Spring 2009

Working Together to Keep CORAL celebrates Coral Reefs Alive CORAL is the only international organiza- fifteenth anniversary! tion working exclusively to save coral reefs. We provide education, tools, and inspiration Founded in the fall of 1994, CORAL hand how marine protected areas create to help local communities become passion- is gearing up to celebrate its fifteenth healthy reef environments. According to ate environmental stewards. Together we anniversary. In honor of this momentous the 1998 summer newsletter, CORAL’s develop well-managed marine protected achievement, the CORAL staff has been membership had grown to 3,500 mem- areas and sustainable businesses to benefit busy planning some celebratory occa- bers and microgrants in the amount of coral reefs and people. sions, including a gala event in Septem- $22,000 were awarded to organizations ber and our much-anticipated dive trip to working to keep coral reefs alive in Mi- Fiji over Thanksgiving weekend. cronesia, Philippines, and Florida. ment of a personal milestone: becoming By mining the archives of CORAL Cur- CORAL founded Dive In to Earth Day certified to dive in the chilly waters of rent, we can trace the development of in 2000 to encourage the public to par- California’s Monterey Bay. CORAL’s shift CORAL from a small, grassroots alliance ticipate in Earth Day activities focused to building strong marine protected areas to the only international organization on marine themes. That first year, nearly (known then as “coral parks”) had begun, working exclusively to protect coral 5,000 divers and other marine enthu- evidenced by Brian’s promise to CORAL’s reefs on a global scale. siasts around the world participated in supporters. “I will strive to ensure that COR- As many of CORAL’s supporters will re- underwater and beach cleanups, fish AL’s parks and public awareness campaigns member, the organization was originally and coral surveys, mooring buoy installa- take advantage of our shared commitment founded by Stephen Colwell to galvanize tions, and artificial reef installations. to create and enhance well-managed coral the dive community for coral reef protec- A new era for CORAL began in 2002 parks that form the basis for the restoration tion. Our first microgrant was awarded with the hire of Executive Director Brian of reefs worldwide.” to the Bonaire Marine Park in 1994. The Huse. In the summer newsletter from In 2003, CORAL was chosen by USAID following year, CORAL joined the Inter- that year, Brian described the achieve- to foster sustainable tourism along the Me- national Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), which soamerican Barrier Reef. That grant led to was the first effort to bring together gov- the publication of the Voluntary Standards ernment agencies, scientists, and NGOs for Marine Recreation in the Mesoameri- for the purpose of developing global can Reef System. By 2005, CORAL had coral reef conservation strategies. completed the design of its new approach CORAL’s membership program was to reef conservation: the Coral Reef Sus- launched in 1996. According to the tainable Destination (CRSD) model. That winter newsletter of that year (see photo groundbreaking approach to saving coral at right), CORAL moved into a new office reefs is still in use today and has since in Berkeley to make the organization been validated by the scientific community. more accessible to volunteers. We were By the summer of 2008, the CRSD model also chosen from more than 2,500 had been implemented in seven countries: nonprofit organizations to be featured in Mexico, Belize, Honduras, the United a PBS series called The Visionaries. The States, Fiji, Indonesia, and Papua New 30-minute episode focused on CORAL’s Guinea. Today, CORAL continues to unite education and conservation efforts, in- communities to save coral reefs. By work- cluding its collaborative work with other ing together we give our majestic reefs a local and international organizations. fighting chance. Over the next fifteen years By 1998, CORAL had co-founded we will continue to build a grassroots revo- the Bonaire Dive Festival, the largest lution to protect our precious coral reefs environmental event of its kind in the around the world. We’ll check back in 2024 Caribbean, where participants see first- CORAL’s Winter 1996 newsletter to see how we’ve done.

