[Coral-List] damage to live coral from NCL in southern Belize (lisa carne)

[Belize TREC]

Shame on the Government of Belize and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Lisa, maybe we need a documentary like "Black Fish" by CNN that
shamed Sea World and all the people that support its methods 
with their attendance.  Maybe people that support Norwegian
Cruise Lines with their dollars might not want to be associated
with the destruction of Coral Reefs. 
Ken Mattes
Belize TREC 
> From: coral-list-request at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Subject: Coral-List Digest, Vol 79, Issue 26
> To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 12:00:02 -0400
> 
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> Today's Topics:
> 
>    1. Re: Even Chickens can Help Save Coral Reefs (Naveen Namboothri)
>    2. Re: Reassessing Coral Reefs (Michael Risk)
>    3. Re: Reassessing Coral Reefs (Michael Risk)
>    4. damage to live coral from NCL in southern Belize (lisa carne)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 19:26:48 +0530
> From: Naveen Namboothri <naveen.namboo at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Even Chickens can Help Save Coral Reefs
> To: coral listserver <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID:
> 	<CA+Yd-TDJSkO_NOURC-kgeacuHXC0SHPZ=Ffv_8p44N0MjsTSdg at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> 
> Dear Austin,
> 
> Just to let you know. The poultry industry in India has been sustaining a
> highly unregulated trawl fishery beyond its extinction. The work done by a
> few of my colleagues (links below) provides fascinating insights into how
> the poultry industry can directly have adverse effects on marine ecosystem
> health.
> 
> http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/Commercializing%20bycatch%20can%20push%20a%20fishery.pdf
> 
> https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCcQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchgate...net%2Fprofile%2FRohan_Arthur%2Fpublication%2F238505086_Chickenfeed_Fishing_for_scraps_in_an_unpredictable_sea%2Flinks%2F0deec530338a6830d0000000.pdf&ei=AV8VVdHhDqawmwWK2oGgAQ&usg=AFQjCNGajRSIRaUlSq8jQ6xGhiphSCTR7A&sig2=Y3RZTziIXHJsvVd5m9CR9g&bvm=bv.89381419,d.dGY
> 
> The initial note seem to promote the idea of promoting chicken as an
> alternate source of protein and reducing impacts of overfishing. Though
> your project seems to be addressed at small-scale, decentralised chicken
> production units, it may be good to make that explicit as people could
> simply borrow such ideas and run havoc with it.
> 
> The idea sounds innovative and good luck with the project.
> 
> Cheers,
> Naveen.
> 
> -- 
> Naveen
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 09:24:53 -0400
> From: Michael Risk <riskmj at mcmaster.ca>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Reassessing Coral Reefs
> To: Judith Lang <jlang at riposi.net>
> Cc: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID: <23C94352-5EE6-4354-B20F-DD2E046FEFD2 at mcmaster.ca>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> 
> Hi Judy.
> 
> As I sit here waiting for our interminable winter to end, I am moved to a very brief comment.
> 
> We should heed the evidence of the geologic record. In this case, I refer to the large number of recorded reef extinctions.  Most of these  were driven by the three horse-people of the reef apocalypse: climate change, sediments and nutrients. The evidence seems to suggest that adaptation has rarely worked in the past.  (To those who would argue that reefs in some form have reestablished after catastrophes, I would say: sure. The time lag is generally on the order of 10 million years.) 
> 
> In order to invoke the possibility of saving reefs by accelerating adaptation, we would have to envisage a scientific and societal commitment on a very large scale for an unproven result. That same effort devoted to litigation would certainly pay dividends.
> 
> Mike
> 
>  an Mar 26, 2015, at 5:35 PM, Judith Lang <jlang at riposi.net> wrote:
> 
> > Dear Steve,
> > Regarding whether climate change should be addressed via adaptation versus mitigation, it seems to me that we're already in a state that both are desperately needed. 
> > 
> > It's easy to get discouraged, but I was recently reminded by a wise young graduate student that, "It's never too little and never too late." For their sake, and for the sake of future generations, the "oldies" amongst us can't allow ourselves to think or act as if mitigation is impossible.
