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Coral Reefs Annual Event

June 28, 2016 By John Cooper Leave a Comment

We need to protect coral reefs.

There is a growing concern regarding the situation of coral reefs nowadays. This ocean treasure is highly endangered because this year it has been registered the largest coral bleaching that ever occurred in history.

This situation has determined many of the world’s organizations and scientists to take active measures to prevent this unusual weather event from spreading even further.

One of the initiatives will be Tuesday, July 5^th, and it will be represented by the annual event of Maui Ocean Center, known as Night at the Reef: Incredible Corals.

Probably hundreds of people will attend this event, and they will have the opportunity to see the genuine beauty of coral reefs. During the evening organizers will underline the importance of coral reproduction and other aspects of coral reefs in front of many experts and scientists from every corner of the world.

The largest varieties of Pacific corals live in Maui Ocean Center (MOC). More precisely, 41 coral species are well preserved in special aquariums, and most of them cannot be found in other parts of the world as these corals can be found in Hawaiian waters on.

The event will start at 7 p.m., and it will include many activities such as live entertainment, shopping, and pre-event refreshments. The price of admission is $25 for children between 3 and 12 years old and $30 for adults.

In addition to this, United States military and Hawaii residents will benefit from a 20 percent discount and a valid ID. Because the event is so famous, organizers advise people to make reservations if they want to make sure that they will participate in the exhibition.

Reservations can be made at (808) 270-7075, whereas people will be able to buy tickets from the website soon enough. Coral reefs are home to countless species of plants and marine creatures. If they become extinct, the ocean ecosystem will probably suffer the biggest decline in the history.

The plants and algae living on corals are full of nutrients and vital for the water quality. If coral bleaching does not stop, many species of marine plants, fish, and mammals relying on coral reefs will most likely become extinct.

A significant percent of the funds collected during the event will be donated by the Maui Ocean Center to a local non-profit organization, known as Project S.E.A. – Link. This organization offers marine science education and it raises awareness regarding the coral reefs threat among government agencies, other nonprofit organizations, the local community, scientists, teachers, and students.

Image Source:Wikipedia

Scientists Encourage Coral Reefs Protection Initiative

June 25, 2016 By John Cooper Leave a Comment

Coral bleaching has a become a critical issue.

There is a growing concern regarding the situation of the coral reefs. Over the last few decades, a strange phenomenon called bleaching has affected many of the reefs.

Unfortunately, scientists haven’t found a viable solution to this problem yet, but they spotted a broad range of causes. Still, experts have come up with an initiative to raise awareness and encourage everyone to bring their contribution to protecting coral reefs.

According to Terry Hughes, president of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies in Australia and Professor at James Cook University, if many of the world’s organizations collaborate to find a better approach to this problem, then the coral reefs will have a brighter future.

Even if scientists do not usually get involved in political issues, coral bleaching is a critical matter which must not be ignored. Until now, three Pacific island nations have raised awareness regarding this problem most importantly because the reefs in their waters will be hit be the largest coral bleaching phenomenon ever seen in history.

The participants at the International Coral Reef Symposium in Honolulu are now better informed regarding the threat of this worldwide event that is less likely to stop anytime soon. Furthermore, scientists have already doubled their efforts to develop the best strategy against this plague.

It is also worth mentioning that even the heads of Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau participated in the conference and promised that they will bring their contribution to improving the situation of coral reefs, which represent an important source of economic benefits for them.

Plus, scientists also stated that officials need to develop a better coral reef policy based on scientific research, customary practices, and traditional knowledge. Coral bleaching is a phenomenon that occurs when the ocean waters get too warm. Furthermore, many other factors cause this event such as environmental changes, human ignorance, and pollution.

More precisely, the coral reefs lose the algae living on them. These algae are rich in nutrients and represent a major source of food for many of the ocean creatures.

Moreover, coral reefs are home to countless species of marine animals. Losing them would lead to a tremendous imbalance in the world’s ecosystem meaning that many species of fish and mammals will most likely become endangered. Hopefully, the work and efforts of scientists and governments will eventually pay off.

Image Source:Static Flickr

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