tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26403874093726760372024-03-19T03:08:37.874-07:00The Reef News by Dr. Gerry GoedenGerry Goeden is a Malaysian based marine ecologist, Research Fellow and Advisor to the National University of Malaysia, and marine consultant to the Andaman Resort, Langkawi. He writes editorial comment on environmental matters for the Epoch Times which is distributed in 35 countries and 21 languages.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18332302916009892058noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640387409372676037.post-16211554295902481942014-09-04T00:35:00.001-07:002014-10-13T21:21:14.656-07:00Thomson Reuters Donation Aids Malaysian Marine Science<div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once again we have a look at the activities of our young marine scientists. As their internships wind to a close most have volunteered to stay on at the Andaman through the busy Christmas/ New Year period.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They will continue to be hosted by the Andaman Resort and their allowances and research materials costs will come from the generous donation of Thomson Reuters.</span><br />
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Young marine biologists have turned the Coral Nursery into a major attraction for overseas guests.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Determination of growth rate based on linear extension growth of</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>massive corals by using UV-Light.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by Mohammad Ikram Bin Mohammad Naser</span></div>
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The annual-bands of coral core are the bands or “rings” that formed on the skeletal structure which is similar to the trunks of tree. The bands represent the different year and the skeletal structure also exhibit a regular periodic variation in bulk density reflecting seasonality. The annual-band of the coral skeleton shows the historical record in the different environmental condition. Most of the element and compound that expose to the coral will trap within the aragonite during deposition and this condition will capture a record (Readman et al., 1996).<br />
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This study aims to know the growth rate of the massive coral (Eg: Porites, Favia, Goniopora) at Datai bay by using UV light for chronological banding patter that have inside the coral skeleton . The alternating density (high density and low density) represent a year of the coral growth .<br />
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The massive coral species around the bay are survey first. Then, the selected massive coral will be cut using metal saw, where the slice/cutting is perpendicular to the main vertical growth axis of the colony. Then, the coral skeleton will let to dry and linear extension analysis will be carried out.<br />
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The linear extension method is to identify the year bands or the growth rate of the coral. The coral core will be observed under UV light lamp in a dark box to observe the dark and light bands (the chronological banding pattern). The wavelength of the UV light is 254 nm. When the bands are revealed, the growth rate of the coral will be calculated for Linear Extension Rate. The linear extension rate will be calculated by using a ruler with 0.1 cm accuracy for each year.<br />
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Photo illustrating growth rings courtesy USGS</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Monitoring of Coral
Health in the Coral Nursery <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">by Cherylynna Roland</span></div>
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All living things, including the
corals are susceptible to diseases, making monitoring of their well-being
important for further development of nursery maintenance strategies. My task
involved using Indo-Pacific Coral Health Decision Tree to identify known causes
of lesions and described lesions of unknown causes through visual cues, manifested
as alterations in color, shape, size, tissue loss and also growth anomaly of
the polyps or skeleton of the corals (Work & Rameyer 2005). </div>
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The growth of lesion was measured using calipers
and analyzed with Coral Point Count with Excel extensions (CPCe V3.4). In the
Coral Nursery, the lesions are due to abrasion from neighboring corals,
accumulation of sediment on the coral colonies, and infestation by tube-building
worms. I tested two strategies to see whether recovery is possible, by
isolating the coral with lesions under the shade, with adequate water flowing
through them, and by fragmenting the healthy coral and transplanting them in mid-water
to avoid contact with sediment and allowing more efficient water exchange
surrounding the fragmented corals. After one month, the corals are showing good
signs of recovery, which can be seen by re-growth of polyps on the once exposed
skeleton. </div>
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In the ocean, the ability of
reef recovery is important, as a research by Dixson et.al (2014) shown that both
coral larvae and fish are attracted to the smell of a healthy reef, encouraging
their settlement, and thus making the reef ecosystem complex. </div>
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Young guests gain an appreciation of marine life at fish feeding time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-nbkqKfRHZJEJq__yYCYMZwvS18vXSINEtC3if_E55P8vt2nuoNhYNJKYVDmKdKkFoepShCovFhH6Aw8gxKrRmRW9J9DsaMxmXtJcm5LF4IJfrj06rihp8DRlYD06al_NPIByg7mn_Vo/s1600/cheryl+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-nbkqKfRHZJEJq__yYCYMZwvS18vXSINEtC3if_E55P8vt2nuoNhYNJKYVDmKdKkFoepShCovFhH6Aw8gxKrRmRW9J9DsaMxmXtJcm5LF4IJfrj06rihp8DRlYD06al_NPIByg7mn_Vo/s1600/cheryl+1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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"Hard at work" in beautiful Datai Bay.<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://goedenquotes.blogspot.com/">goedenquotes.blogspot.com </a><br />
<a href="http://underwaterinternet.blogspot.com/">underwaterinternet.blogspot.com </a><br />
<a href="http://goedenscience.blogspot.com/">goedenscience.blogspot.com </a><br />
<a href="http://goedenshark.blogspot.com/">goedenshark.blogspot.com </a><br />
<a href="http://drgerrygoeden.blogspot.com/">drgerrygoeden.blogspot.com </a><br />
<a href="http://gerrygoeden.blogspot.com/">gerrygoeden.blogspot.com </a><br />
<a href="http://geraldgoeden.blogspot.com/">geraldgoeden.blogspot.com </a><br />
<a href="http://goedenspress.blogspot.com/">goedenspress.blogspot.com </a><br />
<a href="http://einsteinsnature.blogspot.com/">einsteinsnature.blogspot.com </a><br />
<a href="http://youngmarinescientist.blogspot.com/">youngmarinescientist.blogspot.com </a><br />
