U.S. moving to protect dying coral off South Florida coast

[ekremer]

U.S. moving to protect dying coral off South Florida coast -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

All I have to say is what wonderful news. I love our reefs around here and I love seeing our goverment take steps to protect them.

 

[scubadale]

Isn't this the same government that is not stopping American Pro Diving Center from harassing manatees?

I am glad that they are at least recognizing there is a problem but I don't have much hope in them actually DOING anything to make it better.

 

[ryanpublic]

I dove with American Pro Diving about ten years ago. I didn't see anything that could be characterized as harassing manatees. They (the manatees) seemed to love the attention.
And we were given some instructions of acceptable behavior on our part before we got in the water.

That was probably one of my most favorite diving experiences. Of course it was only snorkeling. They were very gentle creatures and would swim right up to you.

They have one big challenge as I understand it, boat props.

 

[marshallkarp]

Doesn't say anything about the hurricanes smashing and destroying the coral. Hmmm.

 

[ekremer]

I am pretty sure the goverment can't control hurricanes. Unless you know something I don't.

 

[DiverLS]

I think it's fabulous. We don't have coral (except the purply hydrocoral) on our shores but we have a lot of other things. There is a protected area at the northeast end of Anacapa Island, in the northern Channel Islands. The difference between that area and the non protected areas is like night and day. Lots of lobsters, scallops and even kelp that can't be found other places. Luckily, about half of the rest of the northern Channel Islands is now protected witht he exception of lobster hunting. As a photographer, I welcome the change. Hope that doesn't bug my bug hunting budies.

 

[matts1w]

They have one big challenge as I understand it, boat props.

Loss of habitat (rich developers), red tide (fertilized fresh water dumps/loss of the Everglades/golf courses) , and cold water (mother nature) kills more manatees than boat props.

Don't believe the hype.

 

[Nemrod]

I dove with American Pro Diving about ten years ago. I didn't see anything that could be characterized as harassing manatees. They (the manatees) seemed to love the attention.
And we were given some instructions of acceptable behavior on our part before we got in the water.

That was probably one of my most favorite diving experiences. Of course it was only snorkeling. They were very gentle creatures and would swim right up to you.

They have one big challenge as I understand it, boat props.

Well you have not but I have and there is a video down in the Florida forum that certainly shows them doing so and I don't know what is considered "enjoying" but but only a very cruel person would consider this enjoyment. Anyone who would support them after watching this video is simply without hope. The precosious woman on the video, one of several harrasements filmed, is shown clearly on the verge of drowning a calf as it struggles to reach it's mother as this woman continually pulls him down and climbs on his back as if to mate him. Bizzare and cruel beyond belief--and on video. Check it out for yourself.

What is kiling coral in Florida is more of the same, the mighty dollar, to many people climbing on the coral and touching it and to much condo development. That is not global warming, that is greed.

N

 

[deeper thoughts]

Well you have not but I have and there is a video down in the Florida forum that certainly shows them doing so and I don't know what is considered "enjoying" but but only a very cruel person would consider this enjoyment. Anyone who would support them after watching this video is simply without hope. The precosious woman on the video, one of several harrasements filmed, is shown clearly on the verge of drowning a calf as it struggles to reach it's mother as this woman continually pulls him down and climbs on his back as if to mate him. Bizzare and cruel beyond belief--and on video. Check it out for yourself.

What is kiling coral in Florida is more of the same, the mighty dollar, to many people climbing on the coral and touching it and to much condo development. That is not global warming, that is greed.

N

Did American Pro Dive ever issue an apology or change there practices that you know of?

 

[Garrobo]

I couldn't get the link to open but but what the heck has coral dying off got to do with manatees? Anyaway, it's my understanding that the major cause of the coral die-off is contaminated water coming out of the Everglades because of the Klinton/Algore administration's push to repenish fresh water into it. Not to mention the Mississippi River and other rivers and canals puking out their sediments and raw sewage into the ocean.