[Coral-List] Listing Criteria Observation

[Steve Mussman]

   Jon,
   In response to your side note:
   "If limiting actions that deplete the ocean such as
   harvesting coral to grow it, then why aren't we destroying parrot fish that
   eat the coral? I blame them for the destruction of the reef".
   A  paper by the Universities of Exeter and California Davis, published
   November 1, 2007 in Nature explains that Parrotfish are now the sole grazers
   of seaweed on many Caribbean reefs, but fishing has limited their numbers.
   With insufficient Parrotfish grazing, corals are unable to recover after
   major disturbances like hurricanes and become much less healthy as a result.
   The  paper  argues  that  in order to secure a future for coral reefs,
   particularly in light of the predicted impact of climate change, Parrotfish
   need to be protected. The good news is that we can take practical steps to
   protect Parrotfish and help reef regeneration. We recommend a change in
   policy to establish controls over the use of fish traps, which Parrotfish
   are  particularly vulnerable to. We also call on anyone who visits the
   Caribbean and sees Parrotfish on a restaurant menu to voice their concern to
   the management.
   This research was published in Nature: vol 450, issue 7166.
   Regards,
     Steve
   -----Original Message-----
   >From: Jon Skrapits
   >Sent: Dec 18, 2012 10:24 AM
   >To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
   >Subject: [Coral-List] Listing Criteria Observation
   >
   >I looked over the criteria the best I could. I apologize if I misunderstood
   >but it seems as though the driving factor for determining the listing of a
   >coral is by counting the number of animals distributed in an ecosystem.
   >Then many different hypotheses are thrown out to state a personal case or
   >blame a general global phenomenon or "problem." I never heard more specific
   >questions such as these.
   >
   >What does an acropora(or other corals) look like when it is subjected to
   >low pH?
   >How about inadequate flow?(How can a fragmentation survive if you place it
   >improperly?)
   >How about elevated levels of nitrates?(does it even affect them?)
   >Phosphates?
   >Insufficient calcium levels?
   >What about the overall chemistry of seawater when Magnesium is low?
   >Temp fluctuations?
   >Effects of a changing ecosystem causing a lack of food for corals?
   >Do corals really need fish or is it the other way around?( I have many
   >systems w/out fish and pleny of corals)
   >
   >These and many other questions must be answered every hour in aquaculture
   >and guessing wrong causes mass deaths in some cases. Much can be learned
   >from this.
   >
   >
   >On a side note.... If limiting actions that deplete the ocean such as
   >harvesting coral to grow it, then why aren't we destroying parrot fish that
   >eat the coral? I blame them for the destruction of the reefs.
   >
   >As I have said many times, gov. regulation will only kill the reefs. Making
   >it a profitable venture will save them. Educate not regulate. If we can't
   >agree on what is killing the reefs and change our habits, the ocean will
   >not improve and the corals will sit on the reef awaiting their demise. Are
   >the oceans improving? What are we doing to improve that? Just ban
   >havesting? That is the answer? I will collect as many species as possible
   >to have a genetic pool of hearty corals that have been through fluctuations
   >and hopefully one day I can help or my kids can help to replant the ocean.
   >I will watch the rest of mankind squabble over what they think is the
   >problem as it worsens. Maybe we will knock off parrot fish as a last resort
   >if they are still alive.
   >
   >
   >--
   >Thanks,
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