SPRING 2009

current.sp09_v3.indd 1 4/15/09 7:07:01 PM West End, Roatan, Honduras THE CORAL REEF ALLIANCE (CORAL) Photo by Julie Bennett 351 California Street, Suite 650 San Francisco, CA 94104 (415) 834-0900 www.coral.org “Working Together to Keep Coral Reefs Alive”

CORAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lyn Ciocca, Board Chair H. William Jesse Jr., Treasurer Breaking News from Mark Rovner, Secretary Linda Cain CORAL’s Project Sites Rod Fujita Paula Hayes Leah Bunce Karrer Katheryn Patterson Kempner Mesoamerica Indo-Pacific Dennis H. Liberson Mexico: The CORAL Reef Leader- Fiji: The MarViva Foundation has provided Elizabeth Ulmer ship Network training program is being funds for CORAL to create an enforcement Elizabeth Wagner expanded in Mexico and throughout and compliance regime in partnership with Gilbert P. Williamson CORAL’s project sites to include com- the Namena Marine Reserve and Waitabu munity and private sector components. Marine Park. The new program will give CORAL STAFF The expansion targets local community park managers the ability to enforce the Brian Huse groups, restaurants, hotels, grocery rules of the MPAs and properly record their Executive Director stores, chambers of commerce, tour- activities. CORAL will develop a reporting Rick MacPherson ism bureaus, and so on, for training in procedure, fund staff time for the rangers, Conservation Programs Director environmental best practices. Our goal and perform data analysis to better inform Tom Meshishnek is to make a direct connection between long-term planning and activities. Finance and Administration Director healthy reefs and a robust tourism econ- Diana Williams omy to inspire all members of a coral reef Papua New Guinea (PNG): Field Development Director community to support reef protection. Rep Jennifer Baing made an introductory Sarah Freiermuth presentation to thirty students from Mad- Assistant Director of Development Belize: Two new CORAL Reef Lead- ang’s Divine Word University. The students Julie Bennett ers—Billy Leslie, President of the San have joined CORAL’s local conservation ef- Communications Manager Pedro Tour Guide Association, and fort by becoming candidates for the CORAL Bryan Dias Mariela Archer, Education Officer at Hol Reef Leadership Network training program. Conservation Programs Manager Chan Marine Reserve—taught their first Liz Foote Sustainable Marine Recreation workshop Raja Ampat: At the end of March, In- Hawaii Field Manager in Caye Caulker. Nearly thirty people at- donesia Field Rep Naneng Setiasih, trav- Vicky Seid tended the workshop, representing staff eled from Bali to Raja Ampat to present a Accountant from Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, Be- Sustainable Marine Recreation workshop Candace Leong lize Diving Service, Red Mangrove Eco in Indonesian to the staff of the Misool Eco Conservation Programs Associate Adventures, French Angel Expeditions, Resort. While in Misool, Naneng recruited a Carolyn Nash Xtreme Adventures, Natural History Ex- young local man named Razak to help her Foundation Relations Associate peditions, and independent tour guides. develop a shorter version of the workshop Victoria Bergstrom targeted to the live-aboard operators that Development Assistant Honduras: CORAL is participating visit the resort. Joanna Solins in a Packard-funded career program Communications Assistant for MBA students drawing from the top Hawaii: Conservation Programs Director, Field Representatives: sixteen business schools in the country. Rick MacPherson, traveled to the Big Island Jennifer Baing (PNG), Sirilo “Didi” Dulu- One student will work with CORAL for with Hawaii Field Manager, Liz Foote, and naqio (Fiji), Kenneth Johnson (Mexico), Jenny Myton (Honduras), Kara Osada ten weeks over the summer to draft a Field Rep Kara Osada, to train a new class (Hawaii), Valentine Rosado (Belize), business plan for the Roatan Marine Park of CORAL Reef Leaders. The nine students, Naneng Setiasih (Indonesia) Association. The student will receive an who represent staff members from the Ha- orientation at the CORAL offices in San waiian Islands Humpback Whale National Copyright © 2009 by the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) Editor: Julie Bennett Francisco, spend one week visiting the Marine Sanctuary, Captain Zodiac, Dolphin Designer: Damien Scogin {[email protected]} Roatan Marine Park, and use the remain- Journeys, Kona Honu Divers, Jack’s Div- CORAL Current is published quarterly by the Coral Reef ing time to write the business plan and ing Locker, Kohala Center, Reef Check, and Alliance (CORAL), an IRS 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. Copies of our audited financial statement are available at other materials. Surfrider Foundation, completed the train- www.coral.org or by phone request. ing in Kona during the third week of March. For comments, questions, or contributions to CORAL Current, please email us at [email protected].

