Wildcoast-USA News:2 Sep 2010 at 9:48am
Earth News looks at rocks, global warming and extreme weather to get the lowdown on what the Earth is trying to tell us.
Hurricane Earl is forcing evacuations along North Carolina's barrier islands as officials prepare for the worst. East Coast Braces for Hurricane Earl2 Sep 2010 at 7:40am
Wildcoast-USA News:2 Sep 2010 at 9:30am
Latest headlines from WN Network
Instead of producing reports 3,000 pages long, the IPCC should focus only on the key questions that everyone is interested in If the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change didn't exist, would we need to invent it? Many people find it helpful to have a single point of reference on the big, global questions that everyone is interested in: can we detect human influence on climate, how large are changes expected to be in future, what are the main impacts likely to be and what can (not should) be done about it? These are questions on which the level of scientific consensus is far higher than most non-scientists believe, so an institution like the IPCC clearly has a role to play to assess and... Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change must keep its eye on the ball2 Sep 2010 at 9:45am
Large and powerful Hurricane Earl continued on a steady north-northwest track toward the U.S. coastline Thursday morning, moving around 18 mph. The storm was sitting less than 24 hours from making a possible landfall on North Carolina's Outer Banks. As of 8 a.m. EDT, Hurricane Earl... Hurricane Earl's path could include two U.S. landfalls over busy Labor Day we...2 Sep 2010 at 9:41am
Maalaea
Bay’s once-vibrant reefs suffer decline at an alarming rate By
CHRISTIE WILSON, The Honolulu Advertiser
The best place to see vibrant coral reefs in Maalaea may be at the Maui
Ocean Center. The popular aquarium displays an abundant range of marine
life that no longer exists in the adjacent bay, which has experienced a
total collapse of its underwater ecosystem in recent years, due largely
to human impacts.
Coral coverage in the bay was estimated at 50 to 75 percent in 1993 by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, similar to that found in the nearby
Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District. In 2006, a survey
found only 8 percent coral coverage at Maalaea.
The alarming speed at which the marine landscape has deteriorated offers
an important lesson in coral reef conservation, according to Russell
Sparks, an education specialist with the state Division of Aquatic
Resources.
"When these reefs degrade, when they go off the edge, it happens very
quickly," Sparks said. "When we see signs of it, we need to be willing
to make changes, sometimes major changes, and do it very quickly."
The causes of coral reef decline at Maalaea are complex, but severe
overgrowth of invasive algae is one indication the ecosystem's natural
balance is seriously out of whack, he said.
"We're not sure if it's the cause of the reef degradation or just the
symptom. When you have a healthy reef, there's no place for that algae
to grow," he said.
Shallow reefs in Maalaea and neighboring Kihei are almost totally
overgrown with Acanthophora spicifera (spiny seaweed), Ulva spp. (sea
lettuce) and reddish or brownish Hypnea musciformis (hookweed), which
can double its biomass in just two days. Growth rates of the limu in
South Maui are among
the highest anywhere in the world.
The economic impact of the Kihei seaweed invasion has been estimated at
$20 million annually from lost hotel revenue, reduced property values
and removal costs.
The ecological impact is incalculable.
"Algae is a natural part of the reef, but what happens when it's growing
out of control is that it smothers some of the corals and acts as an
irritant," Sparks said. "Healthy corals are not going to be affected by
algae, but when you have everything else stressing out the ecosystem, it
can become a big problem."
University of Hawaii studies have found a correlation between severe
algal growths and coastal areas with high human population densities.
There also is evidence that concentrations of nutrients such as nitrogen
and phosphorus are highly elevated in nearshore areas where algal blooms
are found. These nutrients, from fertilizers and wastewater, are
believed to accelerate seaweed growth.
Maalaea Bay is in close proximity to vast agricultural fields and golf
courses, which are sources of fertilizer runoff, and the area's
extensive coastal development is served by injection wells that
discharge treated sewage into the ocean.
