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Currents E-News January 2008

IN THIS EDITION:

MARINE AND COASTAL LEGISLATION, POLICY AND PLANNING
1. Senate Rejects President's Bill To Nationalize Koror State Reef Area (Palau)
2. Japan plans $10 billion aid to fight global warming (Japan)

COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT
3. Linking land and sea helps with Rota habitat restoration (Northern Mariana Islands)

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
4. Bajau Laut learning new fishing tricks (Malaysia)
5. Fagatele Bay On World Heritage Nomination List (American Samoa)
6. Canberra to help Asia in heritage list (Australia)
7. Seahorse sanctuary in Bohol judged the best in RP (Philippines)
8. Marine Managed Areas In The Pacific Region (Pacific)

FISHERIES
9. Corruption in fisheries – from bad to worse (International)
10. Solomon’s Fishery continues tuna tagging programme (Solomon Islands)
11. Three Nauruans Survive 1,000-Mile Drift At Sea (Nauru)
12. PNG plans to become world’s tuna capital (Papua New Guinea)
13. Philippines Looks for Value as Tuna Catch Falls (Philippines)
14. Palauan Pays Fine For Violating Traditional Fishing Ban (Palau)
15. Continental To Fly Stranded Fisherman Home From Palau (Palau)
16. Te Vaka Remix Of Ocean Conservation Song Launched (Hawaii)
17. Finfish licence buyout in Torres Strait (Torres Strait Islands, Australia)
18. Tuna Fisheries Frustrations Acknowledged By Commission (Guam)
19. Fish stocks declining: Semri briefs Somare (Papua New Guinea)
20. Palau President Wants Fish Export Tax Raised To $1 Per Kilo (Palau)
21. Boost for fishing industry (Papua New Guinea)
22. Fisheries commission tackles conservation of seabirds (Northern Mariana Islands)
23. Pacific nations limit tuna fishing (Pacific)
24. Turning A Blind Eye To Bigeye Tuna (International)

AQUACULTURE
25. Seaweed to be the lifeline of fishermen (Malaysia)
26. DENR, mayors clash over demolition of Taal lake fish cages (Philippines)
27. BFAR urges fish farmers on mudcrab culture (Philippines)
28. Bali's fishermen adapt to climate change (Indonesia)
29. 5 years on, no crab farm in sight (Malaysia)
30. High cost of fish feed causes losses (Vietnam)

CLIMATE CHANGE
31. Climate Change, Governance Policies Remain Concerns for Developing Pacific Nations (Pacific)
32. Italy To Give $Us12m For Health & Climate Change (Pacific)
33. Pacific's future under threat (Fiji)
34. Calls From Small States On Climate Change (Pacific)
35. Communities Across the Globe Getting to Grips with Adapting to Climate Change (International)

NATURAL HAZARDS
36. Cyclone Hits Fiji, Two Dead (Fiji)
37. Landslide in Indonesia’s Papua province kills at least 10 people (Indonesia)

INVASIVE MARINE AND COASTAL SPECIES
38. Killer starfish destroy 'richest' coral reefs (Indonesia)

MARINE SPECIES
39. Mating Crocs A Threat To Villagers (Papua New Guinea)
40. Pride Campaign focuses on coral reefs (Northern Mariana Islands)
41. It's the Year of the Reef (Hawaii)
42. Manila Ocean Park, WWF work together to promote marine biodiversity (Philippines)
43. Coral reef symposium, proclamation on Friday (Northern Mariana Islands)
44. NOAA Releases Report on the State of Deep Coral Ecosystems in the U.S. (USA)

PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
45. S.Korea SK Energy to Ban Single-Hulled Tankers 2010 (Singapore)
46. Scientists oppose extending oil exploration in Tañon Strait (Philippines)
47. Anglo-linked company scours the ocean floor for precious and base metals (Papua New Guinea)

SHIPPING AND PORTS
48. Russian fleet will sail in Pacific war games (Hawaii)

BLUE ENERGY
49. Israel And Pacific Islands Discuss Renewable Energy (American Samoa)
50. Efforts to Harvest Ocean’s Energy Open New Debate Front (USA)

HERITAGE
51. Found: a real old man of the sea (Vanuatu)

COASTAL WETLANDS
52. Mangroves help Indonesia fend off climate change (Indonesia)

POLLUTION
53. Filipinos aware water pollution a serious threat (Philippines)
54. South Korean Town Fights for Life After Oil Spill (South Korea)

RECREATION AND TOURISM
55. Green only way to go; ADEX `08 urges `Save the Sea, Be a Diver!` (Singapore)
56. Coral Reef Centre Marks 7th Anniversary (Palau)
57. Marshall Islands Joins South-pacific.travel (Marshall Islands)
58. Balinese Farm Coral to Boost Fish Catch, Income (Indonesia)
59. Green Tourism Workshop ‘Towards a South Pacific Action - Strategy for Green Tourism’ (South Pacific)

RESEARCH
60. Study sheds light on ocean's thermal vents (East Pacific)
61. Coral's chances of avoiding bleaching (International)

PUBLICATIONS & WEBSITES
62. The Rising Tide: Kiribati (Kiribati)
63. Coral Reefs (International)
64. Valuing Pacific Fish: A framework for fisheries-related development assistance in the Pacific (Australia)
65. Fisheries and Aquaculture Fact Sheets (International)

WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
66. International Year of the Reef 2008 (International)
67. Advances in Tagging and Marking technology for Fisheries Management and Research (International)

CALL FOR PAPERS & ABSTRACTS
68. Asian Wetland Symposium 2008 (Asia)

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MARINE AND COASTAL LEGISLATION, POLICY AND PLANNING

1. Senate Rejects President's Bill To Nationalize Koror State Reef Area (Palau)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
11 January 2008
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
Palau's Senate has killed President Remengesau Jr.'s bill to designate the Ngemelis Islands as a National Heritage site.  The islands and area have become emboiled in a heated dispute between Koror State and legislature and the President and tourism industry. Koror State wants to open the area to fishing.  But President Remengesau and tourism figures say fishing within 100 yards of world famous dive sites may jeopardize their marine environment and attractions. 
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2. Japan plans $10 billion aid to fight global warming (Japan)
Abridged from: Reuters
10 January 2008
Full text: http://uk.reuters.com
Japan plans to set aside about $10 billion over the next five years to help countries such as China and Indonesia fight global warming, a newspaper reported on Thursday. 
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COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT

3. Linking land and sea helps with Rota habitat restoration (Northern Mariana Islands)
Abridged from: Saipan Tribune
25 January 2008
Full text: http://www.saipantribune.com
Hunters on the Island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas often burn the area forest to spur the growth of new vegetation that attracts deer.  Not only are these hunters unknowingly destroying the deer's habitat, but the resulting soil erosion is also causing algae growth that is smothering near shore corals and driving away fish.  Ten agencies on the island have joined forces to replant the habitat and create a community education and outreach program.  “People are now beginning to understand the connection between the land and the sea,” says Lihla Noori, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration coral reef management fellow and coordinator of the Project.
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MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

4. Bajau Laut learning new fishing tricks (Malaysia)
Abridged from:   New Straits Times
26 January 2008
Full text: http://www.nst.com.my
Semporna has gained worldwide popularity for its calm turquoise waters filled with natural wonders. It is here that conservationists are working with local communities to tell them about alternative livelihoods, now that they live within a marine park. This is by no means an easy task.  For centuries the fishermen, in what is now known as the Tun Sakaran Marine Park, have cast their nets to catch sought-after groupers for the live fish trade. Others have been actively involved in "fish blasting", destroying reefs in the process. 
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5. Fagatele Bay On World Heritage Nomination List (American Samoa)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
23 January 2008
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
(US) Secretary of the Interior today announced his selection of 14 U.S. sites to be included on a new United States World Heritage Tentative List.  The list includes Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, American Samoa. A small pristine bay on the large Samoan island of Tutuila. The refuge is a fringing coral reef ecosystem within an eroded volcanic crater.  The Bay contains a vast array of tropical marine organisms, including corals, marine mammals, and threatened and endangered species, including hawksbill and green sea turtles.
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6. Canberra to help Asia in heritage list (Australia)
Abridged from: The Age
10 December 2007
Full text: http://news.theage.com.au
Australia has offered to help six Asia-Pacific countries win World Heritage listing for a massive coral reef brimming with marine life. The Coral Triangle spans 5.7 million square kilometres from the northern tip of the Philippines to the Indian Ocean below Singapore and as far west as the Solomon Islands. While it covers just two per cent of the world's ocean, it contains 76 per cent of all known coral species and 53 per cent of the world's coral reefs. It is home to more than 3,000 species of fish, more than 600 species of coral, and supports more than 120 million people. 
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Related articles:
http://www.theage.com.au
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7. Seahorse sanctuary in Bohol judged the best in RP (Philippines)
Abridged from: The Good News
9 December 2007
Full text: http://www.inquirer.net
After sundown, tourists would travel by boat to Jandayan Island off Bohol and go diving to look at the luminous seahorses swimming among corals in the dark waters. For over 10 years, the seahorses have thrived in the waters off Getafe town in Jandayan, along with fish, corals and other marine life. The fisherfolk and officials of Barangay Handumon helped make this possible.  They banded together to put up, manage and protect a marine sanctuary out in the sea since 1995 despite meagre resources and little support from the national government. 
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8. Marine Managed Areas In The Pacific Region (Pacific)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
6 December 2007
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
Marine Conservation is more than a matter of protecting biodiversity, for those in the Pacific it is also about protecting their livelihoods. Pacific waters hold rich and globally important marine ecosystems with extensive coral systems and unique habitats seamounts culturally and economically important migratory species cetaceans, marine turtles and sharks and tuna. The Pacific region holds the world’s largest stocks of tuna and pelagic species, with total catches of all commercial tuna represented an annual landed value of 2 Billion USD, fisheries being a major contributor to the Gross Domestic Product for most Pacific islands countries and territories.
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FISHERIES

9. Corruption in fisheries – from bad to worse (International)
Abridged from: IUCN Media Statement
29 January 2008
Full text: http://www.iucn.org
Corruption in global fisheries is compounding the devastating effects of overfishing – and the problem could get worse, according to IUCN. Corruption in fisheries is increasing against a backdrop of declining fish stocks and increased consumer demand.  It taints all aspects of the fishing industry, from the scientific evidence that quotas are based on, to the mislabelling of fish.  