SPRING 2009

current.sp09_v3.indd 2 4/15/09 7:07:03 PM The Status of Coral Reefs of the World

Alice’s Mound, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea Photo by Jeff Yonover ccording to the most recent Status of Coral Reefs of the World, a report published Underwater Farting Aby the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), 19 percent of the world’s coral reefs have been destroyed. The report, which summarizes the expert opinions of Contributes to 372 coral reef scientists and managers from 96 countries, estimates that “15 percent of reefs are seriously threatened with loss within the next ten to twenty years, and 20 Climate Change percent are under threat of loss in twenty to forty years.” According to the English-language Ger- Since the last GCRMN status report was published in 2004, reefs have effectively man newspaper, The Local, scientists at been marking time. Although some coral reef areas recovered well after a mass bleach- the Max Planck Institute and Denmark’s ing event in 1998, damage from the Indian Ocean tsunami, bleaching events in the Ca- Aarhus University have found that mus- ribbean, and increased human pressures have caused the recovery of reefs worldwide sels, freshwater snails, and other un- to be slow. derwater creatures fart laughing gas, The report’s number one recommendation for action to conserve coral reefs is to otherwise known as nitrous oxide, when “urgently combat global climate change,” which is currently the greatest threat to coral nitrate is present in water. According to reefs and the people who depend on them. Among other recommended actions to pro- Fanni Aspetsberger of the Max Planck tect reefs include the efforts CORAL makes in its project sites worldwide: maximizing Institute, “There’s nitrate in water that has reef resilience by minimizing direct human pressures and improving the management been polluted by humans, so the more and enforcement capacity of existing marine protected areas (MPAs). we pollute, the higher the production Human pressures such as overfishing and destructive fishing, pollution from poor land of this problematic gas will be.” Nitrous use, and habitat loss from unsustainable development are especially damaging to reefs oxide and carbon dioxide are just two of in developing countries. According to the report, these countries “will need assistance many greenhouse gases that have been in expanding their MPA networks” and “[improving] coastal management by upgrading increasingly released into our atmo- capacity and providing funds to implement community-based management and develop sphere since the Industrial Revolution– alternative livelihoods to take pressures off reefs.” and that cause human-accelerated cli- To download the report, go to www.gcrmn.org. mate change. Top 10 Threats to Coral Reefs 1. Coral bleaching from warmer seawater especially of algal grazing fish, the due to global climate change “immune system” of coral reefs 2. Rising concentrations of dissolved CO2 7. Unsustainable and destructive due to global climate change development of coastal areas 3. Diseases, plagues, and invasive species 8. Increasing poverty and populations, and loss of agricultural land 4. Excess sediments flowing off the land 9. Poor capacity for management and 5. Pollution by nutrients and chemicals lack of resources, especially in small arising from poor land management, island countries agriculture, and industry 10. Weak political will, and ineffective Scorpionfish in Barrel Sponge, Sangeang Island, 6. Overfishing and destructive fishing, Indonesia oceans governance Photo by Dennis H. Liberson

