Sure some of you have seen these links, but for those who have not... very interesting articles ...
Fish disappear from stressed Philippine coral reefs http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=90423Agence France-Presse
Last updated 07:13pm (Mla time) 09/24/2007
Bali tourism struggling as reef declineshttp://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21854184-1702,00.html#By Olivia Rondonuwu in Bali, Indonesia
June 05, 2007 06:13pm
and more... probably getting a bit over the top now... but still good and interesting reading for some...
Website quotehttp://www.shorediving.com/content/reef_awareness.htmStart of extract”
Most massive boulder corals are the slowest growing species, adding only 1/4 to 7/8 inch (5 to 25 millimeters) per year to their length. Branching and Staghorn corals may grow much faster, adding as much as 8 inches (20 centimeters) to their branches each year.
What is killing our coral reefs?
Consider these statistics:
• Approximately 11% of the world's coral reefs have already been destroyed by human activity and a further 16% have been severely damaged during the massive climate-related coral bleaching event in 1998.
• Reefs in 93 countries have been damaged in the past four decades.
• At the current rate of loss, 40% of the world's coral will be destroyed by 2010, and another 20% by 2030.
• Several coral reefs in Florida and the Caribbean are in "critical condition" – in other words, they are likely to be destroyed if current trends continue.
• The most severe damage to coral has occurred in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean (22%-59% of coral cover lost)
In the last few decades, humans have destroyed over 35 million acres of coral reefs. If the present rate of destruction continues, 40% of the world's coral reefs will be killed in the next 10 years. The loss of healthy coral reefs could mean the elimination of a primary source of food, income and employment for millions of people around the world, as well as the extinction of many fascinating and beautiful marine species.
