[Coral-List] NOAA lists 20 new corals
David M. Lawrence
dave at fuzzo.com
Thu Sep 11 15:02:56 EDT 2014
Not to mention, this is a start, not necessarily a finish.
Since Gene has worked for government so long, he should realize that
public policy is more often than not developed and implemented through a
process of "muddling through." It's not pretty. It's certainly not
efficient. But it is often better than insisting on either the perfect
policy response or no response at all.
Dave
On 9/11/2014 11:26 AM, Delbeek, Charles wrote:
>> Gene, maybe it is too late, but even if we had a plan in place that was designed to reverse current trends over the next 400 years, that would be infinity better than our current state of inaction and equivocation
> I believe it is called "paying forward". We are not doing this for ourselves, but for those generations to come.
>
> 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 Steve Mussman
> Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2014 7:06 AM
> To: Eugene Shinn; coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] NOAA lists 20 new corals
>
>
> Dear Gene,
>
>
> I guess that I am guilty of viewing NOAA in a more positive light, but I
> don't defend every action taken without consideration. Pesticides and sewage
> are part of the problem, but I worry less than you do about sunscreen and
> divers urinating in close proximity to the reefs. If the latter ultimately
> proves to be a major contributor to the malaise affecting corals I
> will forever be burdened with guilt. Until then, what concerns me the most
> is the lack of clarity and urgency in the messaging emanating from the
> scientific community in response to the assault on coral reefs and
> terrestrial ecosystems world-wide. Gene, maybe it is too late, but even if
> we had a plan in place that was designed to reverse current trends over the
> next 400 years, that would be infinity better than our current state of
> inaction and equivocation. In the end whether lawyers or scientists lead the
> way is of little consequence, we have got to get moving on this. Science is
> about the truth, but we can't wait for every possible factor to be debated
> ad nauseum. We have got enough certainty to work with as it is, lets get
> going already. Steve
>
>
>
>
>
> Their proposals, especially those that highlight
> problems that do not underpin Keys tourism-based economy and agency
> objectives have not been supported. For example: effects of all mosquito
> pesticides on coral health, sewage, diver urination, and bleaching
> effects of sunscreens to name a few. Sewage has been perceived by many
> to harm corals but where are the classic straightforward bioassays to
> determine if there are harmful effects? How about sunscreens and the
> spraying of toxic pesticides to control mosquitos? (The draft recovery
> plan mentions only a single mosquito pesticide, Dibrom.) Clearly a ban
> on any one of these substances would have serious economic consequences.
> Yes, The Emperor has no Clothes.
> Mussman apparently does not want anyone to know the "Emperor has no
> Clothes." However, he thinks there is hope for me because I mentioned
> climate change----- it might bring me around from the "dark side.." Ummm
> I didn't know I was on the dark side! I thought science was all about
> truth. If the cause of coral demise really is climate change as the
> current bandwagon insists there is little hope for corals. It would
> require 50 to 100 years to significantly reduce concentrations in the
> environment if all emissions were topped today. But don't worry; the
> target time for Acropora recovery in the draft recovery plan is 400
> years! You read that right! Listing corals is a very long-term solution.
> "The Recovery Team estimated that it will take approximately 400 years
> to achieve recovery based on the significant mitigative actions
> identified in this plan." Wow! That is encouraging! Elsewhere it says
> the purpose is to save the coral so it can be delisted!Tell me a lawyer
> didn't write that. Gene
>
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: Eugene Shinn
> >Sent: Sep 10, 2014 3:22 PM
> >To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov"
> >Subject: [Coral-List] NOAA lists 20 new corals
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >I wish to thank all who sent positive replies (most are offline) to my
> >posting re listing of 20 species and failing condition of Florida coral
> >reefs. Online Doug Fenner pointed out that NOAA is under dept. of
> >Commerce. Thanks but I have known that ever since NOAA was created. I
> >was trying to be subtle. I have a lot of friends at NOAA. I frequently
> >point out that many researchers have long thought that an agency with
> >regulatory authority that funds research related to that agencies
> >mission constitutes a conflict of interest. In this case the agency's
> >regulations greatly influence the kind of coral research they support..
> >We geologists have been fortunate because geology and mapping has not
> >been perceived to conflict with Keys commerce or agency management
> >objectives. I remain indebted to NOAA for the funding we received in the
> >past to do geology and mapping in the past. I suspect biologists have
> >been less fortunate. Their proposals, especially those that highlight
> >problems that do not underpin Keys tourism-based economy and agency
> >objectives have not been supported. For example: effects of all mosquito
> >pesticides on coral health, sewage, diver urination, and bleaching
> >effects of sunscreens to name a few. Sewage has been perceived by many
> >to harm corals but where are the classic straightforward bioassays to
> >determine if there are harmful effects? How about sunscreens and the
> >spraying of toxic pesticides to control mosquitos? (The draft recovery
> >plan mentions only a single mosquito pesticide, Dibrom.) Clearly a ban
> >on any one of these substances would have serious economic consequences.
> >Yes, The Emperor has no Clothes.
> >
> >Mussman apparently does not want anyone to know the "Emperor has no
> >Clothes." However, he thinks there is hope for me because I mentioned
> >climate change----- it might bring me around from the "dark side." Ummm
> >I didn't know I was on the dark side! I thought science was all about
> >truth. If the cause of coral demise really is climate change as the
> >current bandwagon insists there is little hope for corals. It would
> >require 50 to 100 years to significantly reduce concentrations in the
> >environment if all emissions were topped today. But don't worry; the
> >target time for Acropora recovery in the draft recovery plan is 400
> >years! You read that right! Listing corals is a very long-term solution.
> >"The Recovery Team estimated that it will take approximately 400 years
> >to achieve recovery based on the significant mitigative actions
> >identified in this plan." Wow! That is encouraging! Elsewhere it says
> >the purpose is to save the coral so it can be delisted!Tell me a lawyer
> >didn't write that. Gene
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >--
> >
> >
> >No Rocks, No Water, No Ecosystem (EAS)
> >------------------------------------ -----------------------------------
> >E. A. Shinn, Courtesy Professor
> >University of South Florida
> >College of Marine Science Room 221A
> >140 Seventh Avenue South
> >St. Petersburg, FL 33701
> >
> >Tel 727 553-1158
> >---------------------------------- -----------------------------------
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Coral-List mailing list
> >Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> >http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
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--
------------------------------------------------------
David M. Lawrence | Home: (804) 559-9786
6467 Hanna Drive | Cell: (804) 305-5234
Mechanicsville, VA 23111 | Email: dave at fuzzo.com
USA | http: http://fuzzo.com
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"All drains lead to the ocean." -- Gill, Finding Nemo
"We have met the enemy and he is us." -- Pogo
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