Caribbean Reef Degradation

[gpatton]

The only positive suggestion to keep the Reefs of the Caribbean for dying that I have seen lately is the reestablishment of the long-spined sea urchin!

Check out
http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/research_monitoring/reports/diadema/diadema.html

Techniques development for the reestablishment of the long-spined sea urchin, Diadema antillarum, on two small patch reefs in the upper Florida Keys

 

[5615mike]

XJae once bubbled...

I think we would all argee.
It seems to me that there are a lot of newly certified divers that don't have enough, if any, control.
There should probably be a bit more training involved and reinforcement on the boat right before a dive.
I know it is usually mentioned, but the severity and consequences should be communicated more sternly.
I am always tucking somebodys gauges into thier BC.

IMO you are focusing in on the wrong problem. Sure there are instances where we have all seen divers dragging guages, bumping the reef with body parts or fins but the decline of the entrie reef system can not be caused by divers. This decline is caused by poor environmental controls. Now, I'm no tree hugger but when I spent 10 days in Coz in May I was concerned about the reef. In general it appeared to not have the color of several years ago. I also commented to my wife about the decline in fish life on all the reefs other than Paradise which is always covered with fish but the others were not as vibrant with life as they were several years ago or even the trip we took the year before. Ususally there are a number of large Grouper on the reef somewhere and in 13 dives with over 15 hours of TBT I never say a Grouper over 3 ft long. I have to assume this is caused by fishing the reefs at night by local fisherman.

The decline in Coz's reefs has to have a majority of the blame placed on the Cruise Ships. Before the second pier was built they did not have near the traffice they have now. In May over a week period I counted over 12 ships and that is the slow season. A taxi driver told me that during high season they can have 18 ships in a week. Now that can't be good for the ecosystem.

If anyone else has noticed this decline in Coz I would like to hear about it.

 

[XJae]

IMO you are focusing in on the wrong problem. Sure there are instances where we have all seen divers dragging guages, bumping the reef with body parts or fins but the decline of the entrie reef system can not be caused by divers. This decline is caused by poor environmental controls

Well, Iwas quoting

To my oppinion every diver shall at least minimise the damage he or she does to the environment.

Nevertheless, you are right.
Any ideas of how to stop the destruction that will eventually destroy much more than just the coral reefs?

 

[smrtblnddiver]

Yes, in the overall scheme of things divers cause very little of the damage that is done to coral reefs.

Most of it is pollution type things (runoff, sewage, etc).

Parrotfish cause a LOT of damage as well.

 

[Ice Blue]

:deadfish: We all need to take part in cleaning up to allow our children to see what we have are seeing such beautiful sea life.
Imax made the best Imax film I have ever seen, it's called
Imax: Coral Reef Adventure.
Go see it before it's too late. ;-0