Perfect Climate Change Reading As California Sizzles

I noticed my SoCal ocean blogging colleague, Miriam of The Oyster's Garter, posted some "cool" reading as diversions to the fact that her surroundings are spontaneously igniting. From San Diego to San Francisco, California is in the grip of it's first heat wave. We don't usually start heating up in the Bay Area until about June, and then we have the midday fog to keep temperatures reasonable. But the past few days have seen the mercury soar.

I decided to jump ship and leave Manuel in the sweatbox of our loft in Oakland to escape to the slightly cooler sweatbox of my office in San Francisco. Temperatures here in The City reached mid 80's today. Which probably sounds mild to you, but keep in mind this is a rather amazing (and sudden) jump in temperature considering we were in turtlenecks and burning the furniture to keep warm just last Tuesday.

It all makes a news report from last week's Miami Herald all the more poignant. The article focuses on how Micronesian island nations--that have depended on tourism for their economic base--are now considering the ramifications of climate change-induced sea level rise. Many of the tropical islands across the Pacific depend heavily on island-hopping tourism. Scuba diving and snorkeling are the main draws, along with sportfishing. But now, islanders across Micronesia are considering the very real possibility that their island homes will either disappear or nor longer be suitable for habitation.

Tuvalu, for example, has an average elevation only about six feet above sea level. Numerous other island tourism destinations such as Palau, Yap, and Pohnpei are in the same predicament. As I reported here last year, Papua New Guinea's Carteret Islands have already begun the planning process of evacuating the first climate change refugees. But not so fast, commented the always perspicacious Anonymous in last year's post. It's not climate change... it's that the islands are tectonically sinking, stupid.

Denial is not just a river in Egypt. Oh, and incidentally, millions of Egyptians could be forced permanently from their homes and the country's ability to feed itself devastated with sea level rise as well.

MBSL&S Goes All Commercial

What's with big-ticket home appliances and oceans? I sure wish I had ads like this when I was a kid. All I had was creepy Mr. Whipple chasing housewives from the Charmin aisle.

Strangely Mesmerizing

Whirlpool, makers of washing machines, dishwashers and other kitchen and laundry appliances, has been working a surreal marine theme into it's recent run of commercials. The latest (promoting the Power Scour Dish Washer), depicts a virtual coral reef made out of dishes, cutlery, and miscellaneous kitchen implements. It's way cool and fascinating to a coral head like me. Did someone actually build this reef somewhere or is it all the wonder of CG?

Below is the 2007 washing machine commercial with "fish," "jellies," and washable "whales."

I Saw The Sign

CORAL Hawaii Field Manager Liz Foote just sent me these most awesome pictures of the first of several brand spankin' new educational signs we are installing along the Maui coast. A little over a year in concept planning, writing, design, and production, the signage is a much needed tool offering basic Hawaiian coral reef ecology, instruction in reef-safe snorkeling etiquette, and the importance of healthy reefs for Hawaii's economy and culture.

The first sign was installed at Wailea Beach, a popular Maui destination south of Kihei. More will be installed along South Maui, Maalaea, along the Ka'anapali Coast, and at Honolua Bay. By no means are these signs alone a silver bullet. But together with other layered messaging opportunities (TV spots, radio, newspaper, reminders from tourism providers, school curriculum, etc.) we hope to reach a saturation point where coral conservation IQ is raised in visitors and locals alike.

On Being Konohiki

Konohiki, the Hawaiian word for the protector of a given piece of land or ocean, is the appointed role and responsibility of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). And according to new DLNR chairwoman Laura Thielen, it's a responsibility she plans on taking seriously.

Thielen is pushing for stiffer penalties for violating the environment. And while her responsibilities also include operating state parks (including marine protected areas) and supervising leases of state land, she's making it clear that protection of Hawaii's precious natural resources is front and center.

According to a report yesterday, Thielen wants to update the penalties for violating public property.

As it is, $500 fines are little or no deterrent for landowners who have the ability to buy million-dollar properties. It’s easy to imagine one of these landowners — more than likely a newcomer — thinking $500 was cheap for improving his view or enlarging his beachfront property even for a short time.

The bills in the Legislature increase maximum fines from $500 to $10,000 for illegally cutting trees on state land or putting in landscaping that intrudes on public beaches or grading state land. The penalty for taking commercially desirable trees such as koa from state conservation districts would also include the market value of the lumber.

Another bill would impose a $10,000 fine for every square meter of coral destroyed — little enough for destroying something that will take decades (or more) to recover.

With property in Hawaii selling well into seven figures, is a $10,000 fine still a wrist slap to fat cat developers or tourism operators with deep pockets? Hard to know for sure. I'm a big proponent of empowering groups, either local communities or businesses, to avoid top-down regulations through the implementation of voluntary best environmental practices. But having now spent a lot of time in Hawaii and gotten a taste of the somewhat "fast and loose" nature of resource use (and abuse), I think more meaningful fines can serve some deterrent value. And perhaps fines coupled with jail time can spur cavalier environmental attitudes towards greater responsibility to the broader community.

