Press Release
Issued: May 6, 2010
MERI Lecture to Focus on Future of Coral Reefs
Blue Hill, Maine— “The health of the planet ocean is in our hands,” says coral reef biologist Dr. Nancy Knowlton. A world-renowned scientist, Dr. Knowlton will present “The Future of Coral Reefs: Ecosystems in Peril” at the Marine Environmental Research Institute on Thursday, May 20 as part of MERI’s 2010 Ocean Environment Lecture Series. A reception honoring Dr. Knowlton begins at 6 pm followed by her lecture at 7 pm.
According to Dr. Knowlton, if global human activity remains unchanged, coral reefs will vanish by the year 2050. “We’ve already increased the acidity by 30% [due to global warming],” says Dr. Knowlton, “and so even if you’re skeptical, which I hope you’re not…this is happening in the ocean right now and it’s predicted to decrease fisheries by 20-25% in the course of the next couple of decades if we don’t turn this around.” Equally troubling is the loss of corals—home to 25% of all marine species—which have already declined 80% since the 1980s.
In her lecture, Knowlton will discuss the impact of ocean acidification on coral reefs and present success stories of effective management practices and policies—from the first marine protected areas in the Hawaiian Islands to the protection of Mexican turtle nesting grounds—that are helping to reverse these trends. “They are small scale in some cases and if you put them in a global context. But they show you that this is actually something that we can do—it’s just a matter of putting our boots on and doing it.”
The founding Director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Dr. Knowlton now holds the Smithsonian Institution’s Sant Chair for Marine Science at the National Museum of Natural History. As the leader of its Ocean Initiative, she works to foster greater public understanding of ocean issues. Dr. Knowlton concurrently chairs the World Bank’s Targeted Research Program for Coral Reefs and is the principle investigator of the Census of Marine Life’s Coral Reef Initiative.
The lecture is part of MERI’s 20th Anniversary celebration events that are bringing the world’s leading marine scientists and explorers to Blue Hill to address critical ocean issues. MERI’s 2010 Ocean Environment Lecture Series is supported by the Maine Coastal Program, the Maine Community Foundation, and the Blue Hill Inn. Acclaimed Blue Hill chef, Diane Bianco, will provide appetizers for the reception featuring recipes from her upcoming cookbook, “Let’s Party in Maine!”
The Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI), located at 55 Main Street in Blue Hill, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the marine environment and human health through scientific research and education. For information about MERI’s monthly lectures, research and education programs, please call 374-2135, e-mail info@meriresearch.org or visit MERI online at www.meriresearch.org.