NOAA's Coral Reef Home Page
February 3, - Week 5
1997 International Year of the Reef
The 1997 Pacific Year of the Coral Reef will be launched on February 11, 1997 as a region-wide educational awareness campaign sponsored by governments and non- governmental organizations. The Pacific-wide theme, "Coral Reefs: Their Health, Our Future!" is aimed at raising understanding, appreciation, support and immediate action for coral reef conservation and wise use.
The campaign, coordinated by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) based in Western Samoa, will be inaugurated simultaneously across the Pacific region by prominent leaders of each participating Pacific Island Country. Launch ceremony activities include floats, music, artwork, poetry and story telling competitions, coral reef theme displays, etc.
The Pacific shares many of the threats to reefs that are leading to the global degradation of coral reefs including: pollution, siltation, over-exploitation of coral reef resources, e.g., over-fishing, destructive fishing techniques, inappropriate coastal protection works, inadequate land-use planning, channel blasting and dredging, and natural disasters, e.g., cyclones, coral bleaching and crown-of-throns. If this decline is not halted, coral reefs will disappear along with an integral part of the Pacific's cultural identity.
The social, cultural and economic prosperity of the Pacific islands region has been and will continue to be, directly dependent upon the health of coral reefs and associated ecosystems (mangroves and seagrasses). For example, coral reefs provide about 10- 12% of the world harvest of finfish and shell fish; in some Pacific islands reef fisheries provide over 80% of animal protein intake for humans. In the Pacific, there are approximately, 160,000 people who live on many coral atolls and a little more than two million who live on high islands that are surrounded by significant coral reefs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CORAL REEF OR THIS SUBJECT, PLEASE CONTACT MATT STOUT AT: 202-482-6090 OR coralreef@www.rdc.noaa.gov
OR South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
OR CHECK-OUT THE NOAA CORAL REEF WEBSITES AT:
NOAA's Coral Reef Home Page
Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP)
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
National Campaign Plans for the 1997 Pacific Year of the Coral Reef (One each for each participating Pacific Island Country). Available from SPREP.
Regional Campaign Plan for the Pacific Year of the Coral Reef (1996) Planning Meeting for the 1997 Pacific Year of the Coral Reef Meeting. 8-12 July, 1996, Nadi, Fiji. Available from SPREP and NOAA.
*Robert, Keith-Reid (1996) Our Coral Reefs." Air Pacific's Islands. Vol. II, p. 19-22.
State of the Reefs: Regional and Global Perspectives: An International Coral Reef Initiative Executive Secretariat Background Paper, May 1995
July 1997 News Note: One of the major scientific events during the International Year of the Reef (IYOR) is a joint symposium of the Pacific Science Association's Scientific Committee on Coral Reefs (PSA-SCCR) and the 1997 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS) in Suva, Fiji, at the VIII PSA Inter-Congress, 13-19 July 1997. For information: http://www.usp.ac.fj/~psa or E-mail psa@usp.ac.fj FAX + (679) 314 007.
SOUTH PACIFIC EXPERTS:
Regional
Dr. Paul Holthus
Marine Program Officer
World Conservation Union - IUCN
Rue mauverney 28
CH-1196 Gland Switzerland
tel: 41-22-999-0251
email: pfh@hq.iucn.org
Lucille Apis-Overhoff
Coordinator for the Pacific Year of the Coral Reef.
Wetlands and Mangrove Officer
South Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP)
P.O. Box 240
Apia, Western Samoa
tel: 685- 21 929
email: lucille@pactok.peg.apc.org or SPREP@talofa.net
Noah Idechong
Palau Conservation Society
P.O. Box 1811, Koror, Palau, 96940
Tel: 680 488 3993
Andrew Smith
Coastal and Marine Scientis
Asia/Pacific Coastal and Marine Program
P.O. Box 1738, Koror Palau 96940
Tel/fax: 680 2017
Email: Andrew_smith@tnc.org
Dr. Clive Wilkinson
Australian Institute of Marine Science
PMP No. 3, Townsville MC 4810, Australia
Tel: 61 77 534 372
Email: c.wilkinson@aims.gov.au
Pacific Year of the Coral Reef Campaign Network Members
(participating Pacific Island Countries)
AMERICAN SAMOA
Ms.Punipuao Lagai-Nagalapadi
Education Coordinator
Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary
P.O. BOX 4318, PAGOPAGO
AMERICAN SAMOA 96799
Tel: (684) 633 7354
AUSTRALIA
Mr. Chris Bleakley
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
GPO Box 791
Canberra ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA
Tel: (616) 247 0211
Email: c.bleakley@gbrmpa.gov.au
Mr. Will Oxley
Manager, Long-term Monitoring Program
Australian Institute of Marine Sscience
PMB No. 3, Townsville Mail Centre
Qld 4810
AUSTRALIA
Tel: (677) 534 270
Email: w.oxley@aims.gov.au
COOK ISLANDS
Ms. Edith Ngariu
Education Coordinator
Cook Islands Environment Services
P.O. Box 371
RAROTONGA
Tel: (682) 21 256
Ms. Jacqueline Evans
Taporoporoanga Ipukarea Society
Box 238, RAROTONGA Cook Islands
Tel: (682) 25 131
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA
Jane Jimmy
FSM Dept. of External Affairs
Box PS 123
Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
Tel: 691 320 2641/2613
Spensin James
President
Micronesian Island Conservation Inc.