"Maalaea is in a wetland coastal area where you have groundwater and
surface water funneling down there from the entire Central Maui
isthmus," Sparks said.
Unmonitored grading of a major commercial development in Maalaea in the
late 1990s resulted in tons of sediment being deposited into the bay,
further stressing the reefs, and piles of rotting seaweed encourage
bacteria hostile to corals.
As a result of these multiple impacts, Sparks said, Maalaea Bay has
changed from "a dynamic, actively growing coral reef ecosystem" into
eroding and relatively flat areas that don't provide structurally
complex habitat for the herbivorous fish that can keep algae growth in
check. Instead, the fish stocks are in poor condition, dominated by
small wrasses, triggerfish and puffers.
It may be too late for Maalaea's reefs to recover, but the state
Department of Land and Natural Resources took action this year to
prevent the same kind of swift decline off north Kaanapali, which also
suffers from algal blooms.
The newly created Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area bans
removal of rudderfish (nenue), parrotfish (uhu), surgeonfish and sea
urchins, all important limu-grazers.
Featured Coastline:
ENGLAND
Past news: WASHINGTON - President Bush created
the world's largest marine protected area — a group of remote Hawaiian
islands that cover 84 million acres and are home to 7,000 species of
birds, fish and marine mammals, at least a quarter of which are unique
to Hawaii.
At a White House
ceremony, the president designated the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands the
United States’ 75th national monument. The islands have been described
as “America’s Galapagos” and as the most intact tropical marine region
under U.S. jurisdiction.
“To put this area in
context, this national monument is more than 100 times larger than
Yosemite National Park,” Bush said. “It’s larger than 46 of our 50
states, and more than seven times larger than all our national marine
sanctuaries combined. This is a big deal.”
Bush
continued:
WAILUKU —
State land and natural resources officials on Maui are already
discovering problems with the new lay gill net rules and regulations,
The Maui News
reported.
They restrict lay gill net fishing around Maui and apply new rules to
fishermen on Molokai and Lanai.
Help Keep it Clean
"What we are finding to be problematic is that many within the public
currently believe the (lay net) gear is restricted, period," said Randy
Awo, Maui branch chief of enforcement for the state Department of Land
and Natural Resources.
But lay nets can still be possessed by fisherman who are doing surround
net fishing, Awo said.
It's the lay net practice that is prohibited, he added.
more...
• New lay net rules in effect
statewide
Gov. Lingle has approved amendments to HAR Chap 13-75, restricting
the use of lay nets and prohibiting their use in certain waters. The new
rules are now in effect. Included are requirements for lay net
registration, limits on dimensions and soak times, requirements for
attendance and inspection, and prohibitions on use in streams and stream
mouths. Lay net use is also prohibited around the entire island of Maui,
and in certain waters off Oahu, including Kaneohe and Kailua Bays, and
the south shore between Koko Head and Pearl Harbor. More details can be
found by downloading the following pdf files:
HAR 13-75: Rules regulating the possession and use of certain fishing
gear (3 MB):
http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/regs/ch75.pdf
Lay net rule summary sheet (84 KB) :
http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/pubs/laynetsumm.pdf
Cousteau to plan a 434 acre complex in Ha'u Hawaii
with Sea Mountain 5. The project will include a marine
conservation program and Hawaiian cultural center.
MoreMonk Seal caught
in gil net
Green sea turtles abound - view the vast sea life at Wailea, Maui, Hawaii - accommodations right on the sand and by the reefs. Polo Beach Club.
7/26/2006 3:30:00 PM [A Plus Resorts- Information]
Release from: Maui News
Little Hope For Reef Fish
2/2
The good news is that most everyone is
ready to admit that Maui's inshore fisheries
need regulations and protection. The bad
news is that nearly everyone involved thinks
it is "the other guy" who needs to be
regulated.