> > 
> > Judy Lang
> > AGRRA Scientific Coordinator
> > 
> > 
> > On Mar 25, 2015, at 2:53 PM, Steve Mussman <sealab at earthlink.net> wrote:
> >> 
> >>  Dear Listers,
> >> 
> >>  I'm working with others to try and encourage the scuba diving industry to
> >>  get more proactive
> >>  with regard to it's policies on coral reef conservation. As you know, there
> >>  has been no progress
> >>  within the industry on addressing climate change.. That issue is and has
> >>  been a non-starter for
> >>  years. Now the question arises as to whether or not to even focus on that
> >>  concern going forward.
> >>  Many of you seem to be resigned to the fact that that ship has already
> >>  sailed. Recent comments seem
> >>  to indicate a shift in focus from avoidance to mitigation and adjustment to
> >>  a new reality which envisions
> >>  coral reefs as a manifestation of the concept of "novel ecosystems". If that
> >>  is in fact the case, on what
> >>  issues should the industry be focusing if and when it ever becomes willing
> >>  to become seriously involved
> >>  in developing effective measures designed to conserve the reefs of tomorrow
> >>  whatever their composition
> >>  may be? Do we shift entirely to land-based pollutants, sedimentation and
> >>  over-fishing or do we continue
> >>  to press for action or at least policy objectives related to sustainability
> >>  and carbon emissions? I need input.
> >>  Contact  me  off-list  if necessary, but exchanging ideas openly seems
> >>  appropriate and even beneficial.
> >>  It would certainly be refreshing to witness a free flow of ideas.
> >> 
> >>  Regards,
> >>  Steve
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Coral-List mailing list
> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
> 
> Michael Risk
> riskmj at mcmaster.ca
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 09:27:52 -0400
> From: Michael Risk <riskmj at mcmaster.ca>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Reassessing Coral Reefs
> To: Judith Lang <jlang at riposi.net>
> Cc: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID: <7CD5E988-CA2F-4B0C-8893-67923685EBB8 at mcmaster.ca>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
> 
> Omigod.  To my horror, I see that my new dictation software has written ?litigation? where I said ?mitigation". Litigation needs to be avoided at all costs.
> 
> On Mar 27, 2015, at 9:24 AM, Michael Risk <riskmj at mcmaster.ca> wrote:
> 
> > Hi Judy.
> > 
> > As I sit here waiting for our interminable winter to end, I am moved to a very brief comment.
> > 
> > We should heed the evidence of the geologic record. In this case, I refer to the large number of recorded reef extinctions.  Most of these  were driven by the three horse-people of the reef apocalypse: climate change, sediments and nutrients. The evidence seems to suggest that adaptation has rarely worked in the past.  (To those who would argue that reefs in some form have reestablished after catastrophes, I would say: sure. The time lag is generally on the order of 10 million years.) 
> > 
> > In order to invoke the possibility of saving reefs by accelerating adaptation, we would have to envisage a scientific and societal commitment on a very large scale for an unproven result. That same effort devoted to litigation would certainly pay dividends.
> > 
> > Mike
> > 
> > an Mar 26, 2015, at 5:35 PM, Judith Lang <jlang at riposi.net> wrote:
> > 
> >> Dear Steve,
> >> Regarding whether climate change should be addressed via adaptation versus mitigation, it seems to me that we're already in a state that both are desperately needed. 
> >> 
> >> It's easy to get discouraged, but I was recently reminded by a wise young graduate student that, "It's never too little and never too late." For their sake, and for the sake of future generations, the "oldies" amongst us can't allow ourselves to think or act as if mitigation is impossible.
> >> 
> >> Judy Lang
> >> AGRRA Scientific Coordinator
> >> 
> >> 
> >> On Mar 25, 2015, at 2:53 PM, Steve Mussman <sealab at earthlink.net> wrote:
> >>> 
> >>> Dear Listers,
> >>> 
> >>> I'm working with others to try and encourage the scuba diving industry to
> >>> get more proactive
> >>> with regard to it's policies on coral reef conservation. As you know, there
> >>> has been no progress
> >>> within the industry on addressing climate change.. That issue is and has
> >>> been a non-starter for
> >>> years. Now the question arises as to whether or not to even focus on that
> >>> concern going forward.
