Author: cmsd

12 Jul

Information on Oostpunt including carmabi ‘s concerns regarding the proposed zoning plan

Open letter to the Parliament of Curacao regarding the recently proposed rezoning of Oostpunt to members of the same Parliament. The Dutch version can be found by clicking here, the Papiamentu version can be found here. A letter with similar, but slightly more detailed information as also send to the Governor of Curacao. Click here to see the letter to the Governor. Carmabi has produced various informative documents to inform Curacaoans and other interested parties about the unique nature that [...]

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11 May

New handbook for coral reef managers: Towards Reef Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods: a handbook for Caribbean reef managers

New handbook for coral reef managers: Towards Reef Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods: a handbook for Caribbean reef managers The FORCE project (click here for details) has produced a handbook that aims to provide reef managers with tools, information and recommendations on management of coral reef ecosystems. The handbook sections range from ecological history and biogeography, resilience as well as climate change issues to fisheries, governance and the monitoring of coral reef ecosystems.Within each section are practical stand-alone ‘briefs’. These briefs [...]

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01 Jan

New Carmabi report on the current state of Curacao’s coral reefs 2012

To download the report, Vermeij MJA (2012) Curacao State of the reef 2012 Carmabi (c)2012 Papiamentu follows english below The coral reefs of Curaçao represent one of the best reef systems left in the Caribbean at present. However, this does not mean that these reef systems are doing well.  On the contrary: increased coastal development has resulted in pollution of near shore waters through the release of (untreated) sewage, nutrients and chemicals and overfishing represent some of the factors that have [...]

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28 Aug

Strange symptoms in reef fish

Recently a large number of fish species has been observed carrying signs of what could be a disease. Two types have been observed and herbivorous fish seem most affected. The first "disease" was historically observed on surgeonfish (A. bahianus), but is now also occuring on several species of grunts and hamlets. Indiviuals affected are covered by dark, round patches, usually dark grey/ black in color, that can occur all over their body. Examples of this "disease" are shown  in [...]

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28 Aug

New study on the state of Bonaire’s reefs

Although Bonaire’s coral reefs remain among the healthiest and most resilient in the Caribbean, a new  IUCN report based on the IUCN Resilience Assessment of Coral Reefs highlights some of the threats that exist to Bonaire’s coral reefs, and which could have serious implications for resilience to future climate change and other threats. The report identified recommendations for addressing the current threats, as well as high and low resilience sites. Carmabi helped with the study which can be found [...]

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31 Jul

UPDATED: Caribbean coral species identification tool

There have also been some updates on the coral ID pages. Carmabi compiled a series of pictures that show combinations of corals that are often mistaken  for one another. Because terminology to describe each species is often  subjective (i.e. has larger polyps or smaller ridges) having both  species in one picture might help to get a better idea of how such  closely related/ similar looking "species" can be distinguished from one  another. Corals are now divided in four main [...]

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28 Jul

High seawater temperatures cause worst coral bleaching since 1998

Temperatures continue to look bad for the Caribbean in 2010. At this point, our Degree Heating Week product is as bad as, or worse than, this time in 2005. Our Seasonal Bleaching  Outlook indicates there continues to be a risk of thermal stress in 2010 at levels similar to 2005. The good news is that areas north of the Greater Antilles and in the Gulf of Mexico do  not seem to be at as high a risk. Temperatures in [...]

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01 Jul

Coral Reef Systems: to the middle of the Pacific to find untouched reefs

We invite you to join us in exploring coral reefs - some of the most productive and biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. Follow us as we travel to untouched parts of the globe to conduct scientific research aimed at protecting these special places. Read our blog to hear about our adventures in the field.  Browse photos and video from our expeditions and take a step into an underwater world.  Check out our lively book, Coral Reefs in the Microbial [...]

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03 Jun

Unidentifiable fish species

On the evening of May 30th a fish was caught by local fishermen at a depth of approximately 100 meters. At present no one has any idea what species this fish might be. A picture is shown below and all who know what species this fish is are invited to send an email to m.vermeij@carmabi.org with the supposed species name so the information can be shared with the local fishing community. Thanks in advance. Update June 3rd 2010: After sending the [...]

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28 Feb

Baby corals dance their way home

Baby corals find their way home in their first days as free-swimming larvae by listening to the noise of animals on the reef and actively swimming towards it, an international team of researchers working in the Caribbean has discovered. These findings raise new concerns for the future of coral reefs as increasing human noise pollution in the world's oceans is masking reef sounds. Dr Steve Simpson, Senior Researcher in the University of Bristol's School of Biological Sciences, discovered several years ago [...]

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