Hawaii is the only state in the nation
that allows the use of lay nets, also known
as gill nets, on inshore reefs. In 1998, the
state Department of Land and Natural
Resources set up at Gill Net Task Force.
Some of the task force recommendations were
written into regulations which were given a
round of public hearings in 2002. During the
course of collecting public testimony for
lay net regulations, it became apparent that
the DLNR should consider a ban on the nets.
That required a new round of public meetings
which are now being conducted.
The DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources
held one of those sessions last week in
Kahului. Nearly everyone agreed there were
fewer fish in the waters around Maui. Most
said they weren't to blame because they only
took what they needed. They didn't specify
if what they needed was for food for the
family or cash to pay for the boats, motors,
fuel and monofilament nets.
That same argument has stalled effective
marine life conservation despite decades of
anecdotal and scientific evidence the
islands' inshore reefs are being turned into
coral deserts. As usual, the latest meeting
heard plenty of testimony that the real
culprits ranged from windsurfers to
developers who allowed reef-smothering
runoff.
The suggestion that a konohiki (manager)
be named for each ahupuaa (a
sea-to-mountain-top land division) to decide
how much and what kind of fishing the ocean
could handle at any given time was greeted
warmly and might be cause for the DLNR to
set off in yet a new direction, requiring
another two years or so of analysis, rule
writing and hearings. Besides, the old maps
show Maui alone had more than 60 ahupuaa.
The DLNR's administrative rules allow it
to establish temporary fishing bans on
individual reefs at any time, allowing fish
populations to be replenished naturally. It
worked off Waikiki's Kuhio Beach, but in
Maui waters it would require more
enforcement than the state has been willing
to fund in the past.
Meanwhile, the reef fish disappear, and
no one seems willing to do what needs to be
done to save them.
New law prohibits taking of female
lobsters and crabs
On May 4 Gov. Lingle signed into law Act
77, which prohibits the taking or killing of
female ula (spiny lobsters), Kona crabs, and
Samoan crabs. The law took effect the same
day. Closed season for spiny lobsters and
Kona crabs continues through the end of
August, but there is no closed season for
Samoan crabs. For information on how to tell
the difference between males and females of
these species, http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/fish_regs/mvf.htm.
Map of marine managed areas in the
Hawaiian Islands
Map Game -
World Map Game Quiz is the development of innovative map game
centered on different versions and themes of the world map. It's a
novel method of popularizing geographical knowledge and cultures
from around the world.
The Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)
has been working on improving management of lay nets for
some time. The following chronology illustrates some of the
key historical events.
1977 - Maximum soak time limited to
12 hours, previously no limit. Minimum mesh size is 2"
1992 - Report on lay net management
in response to HCR 401 HD1 recommends mesh size increase
and soak time reduction
1993 - Soak time limited to 4 hours
with required inspection at 2 hours
1994 - 2" minimum mesh size increased
to 2 3/4"; to take effect 12/31/96
1998-99 - Gill Net Task Force meets
and recommends lay net regulations
2000-02 - Draft regulations developed
from recommendations and reviewed internally
2002 - State wide public meetings on
proposed lay net management regulations
The Proposal For Discussion
STATEWIDE BAN ON LAY NET USE
There shall be a statewide ban on the use
of lay nets. This pertains to commercial, recreational and
subsistence lay net uses. This ban does not apply to throw
nets, cast nets, fence/bag nets, aquarium nets, lobster
nets, opelu or akule nets; nor does it apply to lobster
traps or fish traps.
FISHERY- AND RESOURCE-BASED LIMITED
GEOGRAPHIC AREA EXEMPTIONS
Exemptions to lay net prohibition for
certain limited geographic areas may be considered and must
be approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources.
Exemptions will be based on the condition of the resources
in the area to be considered for exemption.
WHERE GEOGRAPHIC EXEMPTIONS ARE GRANTED:
(LAY NET USE, SIZE AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS THAT APPLY TO ALL
FISHERS)
If certain limited geographic areas are
exempted from the statewide lay net ban, then the following
lay net use, size and other restrictions must be adhered to.
