Crucial Mangrove Habitat Destroyed for Shrimp-Eaters

The booming prawn industry is gobbling up coastal mangrove forests, removing a crucial line of defense for coral reefs. Mangroves are tropical trees with stilt-like roots that grow in tidal waters. Mangroves are part of the coral reef ecosystem, filtering out sediments that would smother the reef, providing a nursery for many of reef fish,protecting shorelines from erosion and exchanging nutrients with reef environments. They also provide habitat to shorebirds, crocodiles, monkeys and many other species.

More than half of the planet's mangrove resources have been lost already, presenting a serious threat to future ocean fisheries and coral reefs and ultimately contributing to the impoverishment of countless coastal communities dependent upon sustenance fishing. Now, the lure of short-term profits is causing the clearcutting and bulldozing of mangrove forests to build ponds to grow jumbo and tiger prawns for export. Prawn farm profits are short-lived as the ponds fill with anti-biotics and other pollutants, and the neighboring fisheres are poisoned, as well. As older shrimp farms close down, new ones are cleared, leaving a path of destruction much like the path of beef cattle clear-cutting through the rainformests.

Vanuatu is a cluster of islands, part of the Solomon Islands in the Western Pacific. There were approximately 2500 to 3000 hectacres of mangroves in Vanuatu, but they are disappearing fast. Coral Forest works with the Mangrove Action Project of Earth Island Institute to protect the remaining forests, including those in Vanuatu. We urge you to write letters to the UN representative for Vanuatu, supporting protection of mangrove forest. You may also write to the World Bank and ask them to cease funding this destructive industry around the world.

If enough of us write letters or fax asking for a halt to mangrove deforestation, perhaps the government will act to protect its obviously undervalued natural resource.

Here's the address of the UN Ambassador:

H.E. Mr. Jean RAVOU-AKH Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative to the United Nations Permanent Mission of the Republic of Vanuatu to the UN 866 United Nations Plaza, 4th Floor (Room 441) New York, NY 10017 telephone 593-0144 telefax 593-0219

and:

President of the World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20433

If you have any questions or need any assistance, call or E-mail us. And, we'd really appreciate it if you would Email or hard copy cc: us on your letters.

Thank you for your time and activism.

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Take an active part in ensuring the future of coral reefs, on your next diving vacation. Become involved in the many international coral reef campaigns, cleanup efforts, and research projects.

Contact one of these coral reef expedition organizations to plan your next trip:

- Coral Cay Conservation: attn. Peter Raines/Jonathan Ridley, 154 Clapham Park Road, London, SW4 7DE, UK. (441)(71)498-6248

- Oceanographic Expeditions (504) 488-1573 http://members.aol.com/seascience/index.html or Email Seascience@aol.com

- EarthWatch: attn. Dr. Andrew Hudson, program director, Marine Sciences/ Kari Gardney, Expedition coordinator, Earth/marine sciences, 680 Mt. Auburn Street, Box 403, Watertown, MA, 02272, USA. (617)926-8200 "ahudson@earthwatch.org"

- Project A.W.A.R.E. (PADI): attn. Tiera Olson, 1251 East Dyer Road, #100. Santa Ana, CA, 92705-5605, USA. (714)540-7234

- Pacific Whale Foundation: dive opportunities/volunteering in Hawaii and Australia. attn. Dr. Paul Forestell, Director of Research, 101 N. Kihei Road, Suite 21, Kihei, HI, 96753, USA. (808) 879-8860.

- REEF- Reef Environmental Education Foundation. attn. Ladie Atkins, Executive Director, P.O. Box 246, Key Largo, Fl., 33037, USA. (305)451-0312.

- Sierra Club: attn. Dave Raney, 1621 Mikahala Way, Honolulu, HI 96816-3321, USA. (808) 538-6616

Write your elected officials and tell them to work to stop environmentally destructive practices and ask them to support legislation that will effectively protect the coral reefs.

Practice coral-friendly dive techniques such as:

- practicing good buoyancy skills- maintain neutral buoyancy and keep equipment off the reef, since even minimal human contact can kill coral polyps. According to the PADI Diving Encyclopedia, "An accidental fin stroke that breaks off a 10in./25cm. stalk of coral can destroy a decade of growth."

- don't stir up sand and sediments which can smother reefs

- always use mooring buoys - anchors destroy coral

- avoid oily sunscreens which can hurt corals- use a t-shirt instead

- don't bring home coral souvenirs or coral curios.

Join REEF RELIEF: and let us know about any resorts, dive operators, boat operators, and tour companies that you feel are harming the coral reefs so that we can take action against the problem. For more information about coral reefs and their preservation, write or call REEF RELIEF at (305)294-3100. Working together, we can make a difference!

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Six out of seven species of sea turtles are listed as endangered.

In the US, sea turtle strandings are higher than any previous year on record due to lack of protective action by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Approximately 155,000 sea turtles drown in shrimp nets each year, but Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDS) cans save many, if only NMFS would enforce TEDS regulations.

Please use the following letter from REEF RELIEF to formulate your own course of action to protect sea turtles in the US. You can print the letter and fax or mail it with your signature, you can change it to reflect your own thoughts or you can call to voice your opinion. Addresses and phone numbers are below.

The Honorable D. James Baker
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
Dept. of Commerce
14th and Constitution, Room 5230
Washington, D.C. 20230
(202) 482-3426 ph. (202) 408-9674 fax

cc: Mr. Rolland A. Schmitten, Director
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301)713-2239 ph

In behalf of REEF RELIEF, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of coral reef ecosystems around the world, I would like to express our deep concern over National Marine Fisheries' (NMFS) lack of effective action to protect sea turtles in the United States.

More sea turtles have stranded this year than in any other year on record. Critical areas must be closed to shrimp fishing, enforcement must be increased and improved, the use of soft TEDS should be banned and TEDS should be used on try nets. These crucial steps must be taken to protect sea turtles, including the endangered Kemp's Ridley.

Although NMFS claims a 95% compliance rate, it is clear from the extreme increase in the number of dead turtles during shrimping season, that this is false.

Immediate action must be taken to remedy this disastrous problem. Sea turtles have roamed the Earth's oceans for 150 million years. They have outlived the dinosaurs, but will they outlive us?

Sincerely,

Concerned Citizen