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<title>Press Release January 18th2001</title>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><u><font size=5 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:20.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Press Release<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>January 18<sup>th</sup>2001<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>The Barbados Marine Trust wishes to express it’s horror at the report in
today’s Nation newspaper on the damage done to our coral reefs by visiting
yachts. Our coral reefs are of prime importance, not only to us as an island
nation but also as a habitat to tens of thousands of species of plants and
animals. <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Such wanton destruction must not be
disregarded and those responsible must be brought to justice.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><b><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:bold'>We would appeal to the authorities involved to take
whatever action is necessary to ensure that the culprits are not only brought
before the courts to face charges for this criminal act, but are forced to make
reparation for the destruction caused to our reefs.</span></font></b></span><span
class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'> The livelihoods of our
fishermen, dive-boat operators and the operations of the <span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Folkestone Marine Park will all be
adversely affected immediately by this damage. The long-term effects of such
damage will be reduction in the number of fish and coral species, not only in
the immediate area but in the surrounding areas for years to come. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><b><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:bold'>The Barbados Marine Trust is currently working on an artificial
reef project, and estimates that the repairs to the reef will cost approximately
BDS.$150,000.00. The damage to the reef could be repaired by deploying ”Reef Balls”
–specially designed structures which mimic the natural reef. It will take a minimum
of 5-8 years to restore the reef to <span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>a reasonable condition and approximately 50 years before the
artificial reef becomes a “natural reef”. The Barbados Marine Trust is willing
to undertake this task immediately should the funding be made available<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>It is imperative that
immediate action be taken to deal with the individuals responsible for this incident,
and that systems be put in place to prevent a recurrence in the future</span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>. </span></font><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>The
Tourism industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of the global economy
and one which benefits most from the coral reefs. It is also one of the most
destructive to the reefs. Caribbean countries on average derive over half their
GNP from tourism. The tourists to the Caribbean are attracted to the white
sandy beaches which are maintained through the natural erosion of the coral
reefs. Coastal reefs buffer the adjacent shoreline from wave action and the
impact of storms. This in turn protects the coastal populations as well as the
mangrove fisheries and the wetlands.</span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'> </span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black;
mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>If
properly managed, reefs can yield on average 15 tons of fish and other seafood
per year per square kilometre. Coral Reef species offer particular promise to
the medical industry , because of the array of chemicals produced by these
organisms for self-protection. Corals are already being used for bone grafts,
and many chemicals may offer new treatments for leukemia, skin cancer and other
tumours.</span></font></b><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext;
font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>We wish to re-iterate
our commitment to the preservation of the Marine Environment and call upon the
Government of Barbados to take a firm stance and ensure that those responsible
for this damage are made to pay the price for their thoughtless acts of
destruction. </span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Loreto Mayers<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
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face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Executive Director<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
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