Boat Noise Stops Fish Finding Home
Boat noise disrupts orientation behaviour in larval coral reef fish, according to new research from the Universities of Bristol, Exeter and Liège. Reef fish are normally attracted by reef sound but the study, conducted in French Polynesia, found that fish are more likely to swim away from recordings of reefs when boat noise is added.
Coal Development Threatens Great Barrier Reef
A group of respected coral reef scientists has released a declaration intended to change how the Australian government manages development in the coastal region bordering the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Report Finds 85% of Reefs in the Coral Triangle Are Threatened: Now Available in Bahasa Indonesian
Indonesia is home to 16% of the world’s coral reefs (second only to Australia in total reef area) and the highest reef-associated population in the world, with nearly 60 million people living on the coast near coral reefs. The bahasa Indonesia edition of this report is intended to inform local and national decision-makers of the status of the country’s coral reefs and support coastal management activities in Indonesia.
Particles From Fossil Fuels Affect The Growth Of Corals
Researchers have found the strongest evidence yet that aerosols from burning fossil fuels are affecting coral growth.
Western Australia’s Scott Reef Has Recovered from Mass Bleaching
Isolated coral reefs can recover from catastrophic damage as effectively as those with nearby undisturbed neighbours, a long-term study by marine biologists from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoECRS) has shown.
Madang Lagoon, Papua New Guinea
A vast array of new species was recently discovered in the world’s most spectacular reef you’ve never heard of, Madang Lagoon in Papua New Guinea.
Australian Government Pledges To Protect Great Barrier Reef
The Australian government pledged to stop coal port or shipping developments that would cause damage to the Great Barrier Reef as it responded to a Friday deadline amid UN warnings that the reef’s conservation status could be downgraded.
Pitcairn Islands’ Underwater Treasures Revealed
The Pew Environment Group and National Geographic have uncovered a spectacular underwater habitat around the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory that is home to the Bounty mutineers and their descendents.
Coral Files Reveal Time of First Polynesian Settlements
Polynesia was one of the last places on Earth to be settled by humans, and new techniques reveal that this settlement first occurred within a 16 year window nearly 3000 years ago.