[Coral-List] Jennifer Moore's comment on coral ESA listing
DeeVon Quirolo
deevon at bellsouth.net
Wed May 24 13:07:59 EDT 2006
Hi Jennifer: In reviewing the materials published on this phase of
the public comment period for the Acropora and Cervicornis listing, I
note the comment that appeared twice: "The major threats to the
species' persistence (i.e. disease, elevated sea temperatures and
hurricanes) are severe, un-predictable, likely to increase in the
foreseeable future, and, at current levels of knowledge, unmanageable.
(emphasis added).
The fact is, the cause of many coral diseases have been discovered and
are entirely avoidable through good management of coral reefs. White
pox disease, which is responsible for decimating large areas of
acropora in the Florida Keys, has been linked to elevated levels of
serratia marcescens, a bacteria commonly found in sewage. If the
precautionary approach were implemented with respect to coral reefs,
the improvement in their habitat and overall health would be
measurable. The increased incidence of sponge boring on corals is
linked to an over-abundance of nutrients. Therefore, nutrient
sources, such as sewage and agricultural runoff, should be eliminated
as much as possible near coral reefs. Upgrading sewage treatment to
advanced nutrient-stripping levels and eliminating agricultural and
stormwater runoff--especially from the Everglades into Florida Bay and
the downstream coral reefs of the Florida Keys--would go a long way
toward reducing the virulent spread of disease on acropora in the Keys
and at other reefs in South Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
Elevated sea temperatures can be reduced through implementation of an
energy policy in the U.S. that reduces our dependance on fossil fuels
and encourages the use of ethanol, bio-diesel, solar and other
renewable and fuel efficient lifestyles. Conservation, if encouraged
by this administration, would have huge positive consequences by
reducing harmful emissions that are impacting coral reefs by
exacerbating elevating sea temperatures.
While hurricanes are natural events, it has been shown that corals
that are already compromised by heavy use, poor water quality and
increase sea temperatures are less able to withstand the brunt of
storm surge. If efforts were undertaken to insure that coral reefs
enjoy the clear, clean, nutrient-free waters they need to survive and
thrive, they would be more able to resist hurricane damage.
To make such a statement denies a critically-needed opportunity for
this effort--to list corals onto the Endangered Species List---to
produce any measurable results. With this in mind, I encourage NOAA
Fisheries to admit the obvious: that there are many ways you can
manage disease and elevated sea surface temperatures and reduce the
damage done by hurricanes to coral reefs.
DeeVon Quirolo, Executive Director, REEF RELIEF
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