[Coral-List] Just in time -- plastic coral reefs...

[Sarah Frias-Torres]

If I was a fleshy algae, I would be thrilled a the opportunity to colonize the synthetic 3-D plastic reefs suddenly at my disposal. Because if you don't fix the problem that initially resulted in the death of the corals, no amount of equally complex inert structure is going to bring the coral reef back. It will only serve as new territory for algal colonization.

Sarah Frias-Torres, Ph.D. Twitter: @GrouperDocBlog: http://grouperluna.wordpress.comhttp://independent.academia.edu/SarahFriasTorres


> Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 23:23:43 +0000
> From: sealab at earthlink.net
> To: gregorh at reefcheck.org; coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Just in time -- plastic coral reefs...
> 
> 
>    Dear Gregor,
>    Looks like we are getting exactly what we deserve.
>    Just returned from the annual scuba diving convention (DEMA).  Not only is
>    climate change a non-starter, it is virtually a topic non grata even in the
>    very  few industry-sponsored seminars focusing on conservation issues.
>    Project Aware, the industry's anointed environmental advocacy tool has
>    chosen to basically avoid the controversy and focus on other issues. They
>    are  doing  a great job on debris removal and shark finning, but their
>    leadership   told   me   repeatedly   that  they  have  chosen not  to
>    prioritize climate change. When I raised the issue in a break-down session
>    responses varied from the science is not settled to we need to deal with
>    more local concerns.
>    It actually gets worse. On the convention floor one speargun manufacturer
>    had large illuminated displays proudly depicting free divers laying directly
>    on the corals as if promoting the practice when stalking prey. (Pictures
>    provided upon request). Only the Save Our Leatherbacks Operation staff
>    situated where they could do nothing to avoid the disturbing images seemed
>    to be offended by the insensitivity of the messaging.
>    Now I can relax and envision the thrill of diving on synthetic 3-D reefs.
>    Not a moment too soon I might add. I was just beginning to think it was
>    hopeless..
>    Regards,
>     Steve
>    -----Original Message-----
>    >From: Gregor Hodgson
>    >Sent: Nov 9, 2013 1:53 AM
>    >To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov"
>    >Subject: [Coral-List] Just in time -- plastic coral reefs...
>    >
>    >Thank goodness our problems with troublesome coral reefs are solvedÂ.
>    >http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/11/07/3d-printed-coral-reefs-bahrain
>    >
>    >Gregor Hodgson, PhD
>    >Executive Director
>    >Reef Check Foundation
>    >PO Box 1057 (mail)
>    >17575 Pacific Coast Highway (overnight)
>    >Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 USA
>    >T: 1 310-230-2371 or 2360
>    >Gregorh at reefcheck.org
>    >Skype: gregorh001
>    >
>    >
>    >
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