[Coral-List] Requesting suggestions / case studies for a marine life viewing platform on / around coral reefs

Melbourne Briscoe Mel at briscoe.com
Mon Nov 24 15:24:32 EST 2014


I wonder if a long horizontal bar could be installed, instead of using
vertical mooring lines? That would still give a way to let people control
themselves, but would also provide for possibly better positioning for
viewing.

-----Original Message-----
From: Delbeek, Charles [mailto:CDelbeek at calacademy.org] 
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2014 3:06 PM
To: Melbourne Briscoe; 'Sarah Frias-Torres'; 'Chloe Harvey'; 'coral list'
Cc: 'JJ Harvey'; 'Sam Craven'
Subject: RE: [Coral-List] Requesting suggestions / case studies for a marine
life viewing platform on / around coral reefs

I seem to recall a paper about dive platforms on the GBR and its impacts.
Basically they found that rotating the location allowed the reef to recover
in that area, but basically the reef was impacted by the concentrated diver
activity around and near it. In today's climate (no-pun intended) of
heightened awareness of impacts on reefs and their compromised ability to
recover due to climate change impacts, this may be a hard sell.

J. Charles Delbeek, M.Sc.
Assistant Curator, Steinhart Aquarium
California Academy of Sciences

Desk: 415.379.5303
Cell: 415.859.0420
Fax: 415.379.5304

cdelbeek at calacademy.org
www.calacademy.org

55 Music Concourse Dr.
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco CA 94118

Don't miss Skulls, a jaw-dropping new exhibit that reveals how vertebrate
animals live, die, and-ultimately-evolve. Now through November 30th.


-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
[mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Melbourne
Briscoe
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2014 10:56 AM
To: 'Sarah Frias-Torres'; 'Chloe Harvey'; 'coral list'
Cc: 'JJ Harvey'; 'Sam Craven'
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Requesting suggestions / case studies for a marine
life viewing platform on / around coral reefs

I'm with Sarah on this. Getting the divers to stay off the reef is unlikely,
and the mesh platform just seems like it may have a lot of unintended
negative consequences.
So, two suggestions:
(1) consider restricting the observing area to a small zone that you just
write-off; let it be harmed, but contain the harm to that small area. In
this case, the mesh platform might help designate the area, but without any
illusions that you are actually protecting that area.
(1a) move the observing area/platform around from time to time, to let each
area recover a bit.
(2)  put mooring lines in (floats with lines to the bottom) that people can
hang on, to avoid them crashing down on the reef.

And, only partly tongue-in-cheek, do not allow any cameras. 

-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
[mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Sarah
Frias-Torres
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2014 11:08 AM
To: Chloe Harvey; coral list
Cc: JJ Harvey; Sam Craven
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Requesting suggestions / case studies for a marine
life viewing platform on / around coral reefs

This is an old school technique, but teaching proper buoyancy control, and
gear management (not letting everything hang out there, but tie it up), does
wonders in eliminating diver impact on any kind of marine habitat, including
coral reefs. I hope the Dive Centers you mention are still teaching both.
Yes, divers tend to "forget", but if they do forget while watching the
mandarin fish, then it's easy to take a picture and issue a fine to the
offending diver. Let's call it behavioral enforcement

The platform you suggest would probably do more damage to the corals
underneath. 

Sarah Frias-Torres, Ph.D. Coordinator Reef Rescuers ProgramIsland
Conservation Centre Nature Seychelles,Amitie, Praslin,
Seychelleshttp://www.natureseychelles.org/what-we-do/coral-reef-restoration-
and-Research CollaboratorSmithsonian-National Museum of Natural Historyat
Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USATwitter: @GrouperDocBlog:
http://grouperluna.wordpress.comhttp://independent.academia.edu/SarahFriasTo
rres


> From: hunt.chloe at gmail.com
> Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 13:11:49 +0800
> To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> CC: jj at reef-world.org; sam at reef-world.org
> Subject: [Coral-List] Requesting suggestions / case studies for a 
> marine life viewing platform on / around coral reefs
> 
> Dear Coral-List,
> 
> I am reaching out to ask if you have any suggestions for a marine life 
> viewing platform on / around coral reefs?
> 
> I coordinate Green Fins activities Internationally through The 
> Reef-World Foundation and in partnership with UNEP. Green Fins 
> promotes environmental standards for the diving and snorkelling 
> industry through mitigation of threats posed by the diving industry, 
> and promotion of conservation awareness to tourists and local 
> communities. Dive centres sign up as members and agree to adhere to 
> the
Green Fins Code of Conduct.
> 
> Many of these dive centres are incredibly passionate about reef 
> protection particularly from direct damage from divers who get too 
> 'excited' about marine life. An example of this are dives concerning 
> the
mandarin fish.
> Whilst waiting for the mating ritual, divers often kneel or sit in the 
> surrounding area despite environmental content in dive briefings, and 
> correction of this behaviour by guides.
> 
> The idea of a submerged platform was raised by the diving industry, 
> the original idea was to have a reinforced mesh platform where divers 
> could kneel but prevent them from contacting the coral beneath whilst 
> still viewing marine life. Green Fins is exploring options for sharing 
> an environmentally responsible solution for similar sites around the 
> world (where appropriate).
> 
> Any input you may have would be much appreciated,
> 
> Best wishes,
> Chloe Harvey
> Programmes Manager
> The Reef-World Foundation
> Green Fins International Coordinators
> Mobile: PH +63 (0)949 3140 789 UK +44 (0)7967 377 982
> 
> 
> --
> *Chloe Harvey*
> *Programmes Manager*
> The Reef-World Foundation
> Green Fins International Coordinators
> Mobile: *+44 (0)7967 377 982 <%2B44%20%280%297967%20377%20982>*
> 
> 
> 
> *"To inspire and empower people to act in conserving and sustainably 
> developing coastal resources, particularly coral reefs and related
> ecosystems"*
> 
> www.reef-world.org  <http://reef-world.org/>| Facebook 
> <https://www.facebook.com/ReefWorldFoundation> | Twitter 
> <https://twitter.com/Reef_World> 
> _______________________________________________
> Coral-List mailing list
> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
 		 	   		  
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