[Coral-List] Diver damage/distance ...

[Steve Mussman]

Dear Peter,

Your extensive baseline observations are well taken and many agree with you that diver distance from the reef regulations are not the best option for dealing with the depleted conditions found today on coral reefs world-wide. Although sea turtles and parrotfish foraging can do damage, undoubtedly we humans are directly associated with the more devastating means of destruction. Without finger-pointing, I do believe that our industry has a moral and ethical responsibility to do more to reverse this trend. I'm wondering if you agree and if you as a concerned leader would be willing to get more involved in efforts to get our industry and scuba divers to more aggressively address the "grander factors" you alluded to?

The local factors you mentioned are most certainly significant contributors to coral reef deterioration, but I would venture to guess that the vast majority of scientists subscribing to this forum would also be listing climate change as a primary concern if not threat number one. If divers are truly at the forefront and if as you say, they are charged with bringing the depleted conditions of coral reefs to the attention of the powers that be, shouldn't our industry through its umbrella organization DEMA be doing more than remaining silent on this overriding issue? 

Warm Regards; 
I value your input and  . . . I'm keeping an ocean mind.

Steve Mussman
Sea Lab Diving       


-----Original Message-----
>From: Peter Hughes <peter at divencounters.com>
>Sent: Aug 8, 2013 2:32 PM
>To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>Subject: [Coral-List] Diver damage/distance ...
>
>Greetings All,
>
> 
>
>I had the privilege & pleasure to first dive the Caribbean (Speyside,
>Tobago) in the summer of 1957 and have made my living in the recreational
>dive business since the summer of 1968 - I have seen lots of change over
>these past 45 years!! Unfortunately, very few of them, good!
>
> 
>
>Divers can contribute significantly to overall conservation as well as to
>local economies but the more restrictions we place on ourselves, the less
>positive impact we will have on either and yes of course, it goes w/out
>saying, good diver practices & skills are essential!! 
>
> 
>
>The Caribbean's ecological health is facing significant challenges that go
>far beyond what these suggested regulations can ever address - beyond over
>fishing via nets, pots & whatever else, beyond the loss of the sea urchin
>population in the mid 80s and beyond the present & growing danger of the
>lionfish invasion - the Caribbean, as I see it, is generally an unhealthy
>body of water that does not sustain  re-growth as it once did, and as
>healthier ocean (Indo-Pacific) environments still do . my point, the
>Caribbean is a relative small body of water (almost a lake) bordered on the
>west by Central America and on the east by the Windward & Leeward islands -
>the Greater & Lesser Antilles - and w/ a further sealing off to the north
>east by the Bahamas over lapping the Greater Antilles etc . all of the
>Central American & Caribbean nations surrounding this body of water might be
>considered as "third world" so their populations still unfortunately, see
>the sea as their personal garbage dumps and their farming practices &
>development projects are not nearly as carefully thought out or monitored as
>they need to be . furthermore, most tidal change throughout the Caribbean is
>little more that 12 - 24 inches resulting in minimal water flow (current)
>and the prevailing winds blow 90% of the year between north east to south
>east w/ maybe a 30 - 45% deviation in direction at best . this blows
>"everything" deeper into the Caribbean (along the coast of Central America)
>allowing for no real flushing of the entire area and hence, in my totally
>uneducated opinion, creates an imperfect (and steadily deteriorating)
>environment for healthy fish or coral population and/or re-growth!
>
> 
>
>Divers are an economic necessity and dive tourism offers one of the most
>easily accessed alternate ways of life over the destructive fishing
>practices that have been the backbone of Caribbean life "forever!" 
>
> 
>
>Divers may be the ones that can get the attention of uneducated (or more
>likely corrupt) Caribbean politicians that sell fishing right to foreign
>fleets - did you know that the tiny, independent nation of Trinidad & Tobago
>(combined population of approx 1.3 million) is number 19 (I just learned
>yesterday it might have moved up to # 6) on the list of the world's major
>exporters of shark fins - and it is not the traditional fishermen benefiting
>from the catch!!
>
> 
>
>Divers are the forefront, through our eyes underwater and our love of the
>ocean, we can bring attention to the powers that be to the deteriorating
>conditions of our coral reefs and all that they sustain.
>
> 
>
>I cannot believe the regulations now under consideration are the answer we
>need . and I have never understood why, as divers, we always seem so quick
>to point fingers at ourselves . have a look at a feeding a sea turtle or
>follow a parrot fish around for a dive and see the "damage" they cause in
>their normal course of existence as compared to diver carelessness? Dive on
>sites that are rarely or never visited and see their overall condition as
>compared to the sites regularly visited - not any significant difference.
>
> 
>
>There is a much grander factor at work against us that will not be deterred
>by "diver distance from the reefs" regulations.
>
> 
>
>Thanx and as always . keep an ocean mind,
>
> 
>
>Peter A. Hughes
>
> 
>
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