<a href="http://gerryquotes.blogspot.com/">gerryquotes.blogspot.com </a><br />
<a href="http://goedenmarineecology.blogspot.com/">goedenmarineecology.blogspot.com </a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18332302916009892058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640387409372676037.post-69392430967109411752014-08-28T02:19:00.000-07:002014-08-28T02:59:28.928-07:00Andaman and Thomson Reuters Sponsor Marine Scioentists<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTySTdMQnvY0Yv_fEy7Sou2SgIbK6S7l1a8cOi6GQIaXZBp36E6uIqcISLjBxxrJbCn-z8IdYq3FiC_jlMnJfLDM8LXiHDIjOVL03eB3Dt4cNqd4enAxoJueXElvxceatLE0AbZqKUcnga/s1600/DSCN2429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTySTdMQnvY0Yv_fEy7Sou2SgIbK6S7l1a8cOi6GQIaXZBp36E6uIqcISLjBxxrJbCn-z8IdYq3FiC_jlMnJfLDM8LXiHDIjOVL03eB3Dt4cNqd4enAxoJueXElvxceatLE0AbZqKUcnga/s1600/DSCN2429.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
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Dr Gerry introducing the students to the Coral Nursery program.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We have just completed a three months internship program with students from UKM (National University of Malaysia) and UMT (University of Malaysia Terrenganu). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Seven students were hosted by the Andaman Resort with the provision of food, lodging, and supervision. Small allowances and minor research equipment were provided by the nature Fund through the contributions of Thomson Reuters.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOkz98XzBMpxevdwyFLNpctYIsVIcDqP62WYvrYpM3VNAyyfBQnwn2W-Z1qpb6i2RMIfjaH2ZZ8l_RAXwwri54MFs33RyoDy_waF0Fd41SsbEbD1mMWFRpkzIlu9clCYU-fz9PVSHIEf3/s1600/DSCN2827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOkz98XzBMpxevdwyFLNpctYIsVIcDqP62WYvrYpM3VNAyyfBQnwn2W-Z1qpb6i2RMIfjaH2ZZ8l_RAXwwri54MFs33RyoDy_waF0Fd41SsbEbD1mMWFRpkzIlu9clCYU-fz9PVSHIEf3/s1600/DSCN2827.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Coral transplanting with guests was a daily </span>occurrence<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Below are summaries of several of the projects. The remainder will follow in the next posts. All of the numerical results are able to be published through the University giving the graduates evidence of their research ability when job hunting.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigguK_iy7XRYru1jxiIMqKIIbQ-3nf21P488DZULnjnHQEKeA4H9JsrnhbKIGFNqA3fEwawQlvzcVtbr6Y-DdIxRMnFH7aIvxep2eRax7GRcQQvQC_ZxyfH8f8ZUjkZS_u6bftiL0AU0Gc/s1600/DSCN2561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigguK_iy7XRYru1jxiIMqKIIbQ-3nf21P488DZULnjnHQEKeA4H9JsrnhbKIGFNqA3fEwawQlvzcVtbr6Y-DdIxRMnFH7aIvxep2eRax7GRcQQvQC_ZxyfH8f8ZUjkZS_u6bftiL0AU0Gc/s1600/DSCN2561.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A guest is guided through the nursery by an intern marine science student.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But it wasn't all about research. Interns spent long hours transplanting corals and working with guests. Self confidence improved as did language skills. The program was a great success.</span><br />
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Abundance
of coral using quadrat method at Datai Bay, Langkawi<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">by<b> </b></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.7199993133545px;">Noor Zalikha Mohamad</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The mini project was
done on July and August, 2014 during the low tide. The sampling was done by
using 2X2 m quadrat. Each of the division of the quadrat represents about 4%
from the total percentage of 100%. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The quadrat was placed at the first starting
point which is in front of water sport and then along the beach </span><span style="line-height: 21.4666652679443px;">toward</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Anak
Datai. There is 10 m distance between quadrats and three transect were done. The total quadrat samples completed were 45. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The result
shows that the most abundant material is sand/dead which is present the highest number (46.04%-66.03%) in
all three transects. Most is dead coral with algae and also dead coral skeletons. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The percentage of live coral is
small (less than 5%) compared to dead coral. However the most abundant coral life form from
the project is massive coral which is contribute the highest density among the
life coral. Other corals are coral foliose, coral encrusting,
coral submassive and also little portion of acropora branching. Other than
coral, the macroalgae also has been found during conducting the project. Most
macrolagae that has been found is </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">Halimeda</i><span style="line-height: 115%;">
sp. and others is </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">Padina</i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> sp.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>The changes of
sedimentation rate in Teluk Datai </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">by Chai Wan Jin</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Nowadays, human activity has
tended to increase terrigenous sediment loadings and re-suspension in the
coastal waters in all the coral reefs
countries. This is because sediments from terrestrial origin were found is the
main factor that leads to the decrease in growth of most corals (Heiss, 1996;
Crabble & Smith, 2005). The high sedimentation rate in the coral reef areas
would smoother the coral surface, reduces regeneration from tissue damage,
reduces growth (Lough & Cooper, 2011) and thus bring to mortality of coral
reef (Erftemeijer et al., 2012). </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Teluk Datai is a high sedimentation bay where <i>Porites</i> coral is the dominant species
found in the reef due to the tolerate behaviour of the coral species to the
high sediment content in the water (Abdullah et al., 2011). Therefore, the objectives
of this study are to compare the sedimentation rate in October 2013, January,
April and September 2014 and to study the changes of sedimentation rate in the
mini-ARMS and ARMS during spring and neap tides.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Sampling will be done using
sediment trap during spring and neap tides in Artificial Reef Module, and mini
Artificial Reef Module in August (Table 1). </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The sampling is not yet complete because there is one more spring tide
in this coming 26<sup>th</sup> and 27<sup>th</sup> August. Therefore, the
sampling analysis will be done in the coming 1<sup>st</sup> September at
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The data in the previous sampling shows most of the sedimentation rate exceeded
the coral tolerance limit, 50 mg/cm<sup>2</sup>/day in October 2013. However, it
