[Coral-List] Sabah and reefballs

[Nicolas J. Pilcher]

Interesting to hear that reefballs are going to save Sabah's reefs from 
erosion. Ever seen what continued man--made structures end up looking like 
many years after being deployed in areas where shifting sands due to 
predominant current patters persists? The Maldives might be a good example 
of the continued need to adjust and shift these. The turtle islands have 
been subject to a two-phase sand shift with the monsoon season for many 
more years than reef-balls, and turtles, which require a stable nesting 
habitat in order to successfully propagate as a group of species. Sand 
moves one way in the monsoon season, the other in the off season. And while 
sand is ultimately shifting slowly in one direction, the islands are 
obviously sufficiently stable for turtles, which nest on their natal 
beaches but require a 30 year developmental period. That is, the islands 
are stable enough for 30 years, yet reefballs are going to save the day?


>I am off to the Turtle Islands in Sabah tomorrow to save the turtle nesting
>grounds from erosion for those totally protected (from humans) islands, so I
>won't be able to respond for the next week. So if you have a comment try
>emailing it to me directly with a catchy subject that I can pick out on a
>slow internet connection.

I am writing from Sabah with a fast broadband connection. You'll end up in 
hotels all of which have wireless broadband access for guests - yes, right 
here in Borneo, of all places! I'd appreciate if you would not suggest that 
this is a backward destination, you might find in many ways Sabah has a lot 
more to offer.

Dr. Nicolas J. Pilcher
Co-Chair IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group

Executive Director
Marine Research Foundation
136 Lorong Pokok Seraya 2
Taman Khidmat
88450 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah
Malaysia

Tel ++ 60 88 386136
Fax ++ 60 88 387136
Email: pilcher at tm.net.my