Best Marine Aquarium Magazine Returns

Coral Magazine Re-Launches with a New Editor and Publisher for 2009

Jan 28, 2009

Coral Magazine disappeared from subscribers' mailboxes in December 2008, but it was re-launched in early 2009 to critical acclaim.

Marine aquarists were upset to learn in late 2008 that EcoSystem Aquarium, publisher of Coral, would no longer be producing the magazine. The parent publication of the English language Coral is Koralle, which was first conceived in Germany nearly a decade ago. The fundamental concept behind the magazine was to have a publication written for both home aquarists and marine biologists. EcoSystem’s decision to cease publication left the future of this most respected of marine aquarium magazines up in the air.

According to the EcoSystem website, the decision “to sever ties” with Koralle after five years was made in order to launch a new publication—ReefLife Magazine. EcoSystem claims that ReefLife Magazine will be “an even better magazine” than Coral, but given Coral’s reputation, combined with the frustration of numerous subscribers who felt that they were "left unsupported by EcoSystem’s sudden abandonment of the magazine," that is going to be a tall order to fill. ReefLife Magazine is scheduled to publish its first issue in spring 2009.

When it became clear that EcoSystem would not continue to publish Coral, Daniel Knop, the editor of the German Koralle, contacted James Lawrence, an award-winning publisher of books and magazines and the founder of Microcosm, LTD and Reef to Rainforest Media, LLC. “When EcoSystem failed to complete the December 2008 issue,” Lawrence recalls, “Daniel and I connected with some urgency.” Lawrence first met Daniel Knop at one of the very early MACNA Conferences. Lawrence is now the publisher and editor of the re-launched Coral Magazine.

Other noteworthy people also stepped in to insure that Coral would continue without missing an issue. Among those people who may be credited with the successful re-launch are Julian Sprung and Anthony Calfo—two big names in the marine aquarium hobby. “The whole Koralle/Coral empire is built on the same foundation,” says Lawrence. “It is a magazine by people who love aquariums and care about the future of coral reefs.”

Other names that will be familiar to many hobbyists include contributors such as Dr. Gerald Allen, Dr. Jack Randall, Dr. Charlie Veron, Dr. Phil Alderslade, Dr. Rob Toonen, Scott Michael, Matt Wittenrich, Alf Nilsen, Svein Fosså, and many more. Martin Moe and Sylvia Earle, the former Chief Scientist of NOAA, also serve on the board of advisors.

A Bridge between Marine Ecosystems and the Marine Aquarium Hobby

One of the characteristics that makes Coral unique is the fact that it provides “a bridge” between the ecosystems upon which the hobby depends and the hobby itself. “Coral is where the world’s most enthusiastic reefkeepers collide with marine biologists and professional aquarists,” says Lawrence. “It’s an exciting forum that works at many levels, even for newcomers. There is an element of being on the unpredictable cutting edge that I, as a reader, always love.”

In addition to outstanding content, Coral has always been known for its aesthetic appeal. It is a beautiful publication with an attention to detail in layout and design that is unusual for a hobby magazine. Lawrence says he intends to keep it that way.

Larger Circulation, Bigger Distribution and a Commitment to Readers

In addition to doing all the things that Coral has done to make it the leading marine aquarium publication, Lawrence also intends to immediately increase circulation by 33 percent. He also reports that Coral will now be distributed nationally to Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books A Million and Hastings Bookstores.

In addition, Lawrence says, the new owners of Coral are trying to take care of former subscribers. “The previous publisher cancelled all former subscriptions,” explains Lawrence. “He refused to transfer or even sell them to the owners of Coral. We are ready to make all of them happy if they contact us. We believe in the contract between a publisher and his or her readers to deliver what was paid for.”

The copyright of the article Best Marine Aquarium Magazine Returns in Saltwater Fish is owned by Ret Talbot. Permission to republish Best Marine Aquarium Magazine Returns in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.