POHNPEI
Tel: (691) 320 2480
Email: com@elele.peacesat.hawaii.edu
FIJI
Ms. Eleni Rova
Department of Environment
P.O. Box 2131
Government Building
SUVA
Tel: (679) 311 699
Curly Carswell
President
Fiji Dive Operators Association
P.O. Box 264
SAVUSAVU
Tel: (679) 850 620
Mr. Aisake Batisaga
Fisheries Officer
Fisheries Department
SUVA
Tel: (679)361 122
Ruth E. Lechte
Box 9874
Nadi Airport P.O.
NADI
Tel: (679) 720 003
French Polynesia
Ms Annie Aubanel
Charge de la delegation a l'environment
Delegation a l'Environnement
French Polynesia
Telephone:(689) 43 24 09
GUAM
Mr. Michael J. Gawel
Planner
Guam Territorial Planning Council
101 N Street, Tiyan
Barrigada
Guam 96913
Tel: (671) 472 9770
KIRIBATI
Mr. Andrew S. Teem
Assistant Environment Coordinator
Environment Unit
Ministry of Environment & Social Development
P.O. Box 234
Bikenibu, Tarawa
Tel: (686) 28211
MARSHALL ISLANDS
Mr. Anwest P. Eleas
Climate Change Coordinator
Environmental Protection Authority
P.O. Box 1322, MAJURO 96960
Tel: (692) 625 5203
NIUE
Mr. Brendon Pasisi
Fisheries Adviser
Department of Agriculture,
Forestry & Fisheries
ALOFI
Tel: (683) 4032
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Mr. John Furey
Coastal Coordinator
Coastal Resources Management Office
N.M.I
Tel: (670) 234 6623
PALAU
Mr. Demei Otobed
Director
Bureau of Natural Resources & Development
Ministry of Resources & Development
National Government
P.O. Box 117
Koror, PALAU 96940
Tel: (680) 488 1475
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Mr. Walain Ulaiwi
Coastal Management Officer
Dept. of Environment & Conservation
P.O. Box 6601
BOROKO
Tel: (675) 325 4922
Mr. John Rewald
Head of Department
Motupore Island Research Department
Box 320
University P.O. NCD
Papua New Guinea 134
Tel: (675) 325 8093
Email: 100353.164@COMPUSERVE.COM or JREWALD@PEG.APC.ORG
Mr. William Asigau
Marine Ecologist
Interim Chairman
East Hiri Coastal Zone
Management Programme
P.O. Box 344
UPNG
SOLOMON ISLANDS
(per confirmation letter 8/10/93)
Permanent Secretary
Attn: Mr Moses Biliki
HQ66306
Chief Environment & Conservation Officer
Environment and Conservation Division
Ministry of Natural Resources
P.O. Box G24, HONIARA Solomon Islands
Telephone: (677) 21521
TOKELAU
Mr. Makalio Ioane
Environment Advisory Assistant Officer
Dept. of Natural Resource and Environment
c/o Tokelau Apia Liaison Office
APIA
Tel: (685) 20 822/20 823
TONGA
Mr. Sione Tukia Lepa
Acting Marine Conservation Officer
Ministry of Lands, Survey & Natural Resources
P.O. Box 5, NUKU'ALOFA
Tel: (676) 23 611
TUVALU
Mr. Samuelu Laloniu
Fisheries Research Officer
Tuvalu Fisheries Division, FUNAFUTI
Tel: (688) 20 348
VANUATU
Mr. Robert Jimmy
Senior Fisheries Biologist
Fisheries Department
Private Mail Bag 045, PORT VILA
Tel: (678) 23 621 / 23 119
Email: Robertj@fisheries.gov.vu
Jo Dorras
WanSmol Bag Theatre Group
PORT VILA
Tel: (678) 24 397
WESTERN SAMOA
Mr. Lui Bell
Principal Fisheries Officer
Department of Agriculture
APIA
Tel: (685) 20 369
OTHERS
SPC
Dr. Tim Adams,Fisheries Resource Adviser,South Pacific Commission
P.O. Box D5, NOUMEA, New Caledonia
Tel: (687) 262 000
Email: TJA@SPC.ORG.NC
SOPAC
Mr. Steve Solomon,Coastal Geologist
Private Mail Bag GPO, Suva
Tel: (679) 381 139
Email: Steve@sopac.org.fj
USP
Mr. Temakei Tebano
Manager/Research Fellow
Atoll Research Programme
University of the South Pacific
P.O. Box 101
Bairiki, Tarawa
SPREP
Box 240
Apia, Western Samoa
Tel(685) 21929
email SPREP@talofa.net
James Aston
Coastal Management Officer
Sue Miller
Biodiversity Officer (species)
Fatu Tauafiafi
Information and Publications Officer
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