Further information:
addressing corruption in pacific islands fisheries - draft
http://www.iucn.org
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10. Solomon’s Fishery continues tuna tagging programme (Solomon Islands)
Abridged from: Radio New Zealand International
28 January 2008
Full text: http://www.rnzi.com
The Solomon Islands Fisheries Ministry is continuing its programme to tag and monitor three main tuna species - yellow fin, big eye and skip jack. The National Tuna Data Coordinator and Tag Return Officer, Hudson Wakio, says the tagging program is part of global and regional efforts of member countries of the Central Western Pacific.
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11. Three Nauruans Survive 1,000-Mile Drift At Sea (Nauru)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
26 January 2008
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
Three fishermen from Nauru survived an 11-day ordeal at sea after their engine broke down and are now safe in Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands. A strong current whisked them away from Nauru when their 40 horsepower engine died and it wasn’t until January 13 that they were rescued by a Taiwanese purse seiner fishing near Papua New Guinea, a drift of close to 1,000 miles southwest of Nauru.
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12. PNG plans to become world’s tuna capital (Papua New Guinea)
Abridged from: The National
21 January 2008
Full text: http://www.thenational.com.pg
The (PNG) Fisheries Ministry is focused on making Papua New Guinea the world’s tuna capital. And the establishment of the Madang marine industrial park will enhance this objective. The marine park will augment fisheries benefits to local fishermen, fishing groups and be a big boost to the national coffers. Currently, PNG gets less than 40% of expected export revenue in the sector because of the lack of on-shore processing facilities.
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13. Philippines Looks for Value as Tuna Catch Falls (Philippines)
Abridged from: Planet Ark
14 January 2008
Full text: http://www.planetark.com
For decades, the fishermen of the southern Philippines have been going to sea for a few days, catching one or two tuna fish and living off the sales for a month.  As the catch rose to match surging demand, the Philippines became the world's fourth-largest tuna producer.  Last year, for the first time, the catch dwindled.
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14. Palauan Pays Fine For Violating Traditional Fishing Ban (Palau)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
4 January 2008
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
In a unique settlement, Palauan businessman Swenny Ongidobel has presented himself before Ngarchelong State’s traditional chiefs, to acknowledge and apologize for fishing in Ngarchelong State waters.  
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15. Continental To Fly Stranded Fisherman Home From Palau (Palau)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
4 January 2008
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
Continental Micronesia will fly home the last of the stranded Filipino fishermen from Palau to their home country of the Philippines tonight.  The fishermen were fishing in Indonesia when their vessel had engine trouble and lost radio contact.
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16. Te Vaka Remix Of Ocean Conservation Song Launched (Hawaii)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
19 December 2007
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
In 2004 Te Vaka, one of the most successful bands in Polynesia wrote the song for Greenpeace and it now features in their latest album titled “Olatia”.  Meshing traditional Polynesian drumbeats with socially conscious messages sung in Tokelauan, Tuvaluan and Samoan, Olatia's heart belongs to the people it tries to inspire, and to the environment it intends to see saved from ill use and neglect.  The “Our Ocean” song is a remixed version of Te Vaka’s passionate call as Pacific Islanders to regional leaders, and to the world's fishing industry, to ensure the Pacific tuna fishery survives large scale commercial fishing.  
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17. Finfish licence buyout in Torres Strait (Torres Strait Islands, Australia)
Abridged from: Media Release, The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
18 December 2007
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, announced that a 100 per cent buy-back of Torres Strait Finfish entitlements worth $10.6 million had been successfully completed. The buy-back was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Torres Strait Regional Authority.  “This will improve the livelihoods of traditional inhabitants of the Torres Strait and allow commercial fishermen to restructure their businesses with appropriate support,” Mr Burke said.
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18. Tuna Fisheries Frustrations Acknowledged By Commission (Guam)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
18 December 2007
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
Thirty three members of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission completed six days of intensive negotiations in Guam. Reports from the meeting indicate that while fisheries officials were able to identify continuous positive developments in the Commission most were frustrated by the meeting outcomes on the key issue of stock conservation. 