shows a better result in January 2014, where only Princess Bay had the
sedimentation rate higher than the coral tolerant limit and the results show
even better in April 2014 (Figure 1). These results could be due to the raining
season in October and the strong wind from northeast in January which would
create the most intense near-bed current and eventually would bring
re-suspension from the bottom especially in the shallow water. </span></span></div>
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<div style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">
Measuring the rate of spread of a coral disease.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18332302916009892058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640387409372676037.post-65026321628732383592014-06-09T06:15:00.000-07:002014-07-13T01:46:30.720-07:00Eight kids and World Ocean Day<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Another year had passed and concerned people were
celebrating World Ocean Day on June 8<sup>th</sup>. We all depend on a healthy
and clean ocean for our very survival and the latest scientific research is
painting a dismal picture of things to come. Most of us know we need to act to
turn around the damage caused by unwise use, pollution, and over fishing. But
few of us do anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">This year’s theme is, “Together we have the power to
protect the ocean” and all over the globe small groups of people set out to
make a difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mM1xQOWxCvrGuyc7plSnXqcPyL-ciMSNNSiG-Dppcqos1q8UpmR3689R2nWtbahei1Dbu0H0g7CvylJh2ddR0aS8NQBj9cSOVKDvXDRdMtQuijX1IUP8OrPKZiU7nqRE0AqkmXFKsbQq/s1600/DSCN1754+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 27.600000381469727px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mM1xQOWxCvrGuyc7plSnXqcPyL-ciMSNNSiG-Dppcqos1q8UpmR3689R2nWtbahei1Dbu0H0g7CvylJh2ddR0aS8NQBj9cSOVKDvXDRdMtQuijX1IUP8OrPKZiU7nqRE0AqkmXFKsbQq/s1600/DSCN1754+-+Copy.JPG" height="604" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps the smallest but most well meaning effort
was on the tiny island of Langkawi just a few kilometers from the Thailand-
Malaysia border. There the Andaman Resort operates a small coral nursery that
both educates children and rehabilitates a tsunami ravaged coral reef.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">This year the small band of young volunteers (and a
couple of parents who wanted to get involved with their children) were busy
maintaining the nursery, feeding the lobsters, and grafting tiny corals when
World Ocean Day rolled around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">What could eight dedicated children do to save the
sea; how could so few make a difference?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkabAaqFPfSUYjnSAwNFhKJgfFxFpD6iY6t-Y0dbED8QZUFBQQjJ6YUqFbseD5VqddVwz3sviKLrT9bnhIgm5dl7jrkBGb2-OZwa8WaJYx0u-voM_j5rqiKoDutmgr9sVmeeAFsq0kiHa2/s1600/DSCN1792+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 27.600000381469727px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkabAaqFPfSUYjnSAwNFhKJgfFxFpD6iY6t-Y0dbED8QZUFBQQjJ6YUqFbseD5VqddVwz3sviKLrT9bnhIgm5dl7jrkBGb2-OZwa8WaJYx0u-voM_j5rqiKoDutmgr9sVmeeAFsq0kiHa2/s1600/DSCN1792+-+Copy.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">When the 2004 tsunami roared ashore, the huge wave
swept tens of thousands of living corals off the fringing reef and up into the
ancient rainforest. Over the last 4 years guests at the luxury resort have
collected by hand about 100 tonnes of dead coral skeletons and carried them to
the coral nursery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">There, with the assistance of resort staff, the dead
coral rock is recycled into mini-Artificial Reef Modules that provide much
needed shelter for young marine life and a stable substrate for corals to grow
on. They are heavy, have ‘baby’ corals attached, and are difficult to move.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZw6iPA3URD31weAvnKdVRVewQfa2O9UAWrEN9y1a-bqkvz6x1vNqUhQqbKvQM4Ks5fC9HJBf_W6KSmy1O-XYnb1mi2uixvWZXZUFecCLohsQxAB2TXkz3IhdGePyxt_tsUNZvMb7hzgB/s1600/DSCN0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZw6iPA3URD31weAvnKdVRVewQfa2O9UAWrEN9y1a-bqkvz6x1vNqUhQqbKvQM4Ks5fC9HJBf_W6KSmy1O-XYnb1mi2uixvWZXZUFecCLohsQxAB2TXkz3IhdGePyxt_tsUNZvMb7hzgB/s1600/DSCN0128.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">“But we want to do it! We want to take the corals
out to the reef”, said Liam who was quickly backed up by his determined younger
brother, Callum. Liam is one of the hard working volunteers that regularly
return to the Andaman to work at the Coral Nursery. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">World Ocean day marked the
fourth visit of his family since the end of 2013 and school holidays.
Determined to become a marine biologist because of his Nursery experiences,
Liam led the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Bamboo from the <o:p></o:p></span><span style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">rainforest served as a framework,
odd pieces of rope and ‘strange’ knots worked as fastenings, and inner tubes
from tires provided flotation. The kids built their own raft and managed to
load the mini- Artificial Reef Modules aboard. Plastic kitchen utensils
splashed water over the living corals and swimmers in life jackets towed the
raft out to the reef where the Modules were lowered to the ocean floor.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0wWxKLmkG6bb6hFCOPRHtW4zKNq65exBjZajO_nN5LIww4P33R-25dzWyxdYi7K1PDPrzvBfcFiLNV6JI_RgiMdotm99jgef05y5ncHO2QYFXbXCMQFwygFJwuFayDBcGsPq-v2DqfGi/s1600/DSCN1760+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 27.600000381469727px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0wWxKLmkG6bb6hFCOPRHtW4zKNq65exBjZajO_nN5LIww4P33R-25dzWyxdYi7K1PDPrzvBfcFiLNV6JI_RgiMdotm99jgef05y5ncHO2QYFXbXCMQFwygFJwuFayDBcGsPq-v2DqfGi/s1600/DSCN1760+-+Copy.JPG" height="516" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Coral reefs comprise the most diverse
ecosystems on Earth but are now threatened with destruction. They occupy just
over 0.15% of the world’s oceans, yet incredibly they provide a home for an
estimated 25% of all marine species. They really are the “engine room” of the
sea and their loss will cripple the marine environment on a global scale. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPa3By0UV9ANG8LuCQE9UhPrSBvNyIiT7BzTShzQxTd2cYeTK2bCbCC27EDVYwbkcU38vq3zrVac8fYBIgpQ3l5RADejcKVXC3FBxAhUs_9MwPxMk6Tp-AYJ5WVmVff0oT2vLQY5a4s6_6/s1600/DSCN1822+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 27.600000381469727px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPa3By0UV9ANG8LuCQE9UhPrSBvNyIiT7BzTShzQxTd2cYeTK2bCbCC27EDVYwbkcU38vq3zrVac8fYBIgpQ3l5RADejcKVXC3FBxAhUs_9MwPxMk6Tp-AYJ5WVmVff0oT2vLQY5a4s6_6/s1600/DSCN1822+-+Copy.JPG" height="384" width="640" /></a><br />Productivity is higher than in other tropical
waters and 6 million tons of fish are taken each year from the world’s coral reefs.
