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

[Joe Schittone]

Guys come on...though I respect what my friends Skip (Martin) & Dave 
have said, is this really something we need to be fretting about? My 
copy of the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, in one of the tables 
in Section 4 "Properties of the Elements and Inorganic Compounds," lists 
lead as insoluble, though it is soluble in "concentrated acid." But the 
ocean is everywhere basic (except under very localized  influence). 
There are still lead pipes installed in Roman times in service today. 
OK, so maybe there can be something in the marine environment that 
causes degradation. Can a marine chemist help us out here?

Meanwhile, given everything else happening with coral, I repeat--Is this 
truly something we need to spend time worrying about, or should it more 
properly be categorized in the realm of urban myth?
Joe

Martin Moe wrote:
> 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!
>
>