Related articles:
http://www.pacificmagazine.net
http://www.guampdn.com
http://www.webwire.com
http://www.pacificmagazine.net
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19. Fish stocks declining: Semri briefs Somare (Papua New Guinea)
Abridged from: The National
14 December 2007
Full text: http://www.thenational.com.pg
Minister for Fisheries Ben Semri said the Pacific Ocean faces a marked decline in fish stocks if corrective measures were not taken immediately. He said a scientific committee of the Conference on the Pacific Community had predicted a general decline in the fish stock in the Pacific Ocean over the next 30 years if conservation measures were not taken immediately to protect reefs, corals and mangroves. These reefs, corals and mangroves have been the spawning grounds and hubs to more than 4,000 species of fish, he said. 
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20. Palau President Wants Fish Export Tax Raised To $1 Per Kilo (Palau)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
11 December 2007
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
Palau’s Congress and President have passed and signed into law the fiscal budget for 2008 but apparently the $0.10 raise to $0.35 per kilo on fish export tax isn’t even close to what the President feels is reasonable and needed.  
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21. Boost for fishing industry (Papua New Guinea)
Abridged from: The National
7 December 2007
Full text: http://www.thenational.com.pg
Two proposals that should boost the local fishing industry have been presented to the Madang provincial administration. They are aimed at providing credit funds to people and groups involved in the fisheries sector and to create markets, Provincial Fisheries adviser Thomas Amepou said. “The first is the coastal fishing programme and the second is the community-based fishing programme.  They are aimed at assisting and giving technical advice to local people in terms of seeking loan facilities and market arrangements,” he said.
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22. Fisheries commission tackles conservation of seabirds (Northern Mariana Islands)
Abridged from: Marianas Variety
6 December 2007
Full text: http://www.mvariety.com
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission has agreed to develop conservation measures to minimize the incidental “bycatch” of albatrosses and petrels in the Pacific Ocean covered by the convention jurisdiction. The commission adopted the New Zealand-proposed arrangement between WCPFC and the Secretariat for the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels that will facilitate procedures to promote mutual cooperation on efforts to conserve the migratory seabirds. 
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23. Pacific nations limit tuna fishing (Pacific)
Abridged from: ABC News Online
3 December 2007
Full text: http://www.abc.net.au
Several Pacific island nations have started to limit the number of tuna boats allowed in their national waters, in an effort to conserve the tuna fisheries of the region. Papua New Guinea, Nauru and the Solomon Islands are among eight countries taking part in what is known as the Vessel Days Scheme. The scheme limits the number of Tuna boats to be allowed in the zones at any one time, as well as setting a maximum amount of fish each boat can harvest.  
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24. Turning A Blind Eye To Bigeye Tuna (International)
Abridged from: Science Daily
3 December 2007
Full text: http://www.sciencedaily.com
Bigeye tuna are under threat because authorities are failing to recognize the dire extent of overfishing. If protection measures are not put in place, says WWF and TRAFFIC, the tuna stocks are at serious risk of collapse. 
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AQUACULTURE

25. Seaweed to be the lifeline of fishermen (Malaysia)
Abridged from: New Straits Times
26 January 2008
Full text: http://www.nst.com.my
Fishing is the only life that Imai Ulai has ever known.  Now in his 50s, Imai is excited about venturing into seaweed farming, optimistic that he will make enough money to buy groceries so that his extended family of 20-odd people will have something different to cook on their firewood stove. Breaking into a smile, Imai says he and several other family members had attended workshops organised by the Semporna Islands Darwin Project.  He says in his native Bajau Laut language that these had proven to be an eye-opener.
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26. DENR, mayors clash over demolition of Taal lake fish cages (Philippines)
Abridged from: Inquirer.net
25 January 2008
Full text: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net
While Talisay Mayor Florencio Manimtim is saying there is no alternative livelihood available for his constituents affected by the planned demolition of the fish cages in Taal Lake, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza is standing pat on his plan to dismantle all existing aquaculture structures in the lake to be able to "protect its beauty.”
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27. BFAR urges fish farmers on mudcrab culture (Philippines)
Abridged from: Philippine Information Agency
24 January 2008
Full text: http://www.pia.gov.ph
The (Philippines) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have encouraged fishfarmers in the coastal areas of Cagayan province to go on mudcrab culure. Elpidio Palattao, BFAR senior aquaculturist said mudcrab is indigenous in the area. He said mudcrab can be cultured either in brackishwater fishponds or at mangrove areas through an environment-friendly technology known as 'Aquasilvi' or mangrove aquaculture.
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28. Bali's fishermen adapt to climate change (Indonesia)
Abridged from: ABC News Online
12 December 2007
Full text: http://www.abc.net.au
Many are turning away from fishing to a small but innovative scheme aimed at reviving the tropical island's coral reef, which is threatened by rising temperatures and over-exploitation. 
The scheme, run by environment group WWF, encourages people to give up damaging fishing practices and turn instead to the more sustainable and lucrative practice of seaweed farming. The algae farms, launched in 2001 support 200 households.  
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29. 5 years on, no crab farm in sight (Malaysia)
Abridged from: Growfish
9 December 2007
Full text: http://www.growfish.com.au
Five years ago, about 3,000 fishermen and Orang Asli living along the banks of Kesang-Sungai Balang in Muar were fed dreams of earning enough money to lift themselves out of the hardship that shackled their lives.  They were told that two projects were coming in their area, an initiative to breed soft-shell crabs and a separate tiger prawn farm, both of which would enable them to make extra money to supplement their meagre fishermen incomes. So far, only the tiger prawn farm in Kampung Sungai Sarang Buaya Laut had taken off and even that has been abandoned for two years, while the soft-shell crab breeding area remains just a plan. 
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30. High cost of fish feed causes losses (Vietnam)
Abridged from: Growfish
9 December 2007
Full text: http://www.growfish.com.au
Farmers and feed producers in the Mekong delta region are facing serious losses as the price of fish feed continues to rocket. The crux of the problem is rising costs of raw materials like bran, soybean residue and saltwater fish, director of a domestic feed-producing company says.
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CLIMATE CHANGE

