USA (22 Dec 2000) -- The US government has announced four federal initiatives to protect coral reefs. The initiatives include mapping some 10% of US reefs, establishing no-anchor zones, increasing funding for global warming research and finalizing the establishment of an eco reserve in the Florida Keys. The government actions are a response to a recent report by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, which found that 27 percent of the world's coral reefs have already died. Almost half of the loss has occurred during the last eight years when warm water temperatures and violent storms triggered by El Nino devasted coral reefs worldwide. The report predicts that 70 percent of the world's coral reefs will be lost within the next 40-50 years if current trends continue. Plan Targets Cruise Ships Although ship anchors are not a major factor in the destruction of most reef communities, cruise ships and other large vessels cause severe damage in areas where they frequently anchor. The report cites areas in the Caribbean and the Pacific where cruise ships often anchor offshore and destroy in one anchoring thousands of years of coral reef developement. | | The plan calls for the establishment of internationally recognized no-anchoring zones. The first of these will be off Houston at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico. The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network was set up by the United Nations Environment Program. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
