[Coral-List] [SPAM] More on interesting interactions between divers and reefs

[Martin Moe]

On lead.
I have a friend down here in the Florida Keys who, as a youth, collected in one summer enough lead sinkers lost by fisherman off the Channel 2 bridge to cast a keel weight for a sailboat (don't know the quantitative details) and also in those years he and several friends collected and sold lead sinkers from below these bridge areas in quantities large enough to nicely sustain themselves during the summer months. The sinkers would accumulate in depressions and by rocks and were easy to find and collect. They don't collect these sinkers any more, I don't know if anyone does so these days, I haven't seen such activity, but there are still very many fishermen that use these bridges and also fish from boats in these channels so it may still be a lucrative part time endeavor. It is also not at all unusual to find lead sinkers in coral reef areas (usually attached to a substantial length of monofilament fishing line), And of course there is the poisoning of
 water fowl from the lead shot that accumulates in wet lands. And in marine aquariums I have noticed that lead weights used to anchor artificial plants seem to waste away over time. So lead in the aquatic environment seems to be an issue, maybe biochemically, but certainly in particulate form, especially with attached fishing line in coral reef areas. 


Martin

----- Original Message ----
From: "David.A.Gulko at hawaii.gov" <David.A.Gulko at hawaii.gov>
To: Charles Delbeek <delbeek at waquarium.org>
Cc: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>; coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Sent: Friday, December 7, 2007 3:25:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] [SPAM] More on interesting interactions between divers and reefs


Aloha folks,

A number of us out here have raised concerns where large pieces of 
uncoated lead are used as anchor blocks for boat moorings and
 scientific 
equipment because of concerns related to algal over-growth and grazing
 by 
herbivores serving as a pathway for movement of lead up through the
 food 
chain.  We've recommended coating of large lead anchor structures prior
 to 
deployment underwater. 

- Dave

Dave Gulko, Aquatic Biologist IV - Coral Reefs
Division of Aquatic Resources
Hawai?i Department of Land & Natural Resources
1151 Punchbowl Street, room 330
Honolulu, HI  96813

(808) 587-0318 (o), (808) 587-0115 (fax)
david.a.gulko at hawaii.gov

NOTE: The opinions and/or information presented in this email do not 
necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Land & Natural 
Resources or the State of Hawai?i.  Unless otherwise stated, this email
 is 
for use only by the individual(s) listed above.



Charles Delbeek <delbeek at waquarium.org> 
Sent by: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
12/05/07 12:17 PM

To
John Ware <jware at erols.com>
cc
"coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Subject
Re: [Coral-List] [SPAM] More on interesting interactions between divers
 
and     reefs






John Ware wrote:
> Dear List,
>
> True there has been quite a number of studies on the interaction of 
> divers with reefs.  The one that I have not seen is the effect of
 diver 
> lead.  (Yes, I know that lead and lead salts are generally considered
 
> insoluble).
>
> However, a year or two ago I was told that the Island of Bonaire
 Marine 
> Park Authority was considering a ban on uncoated lead weights.  All 
> divers would be required to use coated weights. 
>
> This might be one of those 'urban myths'.  Perhaps someone from the
 MPA 
> could respond.
>
> Where does it end??
>
> John
>
> 
Actually, I would think looking at the amount of lead weight from 
abandoned fishing lines would have a more significant potential impact 
than diver's weights. For example, one of our divers recently took part
 
in a lead fishing weight recovery effort with 10 other divers. With 11 
people doing two dives each, they recovered over 220 pounds of lead 
fishing weights at one dive site on Oahu.

Aloha!

-- 
J. Charles Delbeek M.Sc.
Aquarium Biologist III
Waikiki Aquarium
University of Hawaii
2777 Kalakaua Ave.
Honolulu, HI, 96815

(808) 923-9741 VOICE
(808) 923-1771 FAX

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