One of the loudest complaints I hear from Hawaiian stakeholders against regulations is that they're unnecessary since residents are already demonstrating leadership and environmentally responsible behavior. Fine. But if you're already doing the right thing, then the threat of fines shouldn't keep you up at night. Besides, while the state may have its responsibility as konohiki, local residents also have their own kuleana (privilege and responsibility) to do all they can to protect and preserve their Hawaiian environment and culture as well.

Olympic Torch Hospitalized

The Olympic Torch was hospitalized early today, after collapsing in a downtown San Francisco hotel.

Officials said the torch was suffering from nervous exhaustion and is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing what were described as "routine medical tests" to rule out any serious illness. A spokesman for the torch expressed thanks to all of the torch's fans for their support and love.

Many fans who had waited for several days for a glimpse of the torch had tears in their eyes. A 17-year-old from Walnut Creek, said: "I am so proud of the torch for seeking help. I would gladly give my life for the Olympic Torch. People can be so unkind and do not understand the enormous pressures the torch faces every day."

Torch spokepeople flatly rejected rumors that a Bic lighter would be substituted for the torch at its next public appearance. However, an Olympics public relations officer admitted that a solar-powered light-emitting diode (or "LED") had been contacted about a possible collaboration.

Hat tip to Tom for the humor.

Scenes From A Torch Protest

After being hidden in a waterfront warehouse, bused through downtown and carried on a surprise route through the Marina to evade protesters, the Olympic torch's wild journey through San Francisco is over. Closing ceremony was moved to the San Francisco International Airport. Thanks, taxpayers! Here's a few snaps, courtesy of Anja.

Torch Song

Today, the Olympic torch makes its only scheduled US stop right here in San Francisco and the city is bracing for high drama. Based on the demonstrations witnessed in the UK and France, city officials are taking no chances on any disruptions from human rights protesters. But when protest comes to San Francisco, it comes not in single spies but in battalions. There are the Free Tibet protesters, Falun Gong protesters, free trade in China protesters, free speech protesters, the protesters angry that the torch won't pass through Chinatown, protesters protesting that there's a protest, and more than likely protesters who aren't happy with the Olympic torch color scheme. This is San Francisco, we love our protests!

I've never seen so much security measures for a public City event before. Street barricades went up along the torch bearer's route this weekend and the final stopping point on the plaza near the Ferry Building has had gates, extra lighting, and 24 hour renta-guards patrolling. The City has announced it reserves the right to change the torch route at the last minute to dodge major protests. The police presence has also been bumped-up noticeably. Yesterday, a series of human rights protests in front of City Hall brought together city leaders, as well as human rights advocate Bishop Tutu. And you know no human rights protest is complete without Richard Gere in attendance. I'm sure that Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins would have been there if they could.

City life is thoroughly disrupted today with street closures and traffic detours. Public transit has been suspended on or near the torch route, cable cars have been cancelled today, and migrating water fowl are being asked to stay put until after the torch leaves the City.

I may try to check-out the scene later today. More later.

Every Day Is Earth Day, But April 22 Is EarthCast

I've been invited to reunite with my Real Time Blogging in the Ocean Sciences colleagues on Earth Day for what sounds like a really cool and different way to celebrate ocean science and conservation.

I'll be joining Jason Robertshaw of Cephalopodcast, Karen James of the The Beagle Project Blog, and Spineless McInvert Kevin Zelnio of Deep Sea News/The Other 95% for an hour of discussion, laughs, and miscellaneous ocean-loving chatter.

Check the schedule over at Jason's blog and join us for the online webcast. It's a great chance to connect a voice with our words. Join us and find out how I only speak in rhyming verse, how Karen typically affects a French accent, and Kevin is practically indistinguishable from Yoda. Oh, and Jason has been known to break into spontaneous song. It's certainly not to be missed.

How Is A Coral Reef Like A Coffee Table?

The above image is a picture of the coffee table in my office. It's also a picture of the couch that I sleep on all too often, but that's a story for another time. Notice the "snowflake" base to the table? It's the topic of a lot of discussion by visitors. It's an EcoReefs artificial reef module that was given to me a couple years ago by EcoReef founder (and fellow former UC Berkeley colleague) Michael Moore.

As you might surmise given the terrible state of coral reefs these days, artificial reefs are big news and could potentially become big business. While not technically illustrating an artificial reef, The Other 95% newbie Mike Haubrich recently wrote a post about the BioRock process of electro-accretion as a means of stimulating new coral growth. I'll withhold my comments on the BioRock process for this post, but suffice to say I wouldn't advise anyone cashing-out their 401K plans to invest in the process in the near future. Again, a story for another day.