SPRING 2009

current.sp09_v3.indd 3 4/15/09 7:07:07 PM CORAL Sponsors Fish Wardens for Waitabu Marine Park In early March, CORAL sent six Waitabu about coral reef ecology and Fiji’s community members to attend a fish fisheries laws from lecturers sent by warden training on Beqa Island. The new the government. The report from the fish wardens can now patrol the waters participants was glowing—they learned of the Waitabu Marine Park, monitoring a huge amount from the lecturers and activities and enforcing fishing laws—a thoroughly enjoyed the experience. major milestone in the sustainability of Now that they are certified, the new the park. The wardens will also help fish wardens will have full authority to CORAL and the Fiji Locally Managed enforce fisheries laws. They can arrest Marine Area Network (FLMMA) with proj- anyone found fishing in the marine ects to collect and analyze data about protected area (MPA), confiscate fishing poaching incidents. Given that poaching gear and boats, and deliver poachers

has been identified as the most serious to police for prosecution. Unfortunately, Warden training graduates threat to marine conservation in Fiji, the Fiji government cannot provide the Photo by Nanise Ledua these new fish wardens will provide an means to carry out these duties, so extremely valuable service with impacts CORAL is working to ensure that the lined and effective patrolling strategy that that will extend beyond the borders of wardens in Waitabu have the resources will make the best use of limited resources. the marine park. they need to protect the marine park. The poaching survey information will also The use of honorary fish wardens has The Waitabu community already has a be delivered to FLMMA for its reports on been recognized in Fiji for half a century. boat that can be used for patrolling, and the levels of poaching across Fiji. The data Under Fiji’s Fisheries Act, the fisheries CORAL plans to provide the wardens will be used later this year to make changes minister is granted the power to appoint with supplemental gear such as binocu- in fisheries legislation and increase protec- honorary fish wardens to help prevent, lars and a GPS device. tion of MPAs. detect, and prosecute infractions against The wardens will also play a key role CORAL is implementing poaching data fisheries laws. The fish wardens are usu- in a new CORAL project to capture and surveys in at least four project sites. A cross ally members of a community that owns analyze data about poaching incidents. comparison of the collected information an qoliqoli, or traditional fishing ground, Wardens will record specific information will help our conservation programs staff to and are essential for patrolling these about the location, time, and nature of develop a handbook of best practices for areas and enforcing the local rules. the infractions they encounter, and COR- implementing enforcement and compliance The Department of Fisheries offers AL will then analyze the data to look for in community-based marine protected ar- trainings to certify new fish wardens, patterns in poaching activity. The report eas, a tool that should help to increase MPA but the sessions must be arranged and will be used to develop a more stream- effectiveness around the world. funded independently. Supporters of the Waitabu Marine Park have been trying to get a fish warden training there for more than seven years, but efforts have been hampered by the lack of a fisheries Waitabu Marine Park patrol boat Photo by Bryan Dias officer in Taveuni. Finally, this winter, Beqa Adventure Divers generously of- fered space in their privately-sponsored training to the Waitabu community. With funding from the MarViva Foundation, CORAL was able to send six men from Waitabu to Beqa Island for the training. Waitabu participants in the training included Josaia Saro, Waitabu Marine Park Treasurer and primary boat captain, and Apisai Kulataudrau, Waitabu Marine Park Assistant Manager. They were joined by four representatives of the matagali (clans) in the village, two of whom are also Waitabu Marine Park snorkel guides. Together with ten staff members from Beqa Adventure Divers, they spent three days learning