31. Climate Change, Governance Policies Remain Concerns for Developing Pacific Nations (Pacific)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
29 January 2008
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
Given the dramatic challenges presented by climate change, including the risk that some islands in the Pacific may become uninhabitable, the Asian Development Bank's Pacific Strategy will be further refined to provide more emphasis on environmental management to help the region better manage its vulnerable natural environment.
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32. Italy To Give $Us12m For Health & Climate Change (Pacific)
Abridged from: ABC Radio Australia Pacific Beat
24 January 2008
Full text: http://www.radioaustralia
The Italian government is offering Pacific nations direct development funding for the first time.  The new funding of 12-million dollars US over three years is separate from the money it gives to the region through the European Union.  It will be used to tackle health and climate change issues.  The Italian government has also pledged to host meetings at the Pacific Islands Forum summit later this year to deepen relations.
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33. Pacific's future under threat (Fiji)
Abridged from: Fiji Times
20 December 2007
Full text: http://www.fijitimes.com
Pacific Island countries have amongst the smallest carbon footprints in the world, yet they are likely to suffer the most severe consequences of climate change if the world community does not manage global warming.  This is one of the major topics raised by the United Nations Development Programme at the recent launch of the 2007 Human Development Report, Fighting Climate Change: Human Solidarity in a Divided World.
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34. Calls From Small States On Climate Change (Pacific)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
13 December 2007
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
At the United Nations climate change conference, Dr Angus Friday, Chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), gave an impassioned speech which highlighted that climate change is the most critical issue facing small island states around the world.  In his address, Dr Friday said that for AOSIS, “the outcome of Bali is a matter of survival.” AOSIS called for nations to limit temperature increases to well below 2 degrees and for the avoidance of the adverse impacts on Small Island Developing States to be the fundamental benchmark against which all the negotiations of the Bali Roadmap are conducted.

Related articles:
http://www.abc.net.au
http://www.planetark.com
http://www.planetark.com
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35. Communities Across the Globe Getting to Grips with Adapting to Climate Change (International)
Abridged from: United National Environment Programme website
December 2007
Full text: http://www.unep.org
The way farmers in the Sudan, flood-prone communities in Argentina and dengue-challenged islands in the Caribbean are beginning to adapt to climate change are distilled in a new report launched recently. The five-year Assessments of Impacts and Adaptations to Climate Change provides examples of how vulnerable communities and countries may 'climate proof' economies in the years and decades to come.

Further information:
View and download report (approx 3MB download): http://www.start.org
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NATURAL HAZARDS

36. Cyclone Hits Fiji, Two Dead (Fiji)
Abridged from: Planet Ark
29 January 2008
Full text: http://www.planetark.com
A tropical cyclone with winds gusting up to 140 kpm hit Fiji's main island of Viti Levu on Monday, flattening houses, causing flooding and bringing down trees and powerlines, officials said.  Many Fijians living in coastal villages on the west side of Viti Levu, which is also the country's main tourist centre, have moved to higher ground, with warnings of heavy seas and swells.

Related articles:
http://www.fijitimes.com
http://www.rnzi.com
http://www.pacificmagazine.net
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37. Landslide in Indonesia’s Papua province kills at least 10 people (Indonesia)
Abridged from: Radio New Zealand International
15 January 2008
Full text: http://www.rnzi.com
A landslide in Indonesia’s Papua province has killed at least 10 people after heavy rain caused a hillside to collapse onto a complex of houses. A local police official says the disaster occurred on Monday afternoon after heavy downpours, combined with strong winds in the area, destabilised the hillside. Landslides and floods are frequent in Indonesia, where tropical downpours can quickly soaks hillsides and years of deforestation often mean there is little vegetation to hold the soil.
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INVASIVE MARINE AND COASTAL SPECIES

38. Killer starfish destroy 'richest' coral reefs (Indonesia)
Abridged from: New Scientist
29 January 2008
Full text: http://environment.newscientist.com
Some of the most stunning reefs in the "Coral Triangle", the world's richest area of coral biodiversity, have been destroyed by crown-of-thorns starfish, which feed by spreading their stomachs over coral. That's the dismal result of a survey last month of reefs around Halmahera, an Indonesian island at the heart of the triangle, which stretches from the Philippines to the Malaysian peninsula to the Solomon Islands.  "There have been ongoing outbreaks throughout the triangle, but at the isolated centre we hoped to find pristine reefs," says team member Andrew Baird.

Related articles:
http://www.abc.net.au
http://www.sciencealert.com.au
http://www.theage.com.au
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MARINE SPECIES