The artificial reef landscape is studded with assorted ventures and approaches. There's everything from low tech rock or coral rubble mounds as reef growing surface to medium tech methods such as sinking old ships and wrecks or employing permanent artificial reef structures called Reef Balls to high tech approaches such as electro-mineral accretion. All have their strengths and limitations. Personally, I like working to keep natural reefs alive and healthy. But sometimes circumstances may call for more aggressive recovery methods. Such is the case with certain unsustainable fishing practices on coral reefs.

Dynamite fishing, or blast fishing, is a profound and widespread threat to coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific. Though generally illegal, it is practiced in more than thirty countries. The basic idea is that a small bottle (often a beer or Coka-Cola bottle) is filled with gunpowder, fitted with a fuse, lit, then dropped onto a shallow reef area. The resultant explosion stuns or kills fish and makes them easy to collect. I've been underwater in areas of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia and have heard the thud of bottle bombs igniting from miles away. I've also visited the blast sites from former fishing areas. Where once lush coral growth existed, only rubble and empty holes remain.

Blast fishing kills fish indiscriminately and pulverizes living coral to particle or grain-sized fragments. Repeated blasting creates vast deserts of loose coral rubble that shifts easily in current flow creating unsuitable settling surface for coral larvae. Lacking suitable habitat, reef fish quickly abandon a demolished reef and local fisheries collapse.

Large blasted areas are slow to recover because coral planula larvae have difficulty establishing on loose or sandy substrate. Young corals that successfully settle easily topple-over on the unstable substrate or quickly become smothered by sand or algae. Recent studies by Helen Fox and Roy Caldwell at UC Berkeley Dept. of Integrative Bio have referred to frequently blasted areas as “killing fields” for new coral recruits and indicate that if recovery is even possible it can take more than a century for a reef to rebound by natural means once the live coral cover has been destroyed.

Enter the EcoReefs approach. Founded in 2001, by Dr. Michael Moore, Ecoreefs are designed to be a large-scale, ecologically significant intervention for use in coral reef areas where the natural coral growth has suffered significant damage or loss, such as from dynamite fishing. EcoReefs are constructed out of a white ceramic, a lot like an unglazed toilet. About a meter across and weighing close to 50 pounds, their form was inspired by the shape of staghorn coral. The idea behind their development was to provide a non-reactive, stable, porous surface for larval coral to settle upon. Anchor enough of them in the loose rubble of a previously blasted areas, the theory goes, and a new reef will eventually take root on the welcoming arms of the EcoReef module.

So how are things working out? You have to see to believe. In one study site in the Indonesian marine protected area of Bunaken National Park, Moore and Seacology installed 620 EcoReef modules in an enormous array. Even at its earliest stage before coral or fish return, a large EcoReefs array is an impressive sight. The 3-dimensional modules immediately create complex reef-like habitat over large areas. And what I particularly love about Michael's approach is that it isn't just a swarm of scientists descending on a site to salvage the reef. Instead, he and Seacology engage local communities to take ownership in the reef rehabilitation. Sure, some of these folks may have also been responsible for the blast fishing in the first place. But for communities to reduce or eliminate unsustainable practices, conservationists have to be willing to engage them in a learning process.

Only a few weeks after being submerged, the white surfaces of the EcoReef modules darken with a film of diatoms and algae. Eventually, corraline red algae begins to grow across the surface. Within months, reef fish return to live among the branching arms of the modules. And in as little as two years, coral recruits and sponges can be seen growing on the module surfaces. One of the techniques used to jump-start growth on the EcoReefs is "coral transplants." Chunks of loose, living coral were physically attached to the EcoReefs with small plastic ties. Oddly, those transplant modules have done no better than the ones left to their own devices.




It's estimated that EcoReefs can shorten recovery times of heavily-blasted reefs to perhaps as little as 7 to 15 years. Natural recovery time for badly damaged coral reefs are long -- on the order of 50 to 100 years or more. While not that long in the scale of earth time, certainly a longer recovery process than most people will witness in their own lives.

Moore currently has EcoReefs arrays deployed throughout Indonesia and the Philippines (areas with some of the most intensive blast fishing activity). If the arrays continue to demonstrate encouraging results, their utility may spread to other areas where reefs have suffered large scale damage from human activity or even severe storm damage. Simply planting EcoReefs arrays alone, however, won't be enough. Artificial reefs, either sunken ships or EcoReefs modules, attract fish. And fish attract fishers. Effective marine resource management, including regulations and enforcement, is needed to ensure that long-term reef rehabilitation efforts aren't undermined by short-term profit.

I get a lot of compliments on my "artsy" coffee table. I'm happy, in this case, that art imitates life.