[Coral-List] Fwd: Diver damage thread

Alice Grainger alicetgrainger at gmail.com
Tue Aug 6 14:42:15 EDT 2013


Hi Steve,
I see what you mean. I think perhaps I have been 'lucky', in that
everyone I know, everyone I have spoken to about this is in agreement.
I have never met a climate sceptic!
Best
Alice

On Tue, Aug 6, 2013 at 8:32 PM, Steve Mussman <sealab at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Dear Alice,
>
> You are certainly spot on to suggest that certification agencies need to be
> more aggressive in promoting responsible diving practices as part of their
> efforts to address coral reef conservation. But I would have to take issue
> with you linking the development of an emotional connection to the reefs
> with acceptance of the very real threats that climate change holds for coral
> reefs world-wide. In my experience the two concepts are often totally
> disconnected. Many divers care deeply about coral reefs, but reject the idea
> that climate change is anything more than misguided hyperbole. Too many
> conservation-oriented divers still reject the idea that we need to reduce
> CO2 emissions and/or our dependency on fossil fuels. This is exactly why we
> are asking DEMA and other leaders in the scuba industry to take a stand.
> Their current policy of sidestepping the issue by refusing to address it
> directly only serves to encourage disbelief and prolong debate. Real
> leadership calls for tough and sometimes unpopular decisions when there is
> the most at stake. Regardless of motive, remaining silent is tantamount to
> taking the easy way out.
>
> Regards,
>  Steve
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: Alice Grainger
>>Sent: Aug 6, 2013 7:20 AM
>>To: Douglas Fenner
>>Cc: coral list
>>Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Fwd: Diver damage thread
>>
>>It should also be noted that while, of course, reducing diver impact
>>on reefs popular with tourists may not have a significant positive
>>impact on reef health when factoring in acidicfation etc. Perhaps,
>>though, if responsible diver practice was promoted as an esential
>>aspect of certificaiton and a requirement for holding a professional
>>qualification (maybe with requirement from the WRSTC),every student
>>diver would come away from their course with an understanding of the
>>fragility of reef systems and therefore an awareness and emotional
>>investment in the necessity for reducing CO2 emissions, fishing
>>subsidies etc, This woud then result in growing consenus and support
>>for environmental protection, reducation of fossil fuels etc.
>>
>>
>>On Tue, Aug 6, 2013 at 11:01 AM, Douglas Fenner
>> wrote:
>>> I support reducing local impacts to reefs as much as we can, including
>>> diver damage. As someone pointed out correctly, the more we can reduce
>>> local impacts, the stronger reefs will be when mass coral bleaching
>>> starts
>>> killing corals in an ever more serious way. This is the idea of
>>> resilience. Some divers and dive operators find reducing diver impact
>>> appealing, because it is an impact that divers can reduce. It is
>>> something
>>> that they can do to do their part to help. I'm all for that.
>>> The problem is that diver impact, while important for some small areas
>>> of reef, is one of the most minor impacts on the world's coral reefs.
>>> While it will contribute to improving the future prospects of reefs, if
>>> it
>>> is the only thing we do, reefs will continue to degrade, including those
>>> where diver impacts are minimized.
>>> Increasing reef resilience by reducing impacts can buy us a little time
>>> to get climate change under control.
>>> But if we want to save reefs, we MUST stop global warming and
>>> acidification. We also must reduce local impacts, primarily overfishing,
>>> nutrification, chemical pollution, coral disease, and introduced species
>>> like lionfish, to mention some of the major categories of local impacts.
>>> NONE of these local impacts will be easy to stop.
>>> A recent paper by Kennedy et al. ended with the sentence, "We also
>>> provide unambiguous evidence that local efforts must be accompanied by
>>> rigorous global action to mitigate climate change." Their study found
>>> that
>>> removing major local impacts could delay the destruction of reefs, but
>>> unless climate change was stopped, reef destruction happened anyhow. The
>>> greatest delay came from stopping nutrients and stopping fishing for
>>> parrotfish, and only provided a 10 year delay before the destruction
>>> caused
>>> by climate change set in. Removing all local impacts did not change the
>>> final outcome, it was always the destruction of the reef, unless climate
>>> change was stopped. If climate change is stopped, stopping local impacts
>>> improved the situation. (They didn't even model the effects of stopping
>>> all diver damage, because it is such a small impact it has no hope of
>>> stopping the degradation of the world's reefs. Note also that they found
>>> that mass coral bleaching is the effect of climate change that will kill
>>> the reefs before acidification.)
>>> The survival of reefs depends on stopping climate change, it does not
>>> depend on stopping diver impacts. Scientists have publicly called for
>>> action on climate change. We need the dive industry to call for action on
>>> climate change as well. It is great to reduce diver damage, but we must
>>> act on BOTH climate change and local impacts to have any hope of saving
>>> reefs. The same reefs that much of the dive industry depends on for it's
>>> income.
>>> The time has come for the dive industry, from divers to operators to
>>> organizations like DEMA to stand up and be heard and be counted,
>>> supporting
>>> action on climate change.
>>> Cheers, Doug
>>>
>>> Kennedy, E.V. et al. 2013. Avoiding coral reef functional collapse
>>> requires local and global action. Current Biology 23: 912-918.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Aug 2, 2013 at 3:52 AM, Jay Burkos wrote:
>>>
>>>> Doug and Julian,
>>>>
>>>> I understand both of your views on climate change and how we as
>>>> individuals have little ability to cut down on major factors. (Even
