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Did
you know that 10% of the world's coral reefs are dead?
Many scientists now predict that 30% of the world's
reefs will be gone in 20 years, and possibly 60% or more destroyed
within 35 years.
"Let's Respect it....Not Collect it !"
Clean
Ocean Action's Shore-Tips
| 1. |
Use
Mooring when ever possible. Anchors, chains and ropes
destroy reef and kill marine life. Mooring have
little impact on the environment and provide a great point
of reference to find a favorite dive site. Support local
mooring programs by adopting a mooring site. |
| 2. |
Be
aware of your position in the water. Do not stand,
kneel or hold on to corals or marine rocks. These
actions may destroy the coral or other living organisms
that have extremely slow growth rates. Always know
whatis around your fins. Fins do the most damage.
|
| 3. |
Avoid
collecting souvenirs of marine animals. The removal of
marine animals from the environment can reduce the bio-diversity
in heavily visited dive areas. Coral and shells
are slowly produced by animals and can take a long time
to be replaced naturally. They also provide habitat
& shelter for other animals. If you want great
souvenirs...TAKE PICTURES. |
| 4. |
Become
educated about the areas you dive. Learn about the
vegetation, animals and history of the area. Find
out what you can do to protect that dive site. Avoid animals
and plants that might have a "special need" in that area.
These may be rare, endangered, threatened, or recovering
species. Avoid disturbing animals that might be
feeding, nesting, mating or tending their young.
These behavioral process are important in the
life cycle of a species and our presence can cause unnecessary
stress in the animal. |
| 5. |
Consider
photography over spear fishing. You will find photography
a greater challenge and more rewarding. A photograph
is a great way to share your dive experience with others.
Most of all, photography destroys no marine life.6.
Do not litter. When you leave your dive site make sure
you do not
leave any thing behind. Keep the dive site
clean for the next diver. On a boat make sure that
items that might blow overboard are properly secured from
the wind. |
| 6. |
Always
remove any debris that might entangle and kill marine
life needlessly. |
| 7. |
Report
any destruction or disturbance to marine habitat to local
authorities (DEP-Department of Environmental Protection
or EPA-
Environmental Protection Agency). Divers are some of the
first people to notice a change in the marine environment.
Divers should report any strange objects or substances,
pollution sources, any deceased or injured animals and
fish, any noticeable reduction in aquatic life.
Any thing that might cause an adverse impact the environment. |
| 8. |
Get
involved. Divers can help protect the environment
in many ways. Through education, action and advocacy a
diver or dive club can help to protect their aquatic resource. |
| 9. |
Organize
an underwater cleanup for a dive site. Underwater
cleanups are a great event for both divers and non divers
a like. As a diver, you may know of areas in special
need of a cleanup. The "International Underwater Cleanup"
is usually held on the 3rd weekend in September.
For more details contact a local marine conservation
organization.
|
RECON A program for volunteer divers to monitor coral reefs and
collect information about the health of these fragile ecosystems.
Take
Action - Save the Reefs
(exerpted from The Vanishing Rainbow by the Coral Reef Alliance)If
you travel to a coral reef area: Don't purchase coral
souvenirs.
Don't order turtle, shark fin, or other restaurant dishes
made from threatened
wildlife.If you have a tropical aquarium: Don't purchase
fish captured by the use of
cyanide or other poisons. Tell your local aquarium or
pet shop to stock only
products that do not destroy coral reefs.As a consumer:
Educate yourself about the source of the seafood you choose
to eat. Prawn farms can lead to the destruction of mangroves,
and shrimp are often collected by dragging nets tht kill all
the marine life in their path. For each shrimp
dinner you consume, ten times that amount of fish has been
wasted.
If you operate a boat near coral reefs: Use mooring
buoys whenever possible and never drop an anchor onto a coral
reef. Use pump-out stations to keep sewage out of the
water and off the reefs.CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING
The International Coastal Cleanup
Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) CoralBase
Colombian Society for Coral Reefs
Coral Cay Conservation
Coral Forest
The Earth Communications Office (ECO)
Fisheye View Cam
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) CRC Reef Research
Centre
Hawaii Coral Reef Network
International Year of the Ocean Homepage
NOAA Coral Health and Monitoring Program
Oceanic Resource Foundation
Planetary
Coral Reef Foundation
Red Sea Reef Check
Reef Education Network (REN)
Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)
ReefBase
Reefkeeper International
South African Underwater Ecology Society (SAUES)
Thailand
The Undersea Explorer
University of Stuttgart
World
Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC)
Coral List Server
The International Year of the Reef (IYOR) List
Server
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Ten
Things We Can Do
To Save Our Oceans
|
|
1.
