[Coral-List] Diver Distance from Reef
Steve Mussman
sealab at earthlink.net
Mon Aug 5 16:22:12 EDT 2013
There seems to be a general agreement that recreational scuba divers are and
should be among the leading
advocates for coral reef conservation efforts world-wide. Why then should we
accept the abdication of that
same ethical responsibility by the leaders of the scuba diving industry as a
whole?
Is it really asking too much to expect the organization that represents
equipment manufacturers,
certification agencies, resorts and dive shops to reject the
political/economic pressure and accept
what the science is telling us about the impending impacts of both local and
global forcings contributing
to coral reef degradation?
Is the ICRS consensus statement so outlandish and extreme that we should
accept its rejection as justifiable?
Land-based sources of pollution, sedimentation, over-fishing and climate
change are clearly the major threats
to coral reefs and all are likely to increase in severity in the years to
come.
Imposing higher standards regarding buoyancy control and implementing basic
coral reef ecology into diving courses
shouldnât be considered a radical step. Nor should a public acknowledgment
that climate change is real and that we
should all begin to work together to do something about it.
Steve
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