[Coral-List] Regulations for operating a tourist submarine in coral reef areas

[Shortfin Mako Shark]

This is the first time I have heard of something like this before. I doubt there are any guidelines anywhere so I would suggest that you may want to authorize this activity with caution. My guess is that large reef fish or apex predators would be temporarily impacted from such a large vessel approaching the area. As a starting point, you might want to consider a distance regulation, such as 100 meters. I am assuming visibility is around that distance. You want to be able to share the resource, but not impact the fauna. You also might want to consider time, such as only allowing the vessel to remain close to the reef for x amount of time... maybe 30 minutes. Lastly, maybe time/area closure... Is there a certain time of year that should be protected? Maybe when corals are spawning?
Just some thoughts....

      From: Kai Wulf <sabapark.manager at gmail.com>
 To: Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov 
 Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2017 10:41 AM
 Subject: [Coral-List] Regulations for operating a tourist submarine in coral reef areas
   
Dear Coral Listers,

We have been approached by a small, very exclusive cruise-ship to permit regular operations of a 3 person U-Boat Worx C-Explorer 3 submarine, for their guests to explore the reefs in the Saba National Marine Park. The vessel has a depth range of up to 300 meters.
Does anybody have knowledge about existing rules, regulations or policies that we could use to include in the permit requirements for such an undertaking? Besides safety aspects, we are of course mainly interested in avoiding any damage or disturbances to our precious marine flora and fauna. 
Your assistance would be much appreciated.
Best wishes for the New Year!
Regards,

Kai Wulf

Parks Manager
Saba Conservation Foundation
Saba/Saba Bank National Marine Park
P.O. Box 18, The Bottom
Saba, Dutch Caribbean
Work: 599 416-3295
Cell: 599 416-5750
Fax: 599 416-3435
Email: sabapark.manager at gmail.com <mailto:sabapark.manager at gmail.com>
Web: http://www.sabapark.org <http://www.sabapark.org/>
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sabapark <http://www.facebook.com/sabapark>
Twitter/Skype: sabapark



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