Earth's Most Diverse Marine Life Discovered
source: http://www.theoceanproject.org/newsletter/BluePlanet_October06.htm
Two recent expeditions led by Conservation International (CI) to the heart of
Asia's "Coral Triangle" have discovered dozens of new species of marine life
and have confirmed the region as the Earth's richest seascape.
Researchers described an underwater world of visual wonders, such as the small
epaulette shark that "walks" on its fins and colorful schools of reef fish
populating abundant and healthy corals of all shapes and sizes. The unmatched
marine biodiversity of this area on the northwestern end of Indonesia's Papua
province includes more than 1,200 species of fish and almost 600 species of
reef-building coral, or 75 percent of the world's known total.
"These Papuan reefs are literally 'species factories' that require special
attention to protect them from unsustainable fisheries and other threats so
they can continue to benefit their local owners and the global community," said
Mark Erdmann, senior adviser of CI's Indonesian Marine Program, who led the
surveys. "Six of our survey sites, which are areas the size of two football
fields, had over 250 species of reef-building coral each -- that's more than
four times the number of coral species of the entire Caribbean Sea." Results of
the CI-led surveys highlight the need for a well-managed network of
multiple-use Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to conserve the seascape's
biodiversity and ensure the long-term sustainability of commercial and
subsistence fishing.
Source: AquaNews
Learn more: Visit Conservation International's website for detailed information
about these exciting discoveries.
Take action: Be a voice for our ocean! Visit the Seas the Day website to learn
how to speak for the fish and help get more protected areas designated
throughout our world's ocean!
JALESVEVA YAYAMAHE
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