Seagrass-Watch E-bulletin 23 September 2007
SEAGRASS-WATCH E-BULLETIN
23 September 2007
Seagrass-Watch's electronic news service, providing marine and coastal news of international and national interest.
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IN THIS BULLETIN
NEWS.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................1
Reserves in UAE, Qatar, Lebanon join UNESCOs MAB network (San Diego, CA, USA) ........................................................................................1
New runway to fly over Rudd's electorate (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) ...................................................................................................1
Scorched earth for water plant we might not need (Sydney, Australia).....................................................................................................................2
Drought reawakens ailing Southwest Florida estuaries (Naples, FL, USA) ..............................................................................................................2
Manatee status unlikely to change (Melbourne, FL, USA) ........................................................................................................................................2
Judge to hear conservationists' plea to halt Okinawa base (San Francisco, CA, USA)............................................................................................3
TRAINING WORKSHOPS..............................................................................................................................................................................................3
Mornington Island, Gulf of Carpentaria, October 30-31 2007 ...................................................................................................................................3
Moreton Bay, Brisbane, November 24-25th 2007 .....................................................................................................................................................3
PUBLICATIONS .............................................................................................................................................................................................................3
Great Barrier Reef Vulnerability to Climate Change..................................................................................................................................................3
FROM HQ.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................3
Seagrass-Watch Shop http://www.seagrasswatch.org/shop.html.............................................................................................................................3
Virtual Herbarium ......................................................................................................................................................................................................3
Giveaways.................................................................................................................................................................................................................3
Future sampling dates...............................................................................................................................................................................................4
Seagrass-Watch News Issue 30 ...............................................................................................................................................................................4
Handy Seagrass Links ..............................................................................................................................................................................................4
Please note: links to sources were active on date of publication. Some sources remove links periodically.
NEWS
Reserves in UAE, Qatar, Lebanon join UNESCOs MAB network (San Diego, CA, USA)
September 21, 2007 by Muslim World News PARIS
(KUNA) -- The Bureau of the International Coordinating Council of UNESCOs Man and the Biosphere
Program (MAB) has added 23 new reserves sites in 18 countries to its global network, including UAE,
Qatar and Lebanon. The additions were made by the Bureau during its meeting at UNESCO Headquarters
in Paris earlier this week, where the network now numbers 529 sites in 105 countries.
Among the new sites approved by the MAB Bureau is Marawah Biosphere Reserve in the UAE, making it
the first Biosphere Reserve in the country. "It is of particular importance for the protection of the marine
and costal ecosystems and fragile habitats, such as seagrass beds, coral reefs and mangroves,"
UNESCO noted. It indicated that it is the worlds second largest population of Dugongs finds shelter and
food in this site, endowing it global importance.
Full story and source: http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/sep/21/reserves_uae_qatar_lebanon_join_unescos_mab_network.html
New runway to fly over Rudd's electorate (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
September 19, 2007 by Erik Jensen, Sydney Morning Herald
Planes will be able to fly over the seats of Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan around the clock, with the Federal
Government approving the construction of a second runway that will treble passenger numbers at
Brisbane International Airport. The Opposition Leader has already lost $30,000 of his own money fighting
the proposal in court. Transport Minister Mark Vaile approved the project this afternoon.
Mr Vaile defended the runway, saying it would create 2700 jobs over its eight-year construction and
contribute $17.2 billion to south-east Queensland's GDP by 2023. He said the second runway would direct
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Seagrass-Watch E-bulletin 23 September 2007
most traffic over Moreton Bay and would ultimately alleviate aircraft noise by spreading traffic across two
parallel runways working in both directions.
The $1 billion construction will displace a white-bellied sea eagle nesting population, with the Brisbane
Airport Corporation being forced to construct a new nesting site and fund ecological monitoring for remnant
seagrass, mangroves and saltmarsh.
Full story and source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/runway-to-buzz-rudd/2007/09/18/1189881490707.html
Scorched earth for water plant we might not need (Sydney, Australia)
September 2, 2007, Hannah Edwards, Environment Reporter, Sydney Morning Herald
This is the first clear glimpse of the massive scale of the construction work for the state's $1.76 billion
water desalination plant at Kurnell. Earth works to prepare the controversial site, south of Botany Bay,
have been under way for several months. The State Government commissioned the plant during the
height of the drought, saying it would help solve Sydney's future drinking water shortage problems. But
critics say the plant, due for completion in 2009, is no longer needed, with recent rains having raised dam
levels.
Scientists and environmental groups warn that creatures in the bay will be threatened if a proposed
undersea pipeline gets final approval. Jane Williamson, a Macquarie University lecturer in biological
sciences, is concerned about the effect the pipeline might have on the rich diversity of marine animal and
plant life. "People think of Botany Bay as a bit of a wasteland but it really isn't," Dr Williamson said.
Juvenile nurseries of fish and associated fauna live in remnant patches of seagrass, she said. "Two types
of seagrass occur around there - one that recovers quickly and one that takes a long time to recover. This
will be fairly impacted." Dr Williamson said the area around the plant's outlet tunnel, which would be used
to deposit waste water after the desalination process, could also be affected.
Full story and source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/scorched-earth-for-water-plant-we-might-not-
need/2007/09/01/1188067429776.html
Drought reawakens ailing Southwest Florida estuaries (Naples, FL, USA)
September 8, 2007,By Julio Ochoa, Naples Daily News
Red tide blooms have vanished, seagrass beds are coming back strong and bait fish fill the waters. What a
difference a year -- and a drought -- makes for local estuaries.
