[Coral-List] please comment

[Steve Mussman]

Another strategy that might prove effective is to make opposition to the new cruise ship pier
a part of a broader plan to revitalize the entire Grand Cayman coral reef ecosystem. Point out
the economic impact of the island actually losing most of its coral reefs. It is not far fetched. 
I last dove GC two years ago and many of the near-shore reefs looked like an underwater desert landscape.
At the same time, some local restaurants were serving up parrot fish as the special of the day.
Time for a wake up call or we may be looking at a situation whereby we are fighting to close the barn 
door long after the horses have bolted.

Steve Mussman           

-----Original Message-----
>From: Elizabeth Silleck <elizabeth.silleck at gmail.com>
>Sent: Jul 2, 2015 12:04 PM
>To: Steve Palumbi <spalumbi at stanford.edu>
>Cc: Coral List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
>Subject: Re: [Coral-List] please comment
>
>Steve, that is an excellent point. I do not have numbers, but if anyone has
>contacts with a local business who would testify, in specific detail, about
>their revenue streams relative to dive/long-term stay tourism vs. cruise
>ships, it could be powerful also. I know my friends in Cozumel who run a
>dive shop will tell you the same thing--many of the cruise ship tourists
>get their wrist bands, spend the day lounging at an all-inclusive consuming
>free drinks, and MAYBE buy cheap trinkets in town.
>
>On Thu, Jul 2, 2015 at 11:24 AM, Steve Palumbi <spalumbi at stanford.edu>
>wrote:
>
>> Dear Ellen and all, The other aspect of this kind of thing is that cruise
>> ship tourism brings very little new income to local merchants, restaurants
>> or hotels. The costs are paid by the town to build the pier and then the
>> tourists stay on the ship and spend very little. So that is my question for
>> the virtual group - does anyone have numbers for tourism value for an acre
>> of good reef per year vs local value for cruise ships? Gathering these
>> numbers up and passing them along may help.
>>
>> Steve
>> **********************************
>> Stephen R. Palumbi
>> Harold A Miller Director, Hopkins Marine Station
>> Jane and Marshall Steel Professor of Biology
>> Stanford University
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Jul 1, 2015, at 8:03 PM, Ellen Prager <pragere at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> >
>> > Dear Coral listers
>> >
>> > The Minister of Tourism in Grand Cayman is pushing a plan to build an
>> extended cruise/port pier. The Environmental Impact Statement is very
>> clear, it will destroy acres of coral reef and the indirect impacts remain
>> questionable.
>> >
>> > Grand Cayman's nearshore reefs are surprisingly healthy (relatively
>> speaking) and still have fish, sea turtles, sharks etc. The plan mentions
>> coral transplants and relocation as mitigation - but you cannot transplant
>> or relocate entire reef structures (this is not just a few coral heads).
>> >
>> > Please take a moment if you would and comment on the plan to their
>> Department of Environment.  Sorry for the short notice….the comment period
>> closes July 3rd.
>> > Here is the link to the plan and information:
>> >
>> >
>> http://www.doe.ky/proposed-cruise-berthing-facility-eia-consultation-june-2015/
>> >
>> > The Cruise Industry was not aware of the plan and is now reviewing it
>> and I have urged some of the major players to oppose the plan from their
>> end as well.
>> >
>> > Sincerely
>> > Ellen
>> >
>> > Dr. Ellen Prager
>> > Earth2Ocean, Inc
>> > @elprager
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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>
>
>
>-- 
>Elizabeth Silleck
>(914) 391-4250
>
><http://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethsilleck>
><http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.silleck.5>
><https://twitter.com/LegalEcoDiva>
>
>
>Please consider the environment before printing!
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