[Coral-List] ECOBIOBALL??

Tue Jun 19 11:05:51 EDT 2012

Hi Abbie,

I'd like to commend you on posting your query first of all, as many education outfits operate in isolation, away from the available expertise and knowledge centers.  The responses that you've received so far are right on the money.  Coastal systems are delicate and ecosystem shifts occur suddenly and swiftly when nutrient balance and visibility are altered - either due to anthropogenic or natural impacts.  The only persons who may suggests that golf courses do not lead to eutropication are the golf course managers themselves.  Time and time again, we have witnessed and published on the ecosystem shifts that occur on nearby coral reef systems as the algae bloom in the newly nutrient rich waters.  The fish populations associated with the declining coral reef systems also decline. EcoBioBalls are proposing to add More nutrients to an already eutrophic system.  Based on past studies the impacts will be detrimental to the larger biota that we love to
 observe as humans/visitors, along with a shift in fish behaviour.  To get further information on possible impacts, it may be good to provide the coral list with the following information: what climate zone are the golf courses in question located in, characteristics of the adjoining coastline (shallow warm water, deeper cold water), are there reefs nearby etc.    

Congratulations to Albus Golf on their novel, misguided idea.  I do not recommend that it be implemented, and I volunteer to lead them on a field trip down to the Keys to educate them on the impacts on urban run-off on nearshore systems.  We can play some golf, i'll take them on a snorkel,and plop them down for a nice long informative powerpoint presentation in that order.

Thanks,
Nicole.

Nicole O. Caesar
M.S. Marine Science

Recipient, USF Signature Research Doctoral Fellowship
Board Member, Florida Chapter, AWRA

Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Geography, Environment, & Planning

________________________________
 From: Ian Zink <izink at rsmas.miami.edu>
To: "ENGMAN, JAMES" <ENGMANJ at hsu.edu>; "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> 
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2012 5:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] ECOBIOBALL??

EcoBioBalls sounds like greenwashing of practices which contribute substantially to coastal eutrophication, as is suggested below.  Should wiseoceans.com ask the wise question "is golf ball waste the biggest enviromental impact caused by coastal golf courses?" the feel-good add-on of these golf balls doesn't target the main issue.

Similarly, should golf balls which could change coastal fishes' behavior (public feeding of the wildlife around coastal golf course) be introduced?  Though this product seems to alleviate one problem, it may introduce another..

________________________________________
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov [coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml..noaa.gov] on behalf of ENGMAN, JAMES [ENGMANJ at hsu.edu]
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2012 2:01 PM
To: coral-list at coral.aoml..noaa.gov
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] ECOBIOBALL??

I won't comment on the fish-feeding ball proposal. Is it safe to assume that these seaside luxury resorts use N and P fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides to keep their turf nice and pretty? There's an awareness issue.

James Engman, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology and Chair
Department of Biology
Box 7520
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia, AR 71999-0001
phone 870-230-5314
fax 870-230-5144
email: engmanj at hsu.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov [mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of info at wiseoceans.com
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2012 11:33 AM
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Subject: [Coral-List] ECOBIOBALL??

Dear Coral-list,

I run a marine awareness and conservation company called WiseOceans and we (along with other things) provide Marine Educators at resorts.  One of the luxury resorts we work at is planning on introducing ECOBIOBALL by Albus Golf.  www.albusgolf.com

I have not had any experience of these before and am keen to gather scientific opinion on the environmental and ethical pros and cons of these golf balls.

According to their website ECOBIOBALL is the first ever ecological and biodegradable golf ball to contain fish food in its core.  It is 100% safe for marine flora and fauna, is manufactured using non-contaminating materials, and is certified as a biodegradable and non-toxic product..
Once the golf ball has been hit into the water, its external layer biodegrades in less than 48 hours, releasing the fish food contained in its core into the surrounding water.

One concern is that the same type of ball and therefore fish food is used for fresh and salt water, would that be an issue?  I also have reservations on fish feeding as a whole as it can often change behaviour.

I would appreciate some thoughts.  Thanks so much

Kind regards
Abbie

--
Abbie Hine
www.WiseOceans.com

"In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we
understand and we will understand only what we are taught"  Baba Dioum

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