|
Learn
all you can. Read, surf the web and experience the
ocean directly.
|
|
2.
|
Be
a smart shopper. Ask grocery stores and restaurants
about the source of their seafood. |
|
3.
|
Conserve
the water. Be careful when washing your car or watering
your lawn. |
|
4.
|
Reduce household pollutants. Cut down and properly
dispose of herbicides, pesticides and cleaning products. |
|
5.
|
Reduce waste. Dispose of trash properly. Where possible,
recycle, reuse and compost. |
|
6.
|
Reduce automobile pollution. Use fuel efficient vehicles
or carpool. Recycle motor oil and repair oil and air
conditioning leaks. |
|
7.
|
Protect
ocean wildlife. Don't dispose of fishing lines, nets
or plastic items in or near the water. |
|
8.
|
Be
considerate of sea life habitats. Don't bother sea
birds, mammals and turtles or their nesting grounds.
Support marine protected areas. |
|
9.
|
Get
involved. Take part in a beach cleanup or other ocean-oriented
activities. |
|
10.
|
Care! Pass on your knowledge! |
EXPEDITION TO SAVE CORAL REEFS IN SAN ANDRES, COLUMBIA
August 2000
CMC BRINGS PARTNER SCIENTISTS TOGETHER TO DIAGNOSE AND RECOMMEND
CURES AND PREVENTION FOR THREATENED COLUMBIAN CORAL REEFS
FACT SHEET: JAPANESE WHALING Last updated August 22, 2000
Japan Must Stop Killing Whales for “Science” and Profit! REPORT ON THE HEALTH OF THE OCEANS July 6, 2000
A report to the nation on the health of America’s oceans.
This comprehensive report provides a baseline of the condition
of our oceans while beginning to lay out a set of health indicators,
one in each of the four key areas covered in the report--ocean
waters, marine wildlife, fish and fishing, and ocean ecosystems.
FISH RAPPERS INDEX CMC EXPEDITIONS Join Scientists on Expedition Manatee, the Gentle Giant a great site with a lot of information
regarding this beautiful animal.
Oceanic Research is a wonderful
site dedicated to the conservation of the world's oceans and
marine life. They offer many images and lots of information.
Save Our Seas Hawaii's non-profit organization dedicated to ending
all ocean pollution. Clean Ocean Action Coalition
working to improve the degraded quality of the marine waters
off the New Jersey/New York coast. National Audubon Society
Living Oceans Program. Marine Mammal CenterNatural Resources Defense Council Campaign to restore Ocean Fisheries.World Wildlife Fund Endangered
Seas Campaign.Ocean Futures Educational and Advocacy
Organization.REEF Become a volunteer and help to conduct
fish identification surveys.Great American Fish Count Annual
event for volunteer divers.CORAL Provides funding and technical support
for local conservation efforts.
Keiko's Home Page Very nice site dedicated to Keiko (Free Wily).Turtle Trax Web Site devoted to Marine
Turtles.
The Sea Turtle Survival League
Reef Ball Artificial Reefs
National Institute For The Environment
Oceania Atlantis Project
- Marine Fish Conservation Net
-
- Marine Mammal Stranding Center
Reef Relief Non Profit conservation
organization.Aquarius The world's only underwater laboratory.
National Marine Sanctuary
Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary
Save The Seals
- Coral Reef Resources
Coral Reef Zone Tour
- Coral Reefs-Action Atlas
- Coral Spawning
Center for Marine Conservation Protected Marine Species Artificial Reefs - Florida Keys American Oceans CampaignShore and Underwater Clean-up. For more information
regarding this project in your area call 1-800-729-7234.
Resources for Teachers and Students
Greenpeace
Habitats For People, Critters & Plants
American Oceans
Audubon Society of Southwest Florida
The International Osprey Foundation
Biscayne Bay Foundation
National Audubon Society
Reef Keeper International
Defenders of Wildlife
RiverPage
Earth Island Institute
Citizens Association of Bonita Beach
Conservancy of Southwest Florida
Rainforest Action Network
Responsible Growth Management Coalition
Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund
Environmental Confederation of SW Florida
Florida Audubon Society
Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club
Florida Defenders of the Environment
The Florida Wildlife Federation
Florida Public Interest Research Group (Florida PIRG)
Sierra Club Sea Turtle Survival League
START: Solutions To Avoid Red Tide
Tampa Bay Estuary Program
U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG)
World Wildlife Fund
ANIMAL
RIGHTS
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