I saw in a local newspaper 'the Bonaire Reporter' (of Jan. 22-Feb. 5, 2010) that the dive magazine 'Scuba Diving' has awarded several '2010 readers choice awards' to Bonaire. Bonaire placed first in a number of categories, including Top Overall Diving.
The Bonaire Reporter-editors commented 'The award certificate says it all! Congratulations Bonaire!'. And I think they are right...it does say it all. However, I do not think congratulations are in order. What these awards say is: if Bonaire reefs are considered top marine life, macro life and the best overall diving (etc.) that the Caribbean and Atlantic has to offer, then we are in deep trouble.
Everybody who has been diving, snorkeling and/or fishing regularly knows that the number of fish has declined drastically in the last two decades on Bonaire, and the same goes for the percentage live coral coverage on our reefs. Long term scientific monitoring and research on Bonaire has confirmed this.
Hurricanes like Lenny and Omar played a very visual role in the serious deterioration of our reefs' health. But other factors like unregulated (coastal) development, pollution (e.g. waste water), erosion, over-fishing, too many tourists (divers, snorkelers, swimmers) in our coastal waters have been just as important, if not more important. These are non-natural factors that have a negative impact on our reefs *every single day*.
Top Overall Diving Awards allow for 'keeping up appearances', whereas what we should be doing is making sure that winning that 'beauty-contest' means more than just being the least ugly of them all.
For that we need some serious changes. Bonaire should really start to live up in every aspect of its society to the eco-image they try to promote. Then Bonaire will win awards we can actually be proud of.
The Bonaire Reporter-editors commented 'The award certificate says it all! Congratulations Bonaire!'. And I think they are right...it does say it all. However, I do not think congratulations are in order. What these awards say is: if Bonaire reefs are considered top marine life, macro life and the best overall diving (etc.) that the Caribbean and Atlantic has to offer, then we are in deep trouble.
Everybody who has been diving, snorkeling and/or fishing regularly knows that the number of fish has declined drastically in the last two decades on Bonaire, and the same goes for the percentage live coral coverage on our reefs. Long term scientific monitoring and research on Bonaire has confirmed this.
Hurricanes like Lenny and Omar played a very visual role in the serious deterioration of our reefs' health. But other factors like unregulated (coastal) development, pollution (e.g. waste water), erosion, over-fishing, too many tourists (divers, snorkelers, swimmers) in our coastal waters have been just as important, if not more important. These are non-natural factors that have a negative impact on our reefs *every single day*.
Top Overall Diving Awards allow for 'keeping up appearances', whereas what we should be doing is making sure that winning that 'beauty-contest' means more than just being the least ugly of them all.
For that we need some serious changes. Bonaire should really start to live up in every aspect of its society to the eco-image they try to promote. Then Bonaire will win awards we can actually be proud of.