39. Mating Crocs A Threat To Villagers (Papua New Guinea)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
29 January 2008
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
A man was attacked and killed by a crocodile on the west coast of Manus after he went spear diving with friends on January 19. Manus Provincial Administrator Wep Kanawi said it was mating season for the reptiles and he warned villagers that there will be increased sightings as crocodiles look for nesting and mating sites along the coast and river estuaries.
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40. Pride Campaign focuses on coral reefs (Northern Mariana Islands)
Abridged from: Saipan Tribune
25 January 2008
Full text: http://www.saipantribune.com
Local environment agencies are banding together to bring to the islands the Pride Campaign, a year-long effort to raise awareness of the CNMI's coral reefs and help people change their behaviour to preserve this natural resource.
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41. It's the Year of the Reef (Hawaii)
Abridged from: Honolulu Advertiser
24 January 2008
Full text: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com
Hawaii's coral reefs shelter thousands of marine plants and animals and protect shores from erosion.  They create the Islands' legendary surf and are critical to the state's marine tourism industry.  Coral reefs, sometimes called the rain forest of the sea, also are under enormous stress from threats ranging from pollution and alien species to overfishing and recreational overuse. "They're valuable, they're awesome, they're spectacular, and they're in trouble," said Randall Kosaki, research coordinator for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. 
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42. Manila Ocean Park, WWF work together to promote marine biodiversity (Philippines)
Abridged from: Inquirer.net
17 January 2008
Full text: http://blogs.inquirer.net
The soon to be opened Manila Ocean Park has tied up with the conservation group World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines largely to highlight public awareness, as well as to monitor the MOP’s adherence to local and international laws on animal acquisition and maintenance. The partnership aims to strengthen the WWF’s public information on the protection of marine ecosystems in the Philippines through the educational materials provided by the MOP to visitors.  The WWF will also ensure that the MOP does not include protected or endangered species of marine life as part of its exhibits.
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43. Coral reef symposium, proclamation on Friday (Northern Mariana Islands)
Abridged from: Saipan Tribune
17 January 2008
Full text: http://www.saipantribune.com
2008 is the International Year of the Reef Jan. 18, 2008, Gov. Benigno Fitial and Lt. Gov. Tim Villagomez proclaimed 2008 as the CNMI Year of the Reef.  International Year of the Reef 2008 is a worldwide campaign to: raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability and to motivate people to take action to protect them.
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44. NOAA Releases Report on the State of Deep Coral Ecosystems in the U.S. (USA)
Abridged from: NOAA Website
10 December 2007
Full text: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today released a new report, The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of the United States.  The peer-reviewed report, prepared by NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program, provides a baseline for future research and management of these unique and vulnerable ecosystems.  The report comes on the eve of the declaration of 2008 as the International Year of the Reef, a worldwide campaign to raise public awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability.

Download copy of report:http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov
Link to section on Hawaii & Pacific Islands: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov
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PETROLEUM AND MINERALS

45. S.Korea SK Energy to Ban Single-Hulled Tankers 2010 (Singapore)
Abridged from: Planet Ark
29 January 2008
Full text: http://www.planetark.com
South Korea's SK Energy which operates the world's second-biggest refinery, said on Friday it will not use single-hulled oil tankers from 2010, a year ahead of the government's new deadline.  SK Energy's move follows its rival GS Caltex, South Korea's second-biggest refiner, which said this week it would ban such tankers from next year in the wake of the country's worst oil spill, which occurred last month.  
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46. Scientists oppose extending oil exploration in Tañon Strait (Philippines)
Abridged from: Inquirer.net
27 January 2008
Full text: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net
Marine scientists have called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to cancel the extension of an oil exploration permit for Tañon Strait issued to Japan Exploration Co. In a statement, scientists belonging to the Philippine Association of Marine Scientists also asked for a transparent review of the whole Environmental Impact Assessment process for the exploration. 
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47. Anglo-linked company scours the ocean floor for precious and base metals (Papua New Guinea)
Abridged from: Mining Weekly
7 December 2007
Full text: http://www.miningweekly.co.za
There is quite a bit more underneath the sea than diamonds and oil.  Nautilus is the first company to commercially explore the ocean floor for something called 'gold and copper seafloor massive sulphide deposits', which are considered modern-day analogues of volcanogenic massive sulphide systems – a prime source of the world's onshore copper, gold, zinc and silver deposits. Nautilus' main focus for 2008 is the Solwara 1 project, which is located in the territorial waters of Papua New Guinea, in the western Pacific Ocean.
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SHIPPING AND PORTS

48. Russian fleet will sail in Pacific war games (Hawaii)
Abridged from: Star Bulletin
4 January 2008
Full text: http://starbulletin.com
For the first time, Russia will join the armada of foreign and U.S. warships participating this summer in the largest naval war games in the world. Adm. Robert Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, told the members of the Chamber Commerce of Hawaii yesterday that the Russian navy will join the estimated three dozen warships from 11 nations in the Rim of the Pacific exercise held every two years in waters off Oahu and Kauai. 
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BLUE ENERGY

49. Israel And Pacific Islands Discuss Renewable Energy (American Samoa)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
17 January 2008
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
American Samoa Congressman Faleomavaega has just returned from Israel where he and other Pacific Island representatives discussed ways to advance their relationship. “Given that Israel is known for its technological advancements in wind, water, and solar energy, and that Israel has also made important advancements in the desalinization process which is critical to Pacific Island nations that may face serious water shortages, we felt that an educational program and exchange would be a first step in developing a partnership for the future,” Faleomavaega says.
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50. Efforts to Harvest Ocean’s Energy Open New Debate Front (USA)
Abridged from: The New York Times
8 December 2007
Full text: http://www.nytimes.com
Chris Martinson and his fellow fishermen catch crab and shrimp in the same big swell that one day could generate an important part of the Northwest’s energy supply.  Wave farms, harvested with high-tech buoys that are being tested on the Oregon coast, would strain clean, renewable power from the surging sea.  Amid concerns about climate change and the pollution caused by generating electricity with coal and natural gas, Oregon is looking to draw power from the waves that pound its coast with forbidding efficiency. It might seem a perfect solution in a region that has long been ahead of the national curve on alternative energy.  Yet the debate over the potential damage — whether to the environment, the fishing industry or the stunning views of the Pacific — has become intense before the first megawatt has been transmitted to shore.
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HERITAGE

