---------------------------- Forwarded with Changes ---------------------------
From: Cindy S Barger at NPS-OP
Date: 9/25/97 6:52AM
To: coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov at Internet
To: "Michael S. Roy" <Michael.S.Roy@pop.zi.ku.dk> at Internet
Subject: Re: Tourist impact on coral
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     Mike 

     I'm surprised that the company you were with provided such poor 
     awareness of reef conservancy.  I was also in Cairns as a tourist in 
     March and was very impressed by the tour company I used.  

     While traveling out to the reef, the company gave a mandatory video 
     briefing that reiterated several times the importance of not touching 
     the reef and ensuring that you keep a safe distance to compensate for 
     wave action while snorkeling or buoyancy problems while diving.  The 
     dive masters kept a very close eye on the divers (both beginning and 
     advanced) to ensure they were not harming the reef.  In fact, we had 
     some divers that tried to break coral off the reef.  The dive masters 
     sent them back up to the surface and would not let them dive anymore.  

     In addition, when we signed up for the diving excursion (I went for two 
     days but the same information was provided to the day-only snorkelers 
     and divers), we were encouraged to go to "reef talk".  I also found out 
     that "Reef Talk" went to all the dive classes as well.  "Reef Talk" was 
     a educational outreach effort by one of the local marine biologists.  
     He promoted it as a presentation to help you identify the corals and 
     critters on the reef but the discussion clearly enforced the delicacy 
     of the reef and the need to protect it and avoid any direct contact 
     with it (including creating too much wave action from your fins).  The 
     presentation was entertaining as well as educational - which helped 
     hold the relatively short attention span of the average tourist.

     I'd be interested to know which company you chose.  It's a shame that 
     all the tour companies are not making a strong concerted effort to 
     protect the resource that provides their livelihood.

     Best..

     Cindy



     ********************************************************

     Cindy S. Barger
     Seattle District 
     U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
     Regulatory Branch

     e-mail:  cindy.s.barger@nps.usace.army.mil


     ______________________________ Reply Separator 
     _________________________________
     Subject: Tourist impact on coral
     Author:  "Michael S. Roy" <Michael.S.Roy@pop.zi.ku.dk> at Internet 
     Date:    9/25/97 6:26 AM




     While visiting the Great Barrier Reef at Cairns recently as a tourist, 
     I went on a diving trip organized by a local company. Although the 
     diving was as fantastic as expected (my first time to this reef) I was 
     appalled by the general level of conservation awareness that this 
     particular tour company provided its customers. It appears common 
     practice for companies to offer non divers the opportunity to learn 
     how to dive at the reef. I personally witnessed groups of beginners 
     falling all over corals through lack of bouyancy control, breaking and 
     damaging corals as they went.

     Our tour guide never once told people to stay away or not to touch the 
     corals, or not to take home souvenirs (although I never witnessed 
     anybody doing this).

     My question is whether anybody knows the impact tourism has on the 
     Great Barrier Reef and what is the general policy for conservation of 
     the Reef. Is it targeted disturbance to small areas or is it small and 
     widespread disturbance over large areas. Is there any regulation out 
     there at all?

     The Government has recently introduced a $2 tax for all tourists which 
     our tour operator was quite angry at. Where does this money go?

     Cheers

     Mike


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     -------- Michael.S.Roy@pop.zi.ku.dk



