 2006