51. Found: a real old man of the sea (Vanuatu)
Abridged from: The Sydney Morning Herald
13 December 2007
Full text: http://www.smh.com.au
It was obvious he was special from the moment archaeologists began to unearth his 3000-year-old remains.  Skulls from three other people - two men and a woman - and the jaw of a fourth person had been carefully laid to rest on top of his skeleton. The old man was one of the mysterious Lapita people - crafters of exquisite pottery who made the last great human migration on Earth, heading out across the Pacific Ocean more than three millenniums ago, to settle Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. His skull-filled grave is unique in an ancient cemetery on Efate, the main island of Vanuatu, where a team from Australia and Vanuatu has discovered more than 60 Lapita skeletons in a range of burial positions.
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COASTAL WETLANDS

52. Mangroves help Indonesia fend off climate change (Indonesia)
Abridged from: Reuters
6 December 2007
Full text: http://www.reuters.com
Dark, foul-smelling mangrove swamps can help Indonesia's coastal communities fend off rising seas and stronger tropical storms caused by climate change, experts say. Experts say mangroves are not getting the attention they deserve as a protective coastal barrier. Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow along a saline strip along the coast, now and then swamped by tides.  The thin roots provide a habitat for shrimps and small fish, break up waves and hold back silt and soil that damage coral reefs. Mangroves can keep rising seas at bay to a certain extent, giving communities more time to adjust.  The trees can help people cope with heatwaves and help break up waves in the event of a tropical storm.
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POLLUTION

53. Filipinos aware water pollution a serious threat (Philippines)
Abridged from: Inquirer.net
25 January 2008
Full text: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net
Five of every 10 Filipinos believe water pollution is a serious threat to their health and environment but the government is unable to enforce environmental laws. Results of survey of the Social Weather Stations released Friday also showed that at least three of every six Metro Manila residents did not agree that pollution was an “acceptable” trade-off for economic progress.  The SWS survey, a first on water pollution and enforcement of environmental laws, was commissioned by the environmental group Greenpeace as part of its “Project: Clean Water” program launched in September.
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54. South Korean Town Fights for Life After Oil Spill (South Korea)
Abridged from: Planet Ark
17 January 2008
Full text: http://www.planetark.com
A month after South Korea's worst oil spill, blackened west coast beaches have been cleaned by more than 1 million volunteers but residents are struggling to pick up shattered lives.  The fishing industry has died and tourism has dried up.  Last week, fisherman Lee Young-kwon killed himself by drinking pesticide in despair over losing his oyster farm.

Related articles:
http://www.enn.com
http://www.abc.net.au
http://www.abc.net.au
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RECREATION & TOURISM

55. Green only way to go; ADEX `08 urges `Save the Sea, Be a Diver!` (Singapore)
Abridged from: ANTARA News
28 January 2008
Full text: http://www.antara.co.id
Reflecting the dive industry's trend towards more environmentally aware practices, Asia Dive Expo 2008 (ADEX) will this year turn its focus towards eco-friendly diving. 'Eco-friendly diving' covers preservation of live coral reefs, maintaining sustainable fisheries, protecting endangered species, responsible wreck diving and dive-related eco-tourism.  Further information: http://www.asiadiveexpo.com
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56. Coral Reef Centre Marks 7th Anniversary (Palau)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
19 January 2008
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
The Palau International Coral Reef Centre in Koror is a unique environmental study and research project jointly supported by Japan, United States and Palau. The Palau International Coral Reef Centre Act of 1997 was established to support a self-sustaining non-profit coral reef centre and marine park that would also be a forum for coral reef studies, research and education.
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57. Marshall Islands Joins South-pacific.travel (Marshall Islands)
Abridged from: Pacific Magazine
9 January 2008
Full text: http://www.pacificmagazine.net
The Republic of Marshall Islands this month becomes the 15th country member of south-pacific.travel. Marshall Islands welcomed a little over 5000 visitors in 2006. South-pacific.travel is a not-for-profit regional organisation charged with marketing and developing tourism.
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58. Balinese Farm Coral to Boost Fish Catch, Income (Indonesia)
Abridged from: Planet Ark
10 December 2007
Full text: http://www.planetark.com
Algae-covered lumps of cement would make a strange catch for most fishermen, but they have helped revive a Bali fishing village devastated by reckless tourist development and "mining" of reefs for building materials.  Seaside Serangan has become a modest centre for the unusual coral-farming trade, with thousands of the formations growing in offshore iron grids.  They are sold for export or used to reconstruct reefs that nurture fish and draw diving tourists.  
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59. Green Tourism Workshop ‘Towards a South Pacific Action - Strategy for Green Tourism’ (South Pacific)
Abridged from:   South-Pacific.travel
View presentation (1.88 MB): http://www.spto.org
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RESEARCH