> >>> Many of you seem to be resigned to the fact that that ship has already
> >>> sailed. Recent comments seem
> >>> to indicate a shift in focus from avoidance to mitigation and adjustment to
> >>> a new reality which envisions
> >>> coral reefs as a manifestation of the concept of "novel ecosystems". If that
> >>> is in fact the case, on what
> >>> issues should the industry be focusing if and when it ever becomes willing
> >>> to become seriously involved
> >>> in developing effective measures designed to conserve the reefs of tomorrow
> >>> whatever their composition
> >>> may be? Do we shift entirely to land-based pollutants, sedimentation and
> >>> over-fishing or do we continue
> >>> to press for action or at least policy objectives related to sustainability
> >>> and carbon emissions? I need input.
> >>> Contact  me  off-list  if necessary, but exchanging ideas openly seems
> >>> appropriate and even beneficial.
> >>> It would certainly be refreshing to witness a free flow of ideas.
> >>> 
> >>> Regards,
> >>> Steve
> >> 
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Coral-List mailing list
> >> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> >> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
> > 
> > Michael Risk
> > riskmj at mcmaster.ca
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> Michael Risk
> riskmj at mcmaster.ca
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 09:26:00 -0600
> From: lisa carne <lisas at btl.net>
> Subject: [Coral-List] damage to live coral from NCL in southern Belize
> To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Message-ID: <0AC0FF7C-8901-4162-B2EF-AC29997A5CF1 at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset=us-ascii
> 
> Norwegian Cruise lines has purchased Harvest Caye in southern Belize and has begun their development for a cruise ship port.
> 
> The Government of Belize is being taken to court by the National Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) for violating/ignoring existing laws under the Environmental Protection and specifically as it relates to the EIA process.
> 
> Omissions like not specifying where the spoil from massive dredging will be/is/being dumped, never surveying the affected sites prior to dredging, declaring the reef in the area 'degraded' (not so, no data). The EIA also does not address the ships' arrivals, and those associated impacts, including the ecological and soci-economical impacts of 1000's of visitors  on the nearby marine & terrestrial sites/tours.
> 
> However, it was approved, and this week the silt curtains were shown to be ineffective on the west side (seagrass, manatee habitat), a violation of the ECP (Env. Compliance Plan) and large boulders were thrown onto live corals on the east side, in what may be the start of their planned artificial beach. This is illegal in Belize.
> 
> The appropriate govt agency has been alerted and has issued a press release saying due to legal reasons they cannot release any details yet, but off the record NCL has declared they will simply pay any fines, and move any corals out of the way.
> 
> Relocating corals is not in the EIA, not has there been a proper assessment to even suggest this is feasible: some of the S. siderea are in excess of 12ft in diameter, healthy and very old. Also newly established colonies of A. cervicornis have been identified. The older healthy colonies and the newly established ones indicate this is NOT a degraded reef site.
> 
> In light of the recent news on the Port of Miami fiasco, I personally feel it is irresponsible to suggest relocating corals to allow for an artificial beach. Especially in light of the fact that no appropriate reef surveys have been conducted (# of species, # and size of colonies, potential relocation methods & sites).
> 
> NCL is scheduled to begin bringing cruise ships here as early as this October, also making this suggestion (to relocate corals) unfeasible.
> 
> I write the list to bring international attention to this issue, since I do not think we are allowed to post pictures, here are a few links to websites, Social media, and a last night's news coverage. We would appreciate help in getting this into the international media.
> 
> Please spread the word as at least two court cases are pending already over this development.
> 
> http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/111504
> 
> http://southernbelizecruise.org
> 
> https://www.facebook.com/placenciacruise/timeline
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> 
> 
> Lisa Carne
> Founder/Executive Director
> Fragments of Hope, Ltd.
> Placencia Peninsula
> Stann Creek District
> Belize, C.A.
> tel: (501) 623-6122
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
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> End of Coral-List Digest, Vol 79, Issue 26
> ******************************************