Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Announces 2001 Dive Photo Contest Winners
Category: Dive & Explore: First Place Jerry Loomis “Diver Silhouette”; Second Place Laurie Cava “Jelly Fun!”
Category: Marine Life: First Place, Laurie Cava, “Mr Whiskers”; Second Place, Kenneth Howard “Mom & Pup Sea Otters”; Third Place, Marc Shargel “Hydrocoral”; Honorable Mention, Ken Howard “Hermissenda”
Marine Scientists Say Marine Reserves Produce Enormous Benefits
The American Association for the Advancement of Science past president Dr. Jane Lubchenco released a statement signed by 150 of the world’s leading marine scientists declaring that there is now compelling scientific evidence that marine reserves conserve both biodiversity and fisheries, and could help to replenish the seas. Dr. Lubchenco said, “marine reserves work, and they work fast. It is no longer a question of whether to set aside fully protected areas in the ocean, but where to establish them. We urge the immediate application of fully protected marine reserves as a central oceans management tool.”
Significant results were attained after only 1-2 years of protection:
— population densities were on average 91% higher
— biomass was 192% higher
— average organism size was 31% higher
— species diversity was 23% higher.
The size and abundance of exploited species also increases in areas adjacent to reserves. Reserves serve as natural hatcheries, replenishing populations regionally by larval spillover beyond reserve boundaries.
New Shipwreck Web Site
Check out the site from the national marine sanctuaries. It contains a West Coast shipwreck database: www.cinms.nos.noaa.gov/shipwreck/dbase.html.