Our Ocean Planet: A Teacher's Manual for Ocean Science -- Free!

The Central Caribbean Marine Institute makes the teacher's manual vailable online at no charge:

This teacher’s manual is intended to be a reference tool for Cayman Island teachers. In addition, we hope that the activities at the end of each section will provide Cayman Island children with a fun and enlightening glimpse into how important the sea around us is to our daily lives.

Though targetted to children in the Caymans, it would surely be an asset for any teacher anyplace in the world.

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Tips for protecting dolphins

The Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, produced a video on human-dolphin interactions. View it and other marine videos here.

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"String of Pearls for Belize", Reef symposium & gala

From the Web site of the International Year of the Reef:

Belize has over two decades of marine conservation leadership, beginning with the designation of the Mesoamerican Reef's first marine protected area, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument in 1981 and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, designated in 1987.

Belize has continued to develop a marine protected areas network that boasts eighteen MPAs forming the precious 'string of pearls" for Belize.

In celebrating the International Year of the Reef, the Government of Belize has redoubled its marine conservation efforts and has introduced a series of new initiatives, and legislation aimed at strengthening marine conservation. The NGO and donor community is poised to collaborate with government to increase support for expanding conservation programs. The Reef Symposium and Gala will highlight and invigorate these efforts.

Learn more about the events here.

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Recipe for rescuing our reefs

From an article posted on the BBC Web site by Dr Rod Salm, director of The Nature Conservancy's Tropical Marine Conservation Program in the Asia-Pacific region:

The Nature Conservancy recently convened leading climate change experts, top marine scientists, and prominent coral reef managers from around the globe for a "meeting of the minds" session to chart a course of action for addressing ocean acidification.

The key findings and recommendations from this gathering were compiled into the Honolulu Declaration on Ocean Acidification and Reef Management.

The most logical, long-term solution to ocean acidification impacts is to stabilise atmospheric CO2 by reducing emissions around the globe.

Yet the Honolulu Declaration also outlines tangible steps that can be taken now to increase the survival of coral reefs in an acidifying ocean, while also working to limit CO2 emissions.

For example, we need to identify and protect reefs that are less vulnerable to ocean acidification, either because of good flushing by oceanic water or biogeochemical processes that alter the water chemistry, making it more alkaline and better able to buffer acidification.

We can achieve this protection by designating additional "marine protected areas" and revising marine zoning plans.

We also need to integrate the management of these areas with reform of land uses that generate organic wastes and effluents that contribute to acidification.

At the local level, we may need to restrict access to more fragile coral communities or limit it to designated trails, much as we do with trails through sensitive environments on land.

We should consider designating "sacrificial" reefs or parts of reefs for diver training and heavy visitor use.

Another intriguing option is the prospect of farming local corals that prove more resistant to acidification, and "planting" them in place of those that weaken and break apart.

The consequences of inaction are too depressing to contemplate.

Global leaders, reef managers, and citizens around the globe should give all the support they can to the Honolulu Declaration to ensure the survival of the beauty and benefits of our marine treasure trove for future generations.

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The Catch Conservation Fund

The Web site of The Catch Conservation Fund includes an beautiful video of a reef and this description of the organization:

The Catch: Costa Rica strives to protect the environment around Costa Rica and all over the world. That’s why we started The Catch Conservation Fund–a nonprofit corporation, whose goal is to protect and enrich fragile ecosystems around the globe, concentrating its efforts on developing countries. We work comprehensively with governments and dedicated private organizations to improve the natural surroundings on land as well as at sea. It’s our belief that the modern world can live and work in harmony with nature so that future generations can enjoy and benefit from the wonder that our earth provides.

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Conservation of marine turtles on the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula

From a program description explaining some of the work of PRONATURA:

The objectives of this project are: a) To ensure the successful nesting of female turtles in certain beaches, b) To study the reproductive health state of marine turtle populations in the region, c) To provide results of scientific research to authorities and decision makers, making it easier for them to access technical information, and d) Develop environmental education activities for the coastal and urban population, about the importance of marine turtles and their conservation.

The turtles are monitored on three coasts: Puerto de Celestún (in the Biosphere Reserve of Ria Celestún), El Cuyo (in the Biosphere Reserve of Ria Lagartos), both of the previous in the state of Yucatan, and un Isla Holbox (in the Flora and Fauna Protection Area of Yum Balam, Quintana Roo).

Pronatura Peninsula de Yucatan has generated a database on different subjects, which has been analyzed and presented to various authorities. The project has shown its benefits by having contributed to the reduction of nest poaching incidence in the area, registering an average of only .5 nests in the last seven years. It has also contributed to environmental education in different communities.

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Early turtle roundup upbeat

From an articleby Michelle Spitzer on FloridaToday.com:

Despite Tropical Storm Fay and bouts of strong wind, sea turtle nesting season ended Friday with encouraging results.

The number of nests in Brevard County surpassed expectations, said Llew Ehrhart, marine turtle biologist with Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute and University of Central Florida.

"Fay and the rougher conditions from (Hurricane) Kyle, which was way out in the Atlantic, did wash out some nests, but sea turtles have been dealing with that for millions of years," Ehrhart said. "We have lost a number of green turtles because a greater percentage of them were still incubating when the storms came."

Exactly how many nests were lost won't be available until February. However, preliminary numbers are optimistic.

Loggerhead turtles had the most nests this year with 9,502. That's a 50 percent increase from last year.

Green turtles produced the most surprising numbers. Although it was considered a low season for them, there were 2,773 nests. Previous low seasons have seen as few as 200 nests, Ehrhart said.

"The increase, I think, is in response to all of our conservation measures, such as the Endangered Species Act," he said. "We need to keep protecting our beaches. We're doing a good job of it."

Leatherback turtles only had 24 nests this year, but Ehrhart said that number is deceiving.

"We got double what we expected because this is a low season," he said. "Although the number is quite small, the trend is that they are going up and up and up."

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