[Coral-List] Remnancy vs Resilence

[Curtis Kruer]

Folks,

In just a few days we've gone from a discussion of reef problems and degradation in the Florida 
Keys, and how best to approach them after all these years, to a global (and even geologic time, 
which I too find foolish) focus promoted by US scientists. And the more global the view, the more 
complicated and diverse the opinions about what is going on and what should be done (if anything) 
become.

And I suspect that those who still question worldwide reef problems are limiting their view to the 
role of climate change.  So what a great irony today to read Anderson's concern of dynamite fishing 
increasing on reefs in Tanzania. While US NOAA scientists continually move the target and encourage 
us to think big. Keys problems don't rise to the level of dynamite fishing but the end result may be 
the same.  My suggestions are simply to do what we can locally in places like the Florida Keys to 
deal with obvious problems, not mysteries - but we're not even close to doing what is possible to 
protect and conserve the place.  In light of the fact that the budget of NOAA's Habitat Conservation 
Division and other programs have been cut nationally that will only be more difficult in the future. 
  Time to come home.

Curtis Kruer

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Jim Anderson wrote:
> Dear Listers,
> 
> Talking about the ability of coral reefs to bounce back, at least from
> episodic damage I've always wondered about the effect of all that carpet
> bombing of the coasts of Pacific islands during WWII. Were there any
> prescient scientists around with some (presumably scarce) research dollars
> that monitored the recovery of the reefs/fisheries there I wonder?
> 
> The question has some contemporary relevence because it seems that the
> fishing gears of choice here in central/north coast Tanzania is fast
> becoming dynamite. The local anti-dynamite action network members are
> pulling their collective hair out trying to get the national and district
> governments to respond but the requests are falling on deaf ears. For those
> who may have some bright ideas on combating dynamite fishing I'm sure that
> network would be more than grateful [the energy behind the group is
> sibylle at chumbeisland.com]
> 
> Jim Anderson,
> Dar es Salaam,
> Tanzania.
> 
> 
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