60. Study sheds light on ocean's thermal vents (East Pacific)
Abridged from: The Sydney Morning Herald
10 January 2008
Full text: http://www.smh.com.au
Thirty years ago, scientists exploring the depths of the ocean came across jets of hot water, spewing from the sea floor, that hauled up flecks of gold and other minerals from Earth's interior and nurtured weird, resilient microbial lifeforms. In a paper issued recently, marine seismologists looking at a site in the East Pacific said they had gained insights into how this unique plumbing system of hydrothermal vents works. The jets are found thousands of metres below the surface on the mid-ocean ridges - geologically active "mountain ranges" - formed from mighty tectonic plates that push into each other and form spines along the ocean floor. 
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61. Coral's chances of avoiding bleaching (International)
Abridged from: Science Alerts
5 December 2007
Full text: http://www.sciencealert.com.au
A new paper, published in The American Naturalist, investigates the potential for corals to evolve greater resistance to bleaching. The joint study, carried out by scientists from Queen’s University in Canada and the Australian Institute of Marine Science presents a new way of examining how coral reefs may respond to climate change. The mutualistic relationship between corals and the algae that live within their tissues can break down in response to stress, leaving the white calcium carbonate skeleton of the coral visible and hence a bleached appearance.
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PUBLICATIONS & WEBSITES

62. The Rising Tide: Kiribati (Kiribati)
Abridged from: You Tube
22 January 2008
A short documentary about the effects of global warming on Kiribati, a nation of 33 coral atolls in the central Pacific.
Download and view video: http://www.youtube.com
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63. Coral Reefs (International)
Abridged from: World Ocean Observatory
January 2008
Full text: http://www.thew2o.net
The World Ocean Observatory have launched their latest online event - Coral Reefs website. This site features videos and podcasts, reports and forums, educational materials and more to explain and highlight the state of the world’s coral reefs. 
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64. Valuing Pacific Fish: A framework for fisheries-related development assistance in the Pacific (Australia)
Abridged from: Australian Government, DFAT, AusAid
Full text: http://www.ausaid.gov.au
Download copy: http://www.ausaid.gov.au
The future of Pacific island subsistence and market economies is tied to the health of the freshwater, coastal and oceanic ecosystems of the region and the long term sustainability of their fisheries. The last two decades have been a period of major change in fisheries policies in many countries, with growing international concern over increasing fishing pressure on decreasing global resources. This framework provides a structured and strategic approach to fisheries-related assistance in the Pacific region.
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65. Fisheries and Aquaculture Fact Sheets (International)
Abridged from: Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations (FAO) Website
Full text: http://www.fao.org
Fact Sheets contain key information on fisheries and aquaculture-related subjects and are organized under broad headings: Resources, Geographic Profiles, Technology and Information Standards. All Fact Sheets have been developed through the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department and include source and citation references. Fifteen collections representing some 3300 unique Fact Sheets are currently available online.

More information / download fact sheets: http://www.fao.org
http://www.fao.org
http://www.fao.org
http://firms.fao.org
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WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES AND EVENTS

COMING UP (Feb 2008)

66. International Year of the Reef 2008 (International)
The International Year of the Reef 2008 is a year-long campaign of events and initiatives hosted by governments, individuals, corporations, schools around the world to promote awareness, conservation action and strengthen long-term constituencies for coral reef conservation. Anyone is welcome and actively encouraged to participate in this Initiative.
More information: http://www.icriforum.org and http://www.iyor.org/
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67. Advances in Tagging and Marking technology for Fisheries Management and Research (International)
24-28 February 2008
This International Symposium will be held in Auckland New Zealand, jointly hosted by the Australian Society for Fish Biology, the American Fisheries Society and the New Zealand Society for Marine Sciences.  More information: http://www.fisheries.org
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CALL FOR PAPERS & ABSTRACTS

68. Asian Wetland Symposium 2008 (Asia)
Wetlands -The Heart of Asia
22-25 June 2008, Hanoi, Vietnam.
A symposium to reflect on the importance of wetlands to the daily life of people in Asia
and to look into the progress and challenges in wetlands management and conservation. The Asian Wetland Symposium provides a single platform for discussions among various sectors including, national and local governments, NGOs, scientific experts, the private sector, and local and indigenous people engaged in wetland management to discuss issues, approaches and priorities in wetland management in the Asian Region. Deadline for submission of abstracts:15  February 2008; Notification of selected papers: 15 March 2008. 
More information: http://www.aws2008.net/
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View full calendar of events on MCCN website: Workshops, conferences and events

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DISCLAIMER

The views and opinions expressed in Currents E-News are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.

While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.

All material in Currents E-News may be reprinted unless it has been sourced from an unidentified publication whereby no reprint is authorised except by permission from the source publishers.

News articles are posted as a free community service for the purposes of non-commercial education, research and study review and news reporting, and are archived for reference of students and researchers as a 'fair dealing' activity under Australian Copyright Law.

Marine Coastal Community Network (MCCN) is a national, not-for-profit Network that facilitates government, industry & community involvement in marine and coastal conservation and sustainability initiatives.  Marine Coastal Community Network is supported by the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust.

Currents E-News is compiled by Anne Briggs for Marine Coastal Community Network.

MCCN acknowledge the valuable support of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme’s - Pacific Environment Information Network (PEIN) Digest.

Anne Briggs
Marine Coastal Community Network
PO Box 709
Spit Junction NSW 2088
Sydney, Australia
E: anne@mccn.org.au
W: http://www.mccn.org.au