Most of this stays in protein-poor countries. Langkawi’s community is largely
dependent on local fisheries for protein and the next generation needs the
Andaman Reef. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAiamNugLD2KuVqP6XPt9PXJzYxwQGiezboPhXtKSbGXVRXvQtHEM_psR7lQhQ_2tCZt1GFJpcJ_SqKKsfl0vI2_SN3EVP7ArZkWWWFAMAlbZmph5OGgrvm5PfUHjkBMysrysF7C9Au3G/s1600/DSCN1856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAiamNugLD2KuVqP6XPt9PXJzYxwQGiezboPhXtKSbGXVRXvQtHEM_psR7lQhQ_2tCZt1GFJpcJ_SqKKsfl0vI2_SN3EVP7ArZkWWWFAMAlbZmph5OGgrvm5PfUHjkBMysrysF7C9Au3G/s1600/DSCN1856.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Biodiversity is the loudest catch cry in
environmental research today. It is a measure of the complexity of an ecosystem
and is now thought to be related to the health of the entire planet. Southeast
Asian coral reefs</span><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> have the highest levels of biodiversity of all the world’s marine
ecosystems, perhaps the highest biodiversity since the beginning of life on
Earth. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">But, recent
surveys show that 10% of the world’s coral reefs are already dead. It is estimated that another 60% of the
world’s reefs are at risk due to destructive, human-related activities. Man’s threat to the health of reefs is
particularly strong in Southeast Asia, where an appalling 80% of reefs are
endangered. Sadly, Southeast Asian coral
reefs are now the world’s most threatened, being impacted by the activities of
man.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezh7EO6KfqL2c-ecp6ezy1IQNWzW_EsSMsB3rXWf_kQ6u4nDUHI_GYJ0HEAhaCToE46NAlSM5Cf9b-yR13HXtYSx2fQrdo6LPFFf5bq6sHztyzeNx5qvcC-uqSw2C8_-f_3QXHBhoQV8s/s1600/DSCN1911+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 27.600000381469727px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezh7EO6KfqL2c-ecp6ezy1IQNWzW_EsSMsB3rXWf_kQ6u4nDUHI_GYJ0HEAhaCToE46NAlSM5Cf9b-yR13HXtYSx2fQrdo6LPFFf5bq6sHztyzeNx5qvcC-uqSw2C8_-f_3QXHBhoQV8s/s1600/DSCN1911+-+Copy.JPG" height="402" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />The global economic value of these tiny coral
reefs is staggering, estimated at $30 billion annually. Southeast Asia’s coral
reef fisheries alone yield about $2.4 billion annually. According to the WWF,
the economic cost over a 25 year period of destroying one kilometre of coral
reef is somewhere between $137,000 and $1,200,000. Conversely, the economic benefit of saving
one kilometre of reef is the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQf3diOhOr-L944ihZUaxmqPNQTjZtBRTDvpJhlnQGtZ53ctMcdiB7ODW-FstfRKZF90FHUUcACQdTDzzU7Qmi3tIEb-6WnMber8dmUUinu0AwSgZJ_QMTa-MPk6YJlWcyucKpl7epCGt/s1600/DSCN1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQf3diOhOr-L944ihZUaxmqPNQTjZtBRTDvpJhlnQGtZ53ctMcdiB7ODW-FstfRKZF90FHUUcACQdTDzzU7Qmi3tIEb-6WnMber8dmUUinu0AwSgZJ_QMTa-MPk6YJlWcyucKpl7epCGt/s1600/DSCN1867.JPG" height="640" width="594" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The children worked most of the afternoon putting
six Modules with 30 coral colonies in place. By doing something small but
highly visible in Langkawi the children helped to focus attention on the plight
of reefs around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFf4Clfp6XWLUkXMPqy_eqYdoTco2RvFBDqei1Nzu1vIOuWxzPkEWA47Xh9froyW33V_j1EKxZwTygqZPgX9J-FLRHUjskpihAAbTuI3UtFXAhUyebqEUC2jX8LJoekZmT5M8d6Vs1Dq7/s1600/DSCN1989+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 27.600000381469727px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFf4Clfp6XWLUkXMPqy_eqYdoTco2RvFBDqei1Nzu1vIOuWxzPkEWA47Xh9froyW33V_j1EKxZwTygqZPgX9J-FLRHUjskpihAAbTuI3UtFXAhUyebqEUC2jX8LJoekZmT5M8d6Vs1Dq7/s1600/DSCN1989+-+Copy.JPG" height="404" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Sunburned, thirsty, scraped knuckles, and smiling, the
children returned to shore and the cool of the rainforest to share their
adventure with their parents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Will their experience change the way they live? It
has already.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The kids proved that even one person can make a
difference and<span style="color: #2f3140;"> <strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">“Together we have the power to
protect the ocean</span></strong>!”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18332302916009892058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640387409372676037.post-52905112740861315342014-05-27T02:42:00.002-07:002014-07-13T01:49:25.230-07:00Slow Life and the Andaman Sea; A 'Must Watch' Video<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was just enchanted by the great work of photographer Daniel Stoupin when it came to my attention several months ago. Many animals appear to be motionless relative to our busy lives. But they arent; they do move and can be caught on camera. Coral reefs take on a new perspective through his lens.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Corals evolved about 550 million years ago and have survived all that Nature could 'throw' at them. Sadly, they are not doing well since modern industrialized man turned his interests to the sea. Nearly half of all the world's coral has died in the last 50 years.</span><br />
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<h1 class="js-clip_title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: #f4f5f7; color: #445566; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 36px; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Slow Life</h1>
<div class="byline" style="background-color: #f4f5f7; color: rgb(157, 162, 168) !important; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
from <a href="http://vimeo.com/danielstoupin" rel="author" style="color: #112233; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;">Daniel Stoupin</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">http://vimeo.com/88829079</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4f5f7; color: #71767a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;">"Slow" marine animals show their secret life under high magnification. Corals and sponges are very mobile creatures, but their motion is only detectable at different time scales compared to ours and requires time lapses to be seen. These animals build coral reefs and play crucial roles in the biosphere, yet we know almost nothing about their daily lives.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FB44SoKaQaHQVgvV9wWa_zJRFY1CKUVxW7ylJIG0IVzej8Dr3y7zrF3AOxE70eZ1Xcp77OpdSu9yPbFHgcpDLWjO_IyKxMyk3IjlimFY1pLH8_zXmgqjZWC3_8ioNHjEJpyVmbfeG1I2/s1600/christmas_tree_worms_spirobranchus_giganteus_IMG_3192-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FB44SoKaQaHQVgvV9wWa_zJRFY1CKUVxW7ylJIG0IVzej8Dr3y7zrF3AOxE70eZ1Xcp77OpdSu9yPbFHgcpDLWjO_IyKxMyk3IjlimFY1pLH8_zXmgqjZWC3_8ioNHjEJpyVmbfeG1I2/s1600/christmas_tree_worms_spirobranchus_giganteus_IMG_3192-.jpg" height="528" width="640" /></a><br />
