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On Thursday, January 24, 2008,
the United States (US) Department of Commerce through the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will inaugurate the
International Year of the Reef (IYOR). Coral reef experts and
scientists from France, Mexico, the US, Bonaire and other parts of
the Caribbean will participate in the launch ceremony which takes
place at the Georgetown University in Washington DC.
The National Environment and
Planning Agency (NEPA) will also attend the Press Conference which
will update a 2005 report on coral bleaching in the Caribbean that
affected more than eighty percent (80%) of the Region. An ongoing
scientific mission using autonomous underwater vehicles and other
technologies to examine the reefs off Bonaire will also be presented
live through web and phone hook-up. A number of other
internationalplans will also be outlined at the launch.
International Year of the Reef
seeks to draw attention to coral reefs as sentinels of the ocean
environment. NOAA is an arm of the US Department of Commerce which
aims to enrich life through science. Its reach goes from the
surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor.
click here to view
Jamaica's reef status and trends
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