[Coral-List] Reef destruction on Majuro

[Yasser Saied]

HOW COULD THEY ALLOW SUCH PRACTICE TO HAPPEN ???AND HOW COULD THE STATES FUND IT ??IT'S JUST A SHAME ,,,,,
 Sincerely:
 
Yasser Saied (Said E. Ahmed )
MSc. Marine Environmental Protection 
School of Ocean Sciences, Wales University, UK.
 
 Environmental Consultant
          Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME)/KSA.
GM, Red Sea Islands Protected Area
          Hurghada, Egypt.     
          Mobile: +20101034500 
 

 SKYPE: YasserSaied70
 
  P Please consider the environment before printing this email 
       ================================================================
B    be green, read from the screen 
 > Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:14:39 +0000
> From: davidwheeler at doctors.net.uk
> To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Subject: [Coral-List] Reef destruction on Majuro
> 
> Dear Listers
> 
> I have been following Dean Jacobson's postings on the imminent 
> destruction of an inshore reef to provide rubble.  As scientists do not 
> seem to be able to make much impact maybe we could try to atttack the 
> problem through the tourism pocket.  The three ladies listed below are 
> in the Marshall Islands Visitors Authority.   Here is the email I sent 
> to them (and to Ron).
> > General Manager
> >
> > 	Brenda Alik Maddison
> >
> > 	gm at visitmarshallislands.com
> >
> > Marketing & Research Officer
> >
> > 	Emelyn Simon
> >
> > 	tourism at ntamar.net
> >
> 
> > Information Officer
> >
> > 	Deardre Neko Ned
> >
> > 	info at visitmarshallislands.com
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > Dear Ladies
> >
> > I am a diver prepared to travel long distances from the UK in search of
> > unspoiled coral reefs.  For instance, I recently went to Raja Ampat in
> > Irian Jaya (a two day journey) to dive the reefs there.  I am
> > considering mounting an expedition to the Marshall Islands and am
> > astonished to hear that your government is minded to allow the
> > destruction of a high quality reef in order to provide rubble to extend
> > the runway safety area.   This is akin to bulldozing the Alele Museum
> > with all its exhibits for building rubble.
> >
> > I have it on good authority that unlimited material may be dredged from
> > the reef without significant environmental damage whereas dredging the
> > reef will destroy for ever an important tourist site.  After a week's
> > diving it is necessary to take 24 hours off before flying and a
> > snorkelling a beautiful shallow reef would be an excellent way of
> > passing the time.  Moreover, I understand that the reef is an important
> > fish spawning area and destroying it will have a significant effect on
> > local fisheries.   There are many restaurants in Majuro but from where
> > will they obtain fish to feed to the tourists?
> >
> > I am even more astounded to hear that this destruction is being funded
> > by the US Government in defiance of a ruling from the FAA that it  is
> > not a sustainable action.
> >
> > It seems to me extraordinarily short sighted to destroy a fine reef for
> > short term gain just as the Marshall Islands are becoming available for
> > dive tourism.   Whereas one is pleased to hear of the recent declaration
> > of ban on shark fishing throughout the Marshall Islands (divers love
> > sharks) the destruction of a reef makes one wonder just how dedicated
> > the Government is to conservation.   The wanton destruction of a reef
> > sends out a very bad message indeed to the diving community.
> >
> > Yours sincerely
> David Wheeler
> 
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