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This clip, as well as stock footage, is available in 4k resolution. Make sure you watch it on a large screen! You won't be able to appreciate this clip or see individual cells moving in a sponge on a smartphone. If you have a full-HD screen, when you enter full-screen mode, please press on "view actual size" next to the HD icon to improve sharpness.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4TBD1eCnKyOsQ5WMXt-25ewpCDbBSxTfEo31BbMBY2cWQU09vs3crjG7heTF3dbvqPJCON6qJd7Dgo8qbij7XzfUJ5QmZKfNYJtks-DkGa-zH8CjmvZ_oU-mU9KwtEMZwSuBWhdKT-5k/s1600/coral-abstract-1-cr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4TBD1eCnKyOsQ5WMXt-25ewpCDbBSxTfEo31BbMBY2cWQU09vs3crjG7heTF3dbvqPJCON6qJd7Dgo8qbij7XzfUJ5QmZKfNYJtks-DkGa-zH8CjmvZ_oU-mU9KwtEMZwSuBWhdKT-5k/s1600/coral-abstract-1-cr.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
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To make this little clip I took 150000 shots. Why so many? Because macro photography involves shallow depth of field. To extend it, I used focus stacking. Each frame of the video is actually a stack that consists of 3-12 shots where in-focus areas are merged. Just the intro and last scene are regular real-time footage. One frame required about 10 minutes of processing time (raw conversion + stacking). Unfortunately, the success rate was very low due to copious technical challenges and I spent almost 9 long months just to learn how to make these kinds of videos and understand how to work with these delicate creatures."</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18332302916009892058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640387409372676037.post-70864814207273265942014-05-05T21:20:00.000-07:002014-05-05T21:20:12.093-07:00Thomson Reuters to the Rescue; CEO Circle Builds Artificial Reefs<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It’s just on a
month ago that staff at The Andaman Resort were preparing for the arrival of
their biggest ever CSR group. Community and Social Responsibility (CSR) has
become the latest team activity of concerned businesses around the world who
realize that they do owe something to the environment and community that has
contributed in part to their success.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZpixAhij5VJuA8ELl1TbQ-XQEBElVkdqTulciawGGL7YR23MQpsZpHQ-mVxLCs1GhmeSM76VcrF0WCWG95Bs8NEX3cvkRMZ4_rWfKHInk8MimBTI0TCRhtzdEI8eq3OlpbSA278mJmaq/s1600/DSCN0836+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZpixAhij5VJuA8ELl1TbQ-XQEBElVkdqTulciawGGL7YR23MQpsZpHQ-mVxLCs1GhmeSM76VcrF0WCWG95Bs8NEX3cvkRMZ4_rWfKHInk8MimBTI0TCRhtzdEI8eq3OlpbSA278mJmaq/s1600/DSCN0836+-+Copy.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Andaman’s
group was the CEO Circle from the huge Thomson Reuters Corporation and the
participants were all about getting things done and moving ahead. What was
wonderful is that they had chosen the Andaman for its incredible natural
setting and geological history and, perhaps most significantly, the coral reef
rehabilitation program. They wanted to make a difference for this tiny tropical
island and its people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Those following this
blog will know that the 2004 tsunami devastated coral reefs in the Andaman Sea
and parts of the Indian Ocean. The Andaman Resort has been working to reverse
the damage through reef rehabilitation and an artificial reef project that’s
just off the ‘drawing board’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Support for the
reef based projects has been strong through earlier CSR group activities and
from the continuous ‘stream’ of concerned guests. But now we had a resort
filled with eager participants armed with an understanding of how pressing
ocean and coral reef conservation was becoming in this part of the world. This
was going to be great!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The group was
split up into four teams with different tasks. In the end all of these would
mesh together for the final result; more coral and badly needed shelter on a
reef stripped bare by a tsunami generated by the third largest earthquake in
recorded history.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Their smallest
team mounted tiny living ‘coral chips’ on common cement building bricks. The
‘chips’ grow quickly in the Andaman’s coral nursery where they are kept until
ready for transplanting. Currently, the nursery is transplanting three species
that have proven to be hearty and fast growing. Parent material is selected
from colonies that are living in warm, shallow water; these may provide future
generations with a head start in dealing with slowly increasing ocean
temperatures.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Their largest
team was given the unenviable task of building concrete “mini-ARMs”. This is an
acronym for miniature artificial reef modules. These small concrete hemispheres
are about 500mm in diameter, have three or four small entrances, and are
covered in coral rubble. The rubble is the product of the tsunami. When the
wave struck, tens of thousands of live corals were swept ashore and up into the
rainforest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We collect these
coral skeletons and with the assistance of guests have now ‘stockpiled’ over
100 tons of limestone that can be recycled to the reef for future coral growth.
The skeletons are incorporated into the “mini-ARMs” concrete and produce a
natural looking exterior ripe for colonization by young coral colonies and
numerous invertebrates.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Mini-ARMs” are
very important; they not only provide the right kind of surface to support
future coral growth, they provide shelter and growing room for predatory fish
like groupers that are now overfished by the local community. Groupers are
mid-sized predators that are important in the reef food web and are also highly
sought after by man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A third team took
older coral colonies off the cement bricks where they had ‘matured’ in the
nursery for up to six months. These corals were then transplanted to the
Resort’s stockpiled “mini-ARMs” and carried down to the sea for their journey
out to the reef edge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8nlk89XJ_9j2DHkLPRIoCj6TUlwGx7od4mTYj2HUsxhgWTLo779QL9D55EFsKKrfOaeVXT_2GwK5Pn8mB30KgRvp8HzvypRS-f7qRkU8v8RqPUtar2i35v9YBQHQezBQ7oOCaz52q1JY/s1600/DSCN0884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8nlk89XJ_9j2DHkLPRIoCj6TUlwGx7od4mTYj2HUsxhgWTLo779QL9D55EFsKKrfOaeVXT_2GwK5Pn8mB30KgRvp8HzvypRS-f7qRkU8v8RqPUtar2i35v9YBQHQezBQ7oOCaz52q1JY/s1600/DSCN0884.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The fourth team
was our engineers (the term is used loosely). Their task was to turn a pile of
tire tubes, bamboo, and pieces of rope into an ocean going craft capable of
carrying the heavy concrete “mini-ARMs”, twin propulsion units (CEOs with
paddles), and a coral life support system (CEOs with buckets to keep the coral
transplants wet).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Once at the reef
edge, snorkelers would help to drop the “mini-ARMs” into place in locations I
had earlier selected and marked with buoys. The CEO Circle of Thomson Reuters was
terrific placing 24 “mini-ARMs” and a total of 100 corals on the reef.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">They also made an
additional 40 “mini-ARMs” and added nearly 100 tiny corals to the nursery.
