[Coral-List] Bleaching Havens

[Brylske at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/11/06 4:47:30 PM, reefball at reefball.com writes:


> Hi Alex,
> 
> Seriously, are you advocating the sinking of dirty ships as a way of
> reducing coral bleaching?  Come on, let's think about this....are you saying
> Miami should have accepted PBCs in excess of EPA standards, the risk of a
> large ship moving and destroying nearby natural reefs, and spent millions of
> dollars, all in hopes that it would redirect some cold water (likely
> disturbing the natural environment)  to stop corals from bleaching?  Even if
> that would work (which I am NOT saying it would) who in their right minds
> would want to have a ship that could move in a storm close enough to a coral
> reef to have an effect?
> 
> If you want ships for diving opportunites in Miami, then just say so...you
> don't have to hide it by trying to justify how a ship would stop coral
> bleaching.  Whatever we do to our oceans, we need to be clear about the real
> goals we are trying to achieve otherwise we will just confuse the public.
> If you want to support ship sinking, then do so for the right
> reasons....diving opportunities, economic enhancement but don't exagerate
> the uses.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Todd Barber
> 

Todd:

I'm not advocating anything, and completely agree with your desire to be 
honest and forthright. The idea was floated by Phil Dustan, whom I have the utmost 
respect for. Even he isn't "advocating," just making a suggestion to maybe 
think outside the box. Shipwrecks will always be a huge draw for dive tourism, 
whether we like it or not. If they can be used for purposes that could actually 
help promote reef conservation, if seems that we should take a look at it 
before dismissing it. Don't you think?

Alex