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Living Oceans Foundation leads Red Sea expedition
April 24, 2006Scientist divers to investigate coral reefs for impact of global warming, pollution and population growth in and around Farasan Islands
(WASHINGTON, D.C.)-Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation will lead an all-star team of scientist divers on an expedition to study the "rainforests" of the Red Sea. State-of-the-art technology will enable the team to complete years of coral reef research in just three weeks. The research will focus on threats to coral health such as global climate change, ecotourism, over-fishing, pollution and development.
"This will be some of the most advanced coral reef environment research, with the fastest turnaround and major international impact, to date," said Philip Renaud, executive director of Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. "Our findings will guide future international policy on coral reef protection and Marine Protected Areas management."
Coral health has global economic, social and ecological implications:
- Coral reefs support more than 25 percent of all marine fish species.
- Reefs provide fisheries with 6 million metric tons of fish annually. Industries based on coral reefs provide millions of jobs.
- The total value of the world's reef resources is approximately $375 billion each year.
- Coral reefs are a primary source of new drugs and biochemicals.
The expedition represents the first in which a Saudi Arabian government commission has partnered with a U.S. foundation to work in Saudi territory. The team, scheduled to leave May 3, will include U.S., U.K., Canadian, Austrian, French and Saudi scientists. They will map and survey the Farasan Islands Marine Protected Area, off the coast of Jizan, Saudi Arabia.
"The Farasan Islands are of particular interest for their biodiversity and range of human impact," said Renaud. "Their population has quadrupled in a decade and the ecotourism and commercial fishing industries in the region have grown tremendously."
The Foundation has selected 15 schools (5 U.S., 5 U.K., 5 Saudi Arabian) to participate virtually in the expedition. High school students studying marine science will track and analyze expedition progress and participate in near real-time Q&A with the scientists.
Also joining the research team is a professional film crew. Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation plans to use footage from the expedition to produce a professional documentary film.
Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
Coral health has global economic, social and ecological implications:
- Coral reefs support more than 25 percent of all marine fish species.
- Reefs provide fisheries with 6 million metric tons of fish annually. Industries based on coral reefs provide millions of jobs.
- The total value of the world's reef resources is approximately $375 billion each year.
- Coral reefs are a primary source of new drugs and biochemicals.
The expedition represents the first in which a Saudi Arabian government commission has partnered with a U.S. foundation to work in Saudi territory. The team, scheduled to leave May 3, will include U.S., U.K., Canadian, Austrian, French and Saudi scientists. They will map and survey the Farasan Islands Marine Protected Area, off the coast of Jizan, Saudi Arabia.
"The Farasan Islands are of particular interest for their biodiversity and range of human impact," said Renaud. "Their population has quadrupled in a decade and the ecotourism and commercial fishing industries in the region have grown tremendously."
The Foundation has selected 15 schools (5 U.S., 5 U.K., 5 Saudi Arabian) to participate virtually in the expedition. High school students studying marine science will track and analyze expedition progress and participate in near real-time Q&A with the scientists.
Also joining the research team is a professional film crew. Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation plans to use footage from the expedition to produce a professional documentary film.
Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
Red Sea Current Events and Red Sea News RSSRAND study finds increase in piracy and terrorism at sea
Acts of piracy and terrorism at sea are on the rise, but there is little evidence to support concerns from some governments and international organizations that pirates and terrorists are beginning to collude with one another, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.
New study shows extent of harmful human influences on global ecosystems
More than 40 percent of the world's oceans are heavily impacted by human activities, including overfishing and pollution, according to a new study that will appear in tomorrow's peer-reviewed journal Science.
UCLA-Dutch team uncovers Egypt's earliest agricultural settlement
Archaeologists from UCLA and the University of Groningen (RUG) in the Netherlands have found the earliest evidence ever discovered of an ancient Egyptian agricultural settlement, including farmed grains, remains of domesticated animals, pits for cooking and even floors for what appear to be dwellings, the National Geographic Society announced today.
Sea otter study reveals striking variability in diets and feeding strategies
Ecologists have long observed that when food becomes scarce, animal populations exploit a wider range of food sources.
Evolution tied to Earth movement
Scientists long have focused on how climate and vegetation allowed human ancestors to evolve in Africa. Now, University of Utah geologists are calling renewed attention to the idea that ground movements formed mountains and valleys, creating environments that favored the emergence of humanity.
Dam the Red Sea and release gigawatts
Damming the Red Sea could solve the growing energy demands of millions of people in the Middle East and alleviate some of the region's tensions pertaining to oil supplies through hydroelectric power.
Rapid analysis could cut health risks of volcanic ash
A new, rapid and cheap way of estimating the potential risk posed to human health by volcanic ash has been devised by a Durham University expert.
Earth-shattering proof of continents on the move
AFRICA is being torn apart. And as Ethiopia's rift valley grows slowly wider, an international team of scientists is taking a unique opportunity to plot the progress of continents on the move.
Healthy coral reefs of Madagascar resisting damage from climate change
Healthy coral reefs of Madagascar's northeast coast have so far resisted the damaging effects of warmer ocean temperatures attributed to global climate change, say scientists who recently studied the region.
New research finds surveys of larval-stage organisms effective for measuring marine biodiversity
There is a push to document the biodiversity of the world within 25 years. However, the magnitude of this challenge is not well known, especially when it comes to vast and often inaccessible marine environments.
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