These are now being placed on the reef by guests that have followed in the CEO
Circle’s footsteps.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQtln09-nl4JfBWwX71hF9rzuCmVBTgHDJpvyeApd39qMIbTiIExYSr197r3rbVtZfNXS_vFHoEUnXXKd5_DrcwELsB8Zyu15oglp0a2dmtsWPyrd-yG3U24_i-XMatMaD1BiCj3M0UVd/s1600/DSCN0851+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQtln09-nl4JfBWwX71hF9rzuCmVBTgHDJpvyeApd39qMIbTiIExYSr197r3rbVtZfNXS_vFHoEUnXXKd5_DrcwELsB8Zyu15oglp0a2dmtsWPyrd-yG3U24_i-XMatMaD1BiCj3M0UVd/s1600/DSCN0851+-+Copy.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Since the CEO
Circle’s visit, I have met with the Department of Fisheries, Langkawi’s four
fishing community leaders,</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Lafarge Malaysia (Kedah Cement)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">, and the National University of Malaysia. The outcome
of this is that we now have broad approval for the next stage of the project
which is the placing of full size artificial reef modules (ARMs) for the
benefit of the people of Langkawi. Our first ‘scientifically’ designed
artificial reef will be in Datai Bay near the small island called Anak Datai.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The efforts and
financial contribution of the CEO Circle of Thomson Reuters has acted as a
catalyst for the establishment of a planned non-profit foundation to oversee
the artificial reef’s development and the continuation of this project.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But why do we feel that this is so important? Why do
we need corals and groupers back on the reef?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What wasn’t known before but has
recently been published in <i>Ecology
Letters</i> (February, 2013) is that the reduction in numbers of just one
predator like the groupers can bring about the extinction of many others. This
helps to explain the ancient global catastrophes caused by things like
meteorites, volcanoes, and climate changes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lead researcher Dr Frank
van Veen of the University of Exeter's Centre for Ecology and Conservation
said: “We have shown that the complex ripple effect of a change in population
size across food webs is more sensitive than previously thought and that a
reduction in the numbers of one carnivore can lead to the extinction of another
carnivore species. We also found evidence that the second extinction can
trigger further ones, leading to a cascade of extinctions, like dominoes
toppling over.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This disturbing finding
seems to explain why our 'single species' approach to conservation, the one
most used in fisheries management, just does not work. As a
marine ecologist I am very concerned. Our fisheries are in crisis! The FAO
estimates that 70% of world commercial fisheries have already collapsed or are
now collapsing. I have been told that Malaysian fishermen have caught about 95%
of their stocks. Langkawi depends on seafood and since the tsunami, fishing
pressure and the lack of suitable habitat is driving local reef carnivores,
like the groupers, toward the brink of extinction regionally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If Dr van Veen is right then we can expect other carnivors that
are not part of our fisheries to dive toward extinction and still more to
follow them. The bulk of Langkawi’s ocean food pyramid may collapse in a very
short time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">More than a third of
Indian Ocean coral reef species are now at risk of local extinction according
to a study published in <i>Ecology Letters</i>
(2011). The cause is the continuous warming of our planet but the impact may be
far greater than predicted if the work of Dr Frank van Veen is correct. The
loss of just one temperature sensitive predator can bring down even the heat
tolerant species. The ripple effect on coral reefs may be devastating with the
loss of most of the fisheries that now support 200 million people in tropical
regions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-b-HGlqzo1rL-EJurRSHS0_L8AazqHjMdlLMDTIeuNEbrTc1t13MP63FGOM1YkYSEFy8IsiutJFNssnwd9ukBKSTlBuX-9Sll2QsVyIcevcX9umcSb0FKgt6kOy34K1lz_EIaYKleQ46W/s1600/DSCN0861+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-b-HGlqzo1rL-EJurRSHS0_L8AazqHjMdlLMDTIeuNEbrTc1t13MP63FGOM1YkYSEFy8IsiutJFNssnwd9ukBKSTlBuX-9Sll2QsVyIcevcX9umcSb0FKgt6kOy34K1lz_EIaYKleQ46W/s1600/DSCN0861+-+Copy.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Here on the tiny island
of Langkawi we are doing what we can to repair the damages caused by a tsunami
that changed not only our reef but our future. But we are doing more than that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">With the help of groups
like CEO Circle from Thomson Reuters, we are showing the world that we all have
a part to play in maintaining this planet’s environment. And we are showing
others that each business and each individual can accept their responsibility
and really can make a difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18332302916009892058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640387409372676037.post-90545607340252344942014-04-16T16:25:00.000-07:002014-05-10T00:18:02.807-07:00Big Things Have Small Beginnings; An Artificial Reef for the Andaman Sea<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those readers
who may have spoken with me can’t have missed the point that I am deeply
concerned about the state of the ocean. Things that we depend on are failing
fast; our ‘ship’ is sinking and it seems that there is little that we can do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">World Ocean Day was the 8<sup>th</sup> of June, 2013 and on the tiny island of Langkawi, Malaysia we showed the world one way that we can help to keep our ‘ship’ afloat and get back
on course.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXN5ozijZ9xZBqN5ZFfELy7BkcDt0hiOCbfrr2fNcwLZx70akJWaxFrjEgLexPp08GTxIGoiw8oWCAkvlmBsalxhe4-AovvdXn_AF6wYk11oRa7SineTm5m59w6jJrgqglIiOS5Enbf4Z3/s1600/ifas.ufl.edu+-+Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXN5ozijZ9xZBqN5ZFfELy7BkcDt0hiOCbfrr2fNcwLZx70akJWaxFrjEgLexPp08GTxIGoiw8oWCAkvlmBsalxhe4-AovvdXn_AF6wYk11oRa7SineTm5m59w6jJrgqglIiOS5Enbf4Z3/s1600/ifas.ufl.edu+-+Copy.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Most marine organisms seek out shelter.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Research over
the last ten years has shown that coastal ecosystems play a critical part in
removing carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuel and responsible for at least some of our global warming problems. In fact, these systems and seawater itself
have removed about half of all the carbon dioxide we produced since the
Industrial Revolution. One of the most important coastal carbon sinks is the
coral reef, locking up green house gases in thousands of tons of new coral
skeletons each year. </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">But sadly the
growth of coral has been shown to be impeded by overfishing. That’s right;
removing too many fish alters the reef food web and corals are squeezed out by
seaweeds. Living
corals all over the globe are now being lost at 1% each year and that has been
going on for the last 40 years.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">A sad example of
the impact of man on this devastating relationship is found on the reefs of
S.E. Asia where 80 percent are now endangered and fish stocks are collapsing.