SPRING 2009

current.sp09_v3.indd 4 4/15/09 7:07:12 PM CORAL Donor Spotlight: Don Listwin

lthough Don Listwin originally hails among other spectacular coral reef ics developer GenoLogics, Don is the Afrom the Great White North of destinations. former CEO of Openwave and was an Canada, his favorite place in the world is His most memorable dive involved a executive at Cisco Systems. He is on the a picturesque island off the coast of Be- 30-foot whale shark feeding on snapper board of the Public Library of Science, lize called Ambergris Caye. Don and his eggs near Placencia, Belize; the dive and is also the founder of the Listwin family have been coming to this area of he’d most like to forget brought him Family and Canary Foundations, both of Belize for fifteen years and have fallen in face to face with a cranky-looking lemon which fund cancer research. love with the shimmering blue water, the shark in Moorea. Over the years, Don “I have a selfish interest in what CORAL small community, and the very acces- has witnessed “noticeable degrada- is doing because it operates in a place sible coral reefs just offshore. Recently, tion” on the reefs. He claims “there is that I care about,” Don reports. “CORAL the Listwins decided to build a house on less wildlife and the coral itself isn’t as has the right model; it brings tools to the north side of the island. diverse or healthy.” In his varied travels, people and works with communities. In “The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is Don is starting to see more emphasis my experience, that’s the right way to go only about 1,000 meters from my front placed on marine protected areas, moor- about international development.” door,” says Don. “I’ve always dreamed of ing buoy programs, and responsible According to Don, “a good nonprofit waking up, having breakfast, then yelling diving practices; however, as a society should eventually go out of business for out ‘I’m going diving, who’s coming with we’re not quite where we need to be yet. having achieved its goal.” When Don’s me?’ and spending the morning under- Don was first introduced to CORAL’s foundations achieve their goals, he’s go- water before having a nice lunch back at work after our development director ing to relax on the beach in Belize. With the house.” In the twenty-five years that attended a seminar at which Don was his generous support of CORAL’s con- Don has been scuba certified, he’s been speaking. Currently serving as board servation programs in Ambergris Caye, diving in Hawaii, Cayman Islands, Fiji, chair of telecommunications equipment a healthy set of thriving corals reefs will Tahiti, Turks and Caicos, and Vanuatu, supplier Calix and biomedical informat- always be waiting just outside his door.

New Communications Assistant Joins CORAL

CORAL welcomes Joanna Solins to its San Francisco staff. Joanna brings experience in both the environmental and publishing fields to CORAL. After studying coral reef ecology on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef during a semester abroad, Joanna pursued her interest in marine ecology and conservation in her work as a program educator at the New England Aquarium in Boston. She then spent nearly a year working on organic farms and traveling before relocating to San Francisco. Joanna has been writing materi- als for educational publishers for a number of years, and served as a CORAL volunteer before joining the staff.

Photo by Benjamin Morse

SPRING 2009

current.sp09_v3.indd 5 4/15/09 7:07:15 PM THE CORAL REEF ALLIANCE Nonprofit Org. 351 California Street, Suite 650 U.S. Postage Paid San Francisco, CA 94104 San Francisco, CA Permit No. 925 www.coral.org

Log on to www.coral.org to sign up for E-Current, our free elec- tronic newsletter.v

Log on to www.coral.org to sign up for E-Current, our free electronic newsletter. CORAL CURRENT The Newsletter of the Coral Reef Alliance

Fiji Dive Trip: Limited Spots Still Available In honor of CORAL’s 15th anniversary of CORAL’s senior program staff members this fall, we’re gathering together a group will be on board to interpret what we’re of adventurous friends to go diving over seeing underwater; lead discussions Thanksgiving, November 21–28, 2009. about coral reef ecology, conservation, We will dive aboard the Nai’a, a 120-foot and Fijian culture; and showcase the luxury motor sailing vessel custom-built many ways CORAL is uniting communities for live-aboard scuba diving. We set sail to protect our planet’s coral reefs. from the city of Lautoka, just north of When we aren’t diving, we’ll be visiting Nadi on the island of Viti Levu, and dive villages in the Kubulau District, where spectacular sites near Lomaiviti, Bligh CORAL is working with local communities Water, and the Namena Marine Reserve— to set up sustainable financing projects CORAL’s oldest project site. through tourist-based microenterprises. As we sail through the Fiji Islands, we’ll We have a few spots remaining, so if be diving some of the finest coral reefs you’d like to join us, please visit www.

Taveuni, Fiji and fish-filled channels in the world. From coral.org/dive_trip for information or Photo by Julie Bennett manta rays to mantis shrimp, dolphins to contact Diana Williams at (415) 834-0900 dartfish, sharks to vibrant soft corals, we’ll x305 or [email protected] to make a experience Fiji’s ultimate dive sites. One reservation.

SPRING 2009

current.sp09_v3.indd 6 4/15/09 7:07:17 PM