Department of Environmental Protection scientists working for the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve noticed
significant decreases in seagrass coverage a couple of years ago. The scientists monitor the same five
sites in Estero Bay every year. Within a square meter, they measure the percentage of area covered by
seagrass, the different types of seagrass found and the length of the blades.
The scientists still are conducting their research, but they are finding signs of improvement, especially
compared to two years ago, said Stephanie Erickson, an environmental specialist for the Estero Bay
Aquatic Preserve.
Full story and source: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/sep/08/drought_reawakens_ailing_southwest_florida_estuari/?breaking_news
Manatee status unlikely to change (Melbourne, FL, USA)
September 11, 2007, by Jim Waymer, Florida Today
The chairman of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says he plans to go along with Gov.
Charlie Crist's request to delay downlisting the Florida manatee from endangered to threatened. "It's a real
important issue. The manatee is the icon of conservation in Florida," said Chairman Rodney Barreto. "It's a
real symbol, and you know, we've got to get it right."
"I applaud the Commission's efforts to implement a strong, thorough management plan for the Florida
manatee," Crist wrote. "However, given the need for a better method to estimate the population of the
Florida Manatee and the record 417 manatee deaths in 2006, I believe a more prudent course of action at
this time would be to postpone consideration of the proposed change in status to this species."
Aerial surveys in recent years have spotted about 3,000 manatees statewide. Because of the Indian River
Lagoon's lush seagrass, Brevard County can house as many as one-third of the state's manatee
population at times.
Full story and source: http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/BREAKINGNEWS/70911039
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Seagrass-Watch E-bulletin 23 September 2007
Judge to hear conservationists' plea to halt Okinawa base (San Francisco, CA, USA)
September 17, 2007, CBS 5
A federal judge is scheduled to hear arguments in San Francisco this afternoon on a plea by conservation
groups for a study of the effects of a proposed Marine Corps base on Okinawa on a rare sea mammal. A
coalition of American and Japanese environmental groups contends the new air-sea facility on the
Japanese island of Okinawa would disrupt seagrass beds used as habitat of the Okinawa dugong.
The mammals have been designated by the Japanese government as critically endangered and as a
national monument to the Okinawan people. They are culturally revered by native Okinawans and have
been celebrated as sirens or mermaids believed to give friendly warnings of tsunamis, according to the
Center for Biological Diversity, one of the plaintiffs in the case. Some studies suggest there may be as few
as 10 Okinawa dugong remaining in existence.
The proposed new base on Cape Henoko would replace an existing Marine Corps air station in a heavily
populated area. It would have V-shaped runways extending 1,800 meters into Henoko Bay, where
seagrass beds used by Okinawa dugong for feeding are located.
Full story and source: http://cbs5.com/localwire/localfsnews/bcn/2007/09/17/n/HeadlineNews/OKINAWA-BASE-LAWSUIT/resources_bcn_html
TRAINING WORKSHOPS
Mornington Island, Gulf of Carpentaria, October 30-31 2007 http://www.seagrasswatch.org/training.html#wrkshop07
Participants: Indigenous Land & Sea Rangers from Wellesley Islands region
Sponsor: Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation & NAILSMA
Contact: Seagrass-Watch HQ or Kelly Gardner Email: kgardner@clcac.com.au
Moreton Bay, Brisbane, November 24-25th 2007 http://www.seagrasswatch.org/training.html#wrkshop07
Participants: Moreton Bay Seagrass-Watch
Sponsor: SEQ Catchments, QPWS(EPA), QCC and DPI&F
Contact: Seagrass-Watch HQ
or Keira Price Email: Keira.Price@epa.qld.gov.au
Registration : http://www.seagrasswatch.org/training.html#wrkshop07
PUBLICATIONS
Great Barrier Reef Vulnerability to Climate Change http://www.seagrasswatch.org/publications.html#gbrmpp_07
Climate change is recognised as the greatest long-term threat to the Great Barrier Reef. Projections show sea and air temperatures
will continue to increase, sea level is rising, the ocean is becoming more acidic, intense storms and rainfall will become more
frequent and ocean currents will change.
Climate Change and the Great Barrier Reef: A Vulnerability Assessment is a peer-reviewed publication compiled as a collaboration
between the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and over 80 leading climate and tropical marine experts. It provides expert
assessments of the vulnerability of Great Barrier Reef species, habitats and key processes to climate change and identifies possible
ways to respond to the climate change challenge. Managers and scientists will find this book valuable as a basis on which future
decisions can be made, as well as anyone with an interest in tropical marine ecosystems.
FROM HQ
Seagrass-Watch Shop http://www.seagrasswatch.org/shop.html
Virtual Herbarium http://www.seagrasswatch.org/herbarium.html
Giveaways http://www.seagrasswatch.org/shop.html#GIVE1
·
Seagrasses of Australia
·
Phytoplankton Guide
·
Seagrass Biology (Volume 2 only)
· Bookmarks
·
Stickers
·
Seagrass-Watch Newsletter 29 (hardcopy)
·
Seagrass-Watch Newsletter 28 (hardcopy)
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Seagrass-Watch E-bulletin 23 September 2007
Future sampling dates http://www.seagrasswatch.org/sampling.html
Seagrass-Watch News Issue 30 http://www.seagrasswatch.org/newsletters.html
Handy Seagrass Links http://www.seagrasswatch.org/links.html
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Seagrass-Watch E- Bulletin is compiled by Len McKenzie & Rudi Yoshida.
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