Fisheries estimates in Malaysia indicate that more than 90 percent of the
resource has been taken.
The World Development Report 2010 - Development and Climate
Change, shows that rebuilding fish stocks can both improve
resilience to climate change and increase economic returns to the fishing
industry by US$50 billion per year. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Attempts to slow reef damage and accelerate fish production
by creating artificial reefs have gone on since the 1950’s with limited
success. Worst was a used tire reef off Florida, USA that became an
environmental disaster when two million tires broke loose and smashed into
natural reefs. </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Other artificial reef structures included discarded ships,
trains, and rubble. Of those reefs that seemed to be working, most have
remained barren.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">In
contrast to what has been little more than dumping our garbage into the sea and
calling it an artificial reef, the “Reef Ball” has been manufactured and
distributed under license by The Reef Ball Foundation (Todd Barber) since 1993.
Of the nearly 600,000 made, many have been used in Malaysia, Thailand, and
Indonesia. Reports of “Reef Ball” success vary.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOSxOS_p5CTODPe6Tv0quJEpl8MkEwGfNFj33TLxeWMYXjYZPE5NTI0idiq4kA7ZlP5T8WFvhyphenhypheng-CfTCxUz9m3ZZV6t5j7GOsnBbT_KSNGVLO8NQtOw1ao2kZ1con95vJnczYq6tqzUBP/s1600/reefball+flicker.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOSxOS_p5CTODPe6Tv0quJEpl8MkEwGfNFj33TLxeWMYXjYZPE5NTI0idiq4kA7ZlP5T8WFvhyphenhypheng-CfTCxUz9m3ZZV6t5j7GOsnBbT_KSNGVLO8NQtOw1ao2kZ1con95vJnczYq6tqzUBP/s1600/reefball+flicker.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Reef balls provide a place for other organisms to settle.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Reef
Balls” are spheres, very uniform in shape, with little place for small animals
to hide. "Structurally complex reefs provide nooks and crannies for
thousands of species and provide the habitat needed to sustain productive reef
fisheries,” said Peter Mumby of The University of Queensland in <i>Current Biology </i>(May 9, 2013).</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reefs may be suffering but collapse
is not inevitable.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
situation in Langkawi called for something different. There were already substantial coral reefs
nearby but overfishing was holding back production and nets were damaging
coral. What was needed was an extension of the fishing grounds into deeper
water and away from the shallow nursery areas.</span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
concept started with the Andaman Resort, Langkawi where a Coral Nursery was
already up and running. The National University of Malaysia (UKM) that opened
its Langkawi Research Centre (PPL) on March 19, 2013 and the islands largest
manufacturer, Lafarge’s Kedah Cement joined in.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AOuCm4rUyV3wJK2aZzORAIMaZQWWJoD2smGc7cchHlA5CjfGEVhUfdrJI5QTk3fylSAmXZ5zscdIeDk8l0_u27Z78XrvIiLWXJK-MpdUt4fvViZDPvEU8yo2n0ajm49zC4pCZCBpxHko/s1600/IMG-20130520-01259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AOuCm4rUyV3wJK2aZzORAIMaZQWWJoD2smGc7cchHlA5CjfGEVhUfdrJI5QTk3fylSAmXZ5zscdIeDk8l0_u27Z78XrvIiLWXJK-MpdUt4fvViZDPvEU8yo2n0ajm49zC4pCZCBpxHko/s1600/IMG-20130520-01259.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Molds for the artificial reef modules under construction.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Both the Andaman
Resort (through myself as environmental consultant) and UKM have extensive
backgrounds in coral reef ecology, fisheries management, and artificial reefs.
It was the artificial reefs that were considered to have the best chance of improving
Langkawi’s fish stocks.</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not
only did the interested parties want to restore fish stocks and enhance coral
growth; they wanted to draw the community together to protect and manage their
marine resources into the future.</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The three-party working group
designed their own Artificial Reef Module (ARM) and constructed the first
prototype in May, 2013. These small modules are cement based and designed to
suit the behaviour and sizes of local fish species. They are unique and a
product of initiatives taken on Langkawi. They will be constructed, deployed,
and managed through the generosity of the working group, tourists, local
community, and financial contributions of outside and overseas organizations.
They will not be patented, there are no royalties for their use, and will be
available to local community that want to assist.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYoZisGGL-hCGEU7U-UG3iHy0vCzDwnPiw-Rk5sOqb5yW_ksKLOBiE0csARJUvvhdjw8NuCb1iNxJGQWupQn50sOnkjPTeGMkRGzyA_XGydR8_jsb7viZdv_-S9wl0gRDCGz5d8a3lq_Q/s1600/IMG-20130520-01257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYoZisGGL-hCGEU7U-UG3iHy0vCzDwnPiw-Rk5sOqb5yW_ksKLOBiE0csARJUvvhdjw8NuCb1iNxJGQWupQn50sOnkjPTeGMkRGzyA_XGydR8_jsb7viZdv_-S9wl0gRDCGz5d8a3lq_Q/s1600/IMG-20130520-01257.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;"> First prototype (shown upside-down) after removal from the mold</span>.