The
following restrictions apply to all individuals and user
groups.
Lay net use must be a part of active
fishing with continuous attendance and monitoring (i.e.
net is not to be set, abandoned and then fisher returns
and retrieves.)
Lay nets are to be attended and
monitored at all times (i.e. someone must always be
within 50 feet of the lay net and monitoring the net.)
In the event a threatened and/or
endangered species (i.e. turtle, dolphin, seal, etc.,)
and/or unintended bycatch (i.e. other fish, bird, etc.)
are caught in the lay net, the fisher shall immediately
remove the animal from the lay net. The fisherman shall
follow appropriate state and federal handling and
release guidelines if it is a threatened or endangered
species.
Lay nets must be individually
registered by the owner and tagged. Identification tags
shall be attached at both ends of the net, one on the
floatline and one on the leadline, for a total of four
identification tags. Identification tags will be marked
with a unique serial number identifying each net.
Marker buoys, visible on the water
surface, shall be attached to each end of the net, for a
total of two buoys. The identification tag number will
be permanently marked on each buoy.
A person may fish with only one lay
net per day and may only use (set) the net once per day.
When the lay net is in use, set and
fishing, the registered owner must at all times be
present and fishing with that net.
Lay nets shall be no longer than 250
feet and no higher than 6 feet. No joining of individual
nets if two or more fishers work together.
Lay net mesh shall be no less than
2.75 inches, stretched.
Lay nets must be spaced no less than
500-feet from each other.
Lay net "soak time" shall be a
maximum of 4-hours.
The lay net may only be in the water,
set and fishing between the hours of one-half hour
before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Lay nets that do not meet these
requirements are subject to confiscation by the
Department and the owner and user cited for violation of
the administrative rule.
The Department shall consider any lay
net on or about the water that is not registered and
does not have proper identification tags contraband and
subject to immediate seizure.
Nakheel, Dubai’s
biggest developer, today laid the final stone on the breakwater for
The World, its 300 artificial island scheme.
The completion of the massive 27km breakwater, which will guard 320m
cubic metres of reclaimed sand, paves the way for the scheme to be
handed over to developers for construction and the building of its
surrounding infrastructure.
Dubai World Africa established the brand, Dubai World Conservation
Africa, an eco friendly entity responsible for the investment in,
preservation and responsible development of game reserves, wildlife
conservation and eco tourism in Africa.
Dubai World is firmly committed to make every country and community
in which it operates a better place to live and work, knowing that the
ongoing vitality of our host nation and local communities has a direct
impact on the long term health of our business.
Dubai World Africa investments Dubai World Africa Services (Pty) Ltd
is a subsidiary of the holding company, Dubai World and shares a common
vision, mission and value system. Dubai World Africa is responsible for
the acquisition and development of assets in Africa and the Indian Ocean
region.
Dubai World Africa has assets in South Africa - Victoria and Alfred
Waterfront as well as Pearl Valley Golf Estate. In Rwanda - Nyungwe
Forest, Akagera National Park, Gorilla's Nest Lodge ; in Djibouti -
Djibouti Palace Kempinski; in Mozambique - Bilene Beach Resort and Golf
Course, in the Comoros - Comoros Kempinski Beach Resort and Residences,
In Zanzibar - One and Only Zanzibar and One and Only Mazagan Resort in
Morocco.
Related:
Dubai Apartments - Dubai Apartments
and vacation rental
listings make it easy to find your Dubai
apartments and self catering Dubai
furnished apartments of your choice near
Dubai beaches. Perfect for exploration of
Dubai beach areas and relaxation.
Please note: We are not affiliated with
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news and information regarding preservation of the oceans and wildlife.
Specializing in preventing over-fishing, and preventing destructive
fishing techniques, and maintaining a clean habitat for sea-turtles and
other marine life.