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrJwJE62DbaKFS3PKXa3qjRcQr1sbpJzAakWax8-DK8lsa189UWfOfEoAd7I-sgPHV8BEAs6athu_dGtn-l699LmoGiSHkqW5ocLZn4LU61LwDGLsJO14W6ir3TpYQCIBvHFzKAzZss2k/s1600/Copy+of+P8050370.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mr. Kee Alfian
of the UKM and PPL states that “Anecdotal information suggests that water
quality was better and coral reefs were probably healthier prior to extensive
development and forest clearing. More prolific coral growth and fewer fishermen
would have guaranteed a better catch in years past. We hope the new ARMs will
turn this situation around.”</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unlike
most artificial reef projects of the past, the development of this network of
artificial reefs will be science based. Research students working toward Master
and Ph.D. degrees will monitor and improve design and positioning of the ARMs
in the years to come.</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Over the next
twelve months the working group will survey a section of Langkawi’s reefs and
will attempt to put in place 500 ARMs covering about 13,000 square metres.</span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">“This is only a
start,” said UKM’s Prof. Norhayati Ahmad. “With community support these
artificial reefs can be extended over large tracts of the seabed. Research has
shown that well managed coral reefs can produce as much as 15 tonnes of fish
per square kilometre. It would be wonderful if we could achieve this target.”</span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Kedah Cement
will be making more moulds once the prototype is tried and tested. Through
local support, community involvement, and the assistance of resort guests we
hope to add more artificial reef areas each year” said Lafarge’s project manager
<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">Syed-Muhammad Syed-Nadzir.</span></span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-MY" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">While
the project is on the brink of its official launch, interest is already being
shown by environmentally active organizations in other parts of Malaysia. </span>The
launch will be held at the Andaman Resort later this year. Extensive
media coverage is planned.</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Business
as usual isn't going to cut it," said Peter Mumby (Univ. of Queensland).
"The good news is that it does seem possible to maintain reefs -- we just
have to be serious about doing something. It also means that local reef
management -- efforts to curb pollution and overfishing -- are absolutely
justified. Some have claimed that the climate change problem is so great that
local management is futile. We show that this viewpoint is wrongheaded."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">UKM’s Mr. Kee Alfian and Prof. Norhayati agreed,
“If the reefs around Langkawi are properly rehabilitated, there is a
possibility (within 10 years) that we will see a real ‘comeback’ of reef
organisms and an increase in fish production”.</span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">“We’ve really only
started the ball rolling. When local communities, businesses, and schools join
us, we have a real chance of making a difference and showing the world how
people on a small island can band together to protect their children’s
futures”, said Mr Adrian Stoppe, Manager of Langkawi’s Andaman Resort.</span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">A line borrowed
from the 1962 “Lawrence of Arabia” is used again in the film “Prometheus” when
David referring to evolution says, “Big things have small beginnings.” For the
sake of future generations and this little blue planet, let us all hope he is
right.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18332302916009892058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640387409372676037.post-29167970308434907802014-04-10T03:17:00.001-07:002014-04-19T01:23:39.939-07:00A Reef for Our Children By Dr. Gerry Goeden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">On <st1:date day="26" ls="trans" month="12" w:st="on" year="2004">December 26, 2004</st1:date> a tsunami generated by the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, the third largest earthquake in recorded history, roared into <st1:placename w:st="on">Datai</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Bay</st1:placetype> on the Northwest corner of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Langkawi</st1:city>,<st1:country-region w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region></st1:place>. This bay and its nearby surroundings support the best coral reef development in the sleepy waters of this quiet island. When the tsunami struck, it swept tens of thousands of coral boulders shoreward stripping the southern half of the reef of most of its marine life and depositing it on the beach and in the adjacent rainforest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Much of the coral rubble was produced by the tsunami and now hinders regeneration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In September, 2010 The Andaman Resort commissioned a survey of the Andaman Reef platform. Contrary to appearances the Andaman Reef was still ‘alive and breathing’ but needed urgent help. Their solution was a two pronged approach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">First, they initiated a “coral clearing” program in which staff and guests clear away dead coral from among the still living colonies. This prevents further damage from tumbling coral boulders during times of heavy wave action. Using just their bare hands and wheelbarrows, hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers have already removed about 80 tonnes of rock greatly improving the chances of survival for the live colonies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 1.4;">Guests involved in coral clearing learn about </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">tsunami</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 1.4;"> damage 'first hand'.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Secondly, the Resort owners dipped deep into their pockets and built a Coral Nursery. This swimming pool-sized saltwater reef is capable of producing several thousand small corals each year using ‘cuttings’ taken from the wild. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It is also a wonderful education center where people can view marine life and kids can be a “marine biologist” for a day and really get their hands dirty ‘saving the environment’. When the little nursery corals are tough enough they will be re-located to the Andaman Reef into small coral gardens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So why all the effort?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Often called “rainforests of the sea”, coral reefs comprise the most diverse ecosystems on Earth but are now threatened with destruction. They occupy just over 0.15% of the world’s oceans, yet incredibly they provide a home for an estimated 25% of all marine species. They really are the “engine room” of the sea and their loss will cripple the marine environment on a global scale. Doing something small but highly visible in Langkawi helps to focus attention on the plight of reefs around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Productivity is higher than in other tropical waters and 6 million tons of fish are taken each year from the world’s coral reefs. Most of this stays in protein-poor countries. Well managed coral reefs have an annual yield on average of 15 tons of seafood per square kilometre. Langkawi’s community is largely dependant on local fisheries for protein and the next generation needs the Andaman Reef. As the eco-tourist industry increases so too will the cash returns from this rehabilitation program. A well managed reef lets you to ‘have your cake and eat it too’.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal;">Biodiversity is the loudest catch cry in ecology. It is a measure of the complexity of an ecosystem and is now thought to be related to the health of the entire planet. Southeast Asian coral reefs</span><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal;"> have the highest levels of biodiversity of all the world’s marine ecosystems, perhaps the highest biodiversity since the beginning of life on Earth. Sadly, Southeast Asian coral reefs are now the world’s most threatened, being impacted by the activities of man. Coastal development, chemical runoff from the land, and destructive fishing practices head the list and reef biodiversity is falling fast.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h2>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal;">Most Asian fish are caught before they are mature and can reproduce.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN">The global economic value of these tiny coral reefs is staggering, estimated at $30 billion annually. <st1:place w:st="on">Southeast Asia</st1:place>’s coral reef fisheries alone yield about $2.4 billion annually. Again, most of this remains in poor countries. More importantly reefs provide renewable resources if managed with an eye to the future; much needed income year after year. According to the WWF, the economic cost over a 25 year period of destroying one kilometre of coral reef is somewhere between $137,000 and $1,200,000. Conversely, the economic benefit of saving one kilometre of reef is the same.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN">Recent surveys show that 10% of the world’s coral reefs are already dead. It is estimated that another 60% of the world’s reefs are at risk due to destructive, human-related activities. Man’s threat to the health of reefs is particularly strong in <st1:place w:st="on">Southeast Asia</st1:place>, where an appalling 80% of reefs are now endangered. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">In the face of all this gloom the Andaman Reef story is heartening in that a small private business, its customers, and the surrounding community are taking on the responsibility of doing something positive toward environmental rehabilitation in the sea. By saving a coral reef the people of the Andaman are protecting the future of our children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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