>>>> total deniers struggle with how to be better stewards against
>>>> pollution, which NO ONE denies is a major problem).
>>>>
>>>> So I explain it like this: whether a person believes in man impacted
>>>> climate shifts or not, a damaged reef must work twice as hard to
>>>> repair itself AND survive. Just like a hospital patient who is
>>>> immunologically compromised by AIDS or another similar disease, a
>>>> break, cut or other damage creates a major problem that endangers the
>>>> entire reef.
>>>>
>>>> By being divers who not only avoid damaging reefs, but actively work
>>>> to restore corals and remove debris while lobbying against pollution,
>>>> we can actively help in a large way.
>>>>
>>>> That, and kick the guy you catch dumping oil illegally.
>>>>
>>>> Jay
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>> On Aug 2, 2013, at 10:37 AM, Douglas Fenner
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > No need for trepidation! I agree!! I am sure that the reason that some
>>>> > dive operators try to encourage and teach their divers to be more
>>>> > responsible about the reef is that it is something they can obviously
>>>> > do
>>>> to
>>>> > help. Everything they do to protect their local reefs does help, no
>>>> > question about that. Building an environmental ethic in divers is a
>>>> > very
>>>> > good thing to do, no question. Further, ALL of us are frustrated that
>>>> > there is so little we can do to make a difference on climate change.
>>>> > We
>>>> > just want to encourage people to start thinking of next steps to add
>>>> > to
>>>> > their diver education. A few comments, hints, that there are other
>>>> > major
>>>> > problems that will have to be solved if we are to save reefs, some
>>>> obvious
>>>> > like reducing overfishing, sedimentation and nutrient runoff, and
>>>> > others
>>>> > that will take entire societies and the governments to do, like
>>>> > tackling
>>>> > climate change. Like Lad was saying, divers can be champions for
>>>> > reefs.
>>>> > We need to encourage that, and encourage them to not only not bash
>>>> > them
>>>> > when they're diving, but also support doing meaningful things to move
>>>> > to
>>>> > renewable energy. So far the diving industry seems to be quiet on
>>>> > that,
>>>> we
>>>> > want to encourage people to start thinking about that problem too and
>>>> > supporting action.
>>>> > We all have different things we can contribute, and it will take
>>>> > everybody working on this to make it happen. Divers not bashing reefs
>>>> > is
>>>> > part of the solution. Divers and the dive industry speaking up about
>>>> > climate change is another part of the solution. There are lots of
>>>> > other
>>>> > parts as well, the list of threats to reefs is long. It's also good to
>>>> > keep in mind which are the big threats worldwide that we absolutely
>>>> > HAVE
>>>> to
>>>> > fix to save reefs, and which are the more minor solutions that are
>>>> > great
>>>> to
>>>> > contribute to as well. We're saying we need people, including the dive
>>>> > industry, to recognize that climate change is one of the biggest
>>>> > threats
>>>> to
>>>> > reefs, and speak up about that as well as champion good diving
>>>> > practices.
>>>> > Cheers, Doug
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > On Fri, Aug 2, 2013 at 2:36 PM, Julian @ Reef Check <
>>>> julian at reefcheck.org.my
>>>> >> wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> It is with trepidation that I raise a voice in an argument with Doug,
>>>> with
>>>> >> all his years of experience, but here goes.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Yes, climate change is an important factor. But how many of us really
>>>> feel
>>>> >> we can do something about it?
>>>> >>
>>>> >> But maybe we can do something to change behaviour on an individual
>>>> >> basis
>>>> >> and
>>>> >> turn the people who are damaging reefs (and they are legion) into
>>>> >> people
>>>> >> who
>>>> >> care for reefs. Maybe this group could then be motivated to help to
>>>> >> address,
>>>> >> or at least start lobbying about, the wider issues such as climate
>>>> change.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I think I've said enough on this thread now! But many thanks to those
>>>> >> of
>>>> >> you
>>>> >> who have responded with some useful suggestions.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Julian Hyde
>>>> >> General Manager
>>>> >> Reef Check Malaysia Bhd
>>>> >> 03 2161 5948
>>>> >> www.reefcheck.org.my
>>>> >> Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rcmalaysia
>>>> >>
>>>> >> HEARD A FISH BOMB? TEXT US AT 012 647 1294 WITH DATE, TIME AND
>>>> >> LOCATION!
>>>> >>
>>>> >> "The bottom line of the Millenium Assessment findings is that human
>>>> actions
>>>> >> are depleting Earth's natural capital, putting such strain on the
>>>> >> environment that the ability of the planet's ecosystems to sustain
>>>> future
>>>> >> generations can no longer be taken for granted."
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> -----Original Message-----
>>>> >> From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>>>> >> [mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Douglas
>>>> >> Fenner
>>>> >> Sent: Thursday, 1 August, 2013 9:07 AM
>>>> >> To: coral list
>>>> >> Subject: [Coral-List] Fwd: Diver damage thread
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Well said, Lad, I agree.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I fully support minimizing diver damage. We need to reduce all kinds
>>>> >> of
>>>> >> human-produced damaging effects on coral reefs. Lad and Steve keep
>>>> >> bringing
>>>> >> up climate change. What does that have to do with diver damage??
>>>> >> Diver damage is important, isn't it?? But they are right. Climate
>>>> change
>>>> >> is the 800 pound gorilla in the corner of the room. If we don't do
>>>> >> anything
>>>> >> about that, we could stop all diver damage, and it would be like
>>>> >> re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
>>>> >> In fact, if you look at any assessment or rating or ranking of the
>>>> >> causes of coral reef decline around the world, diver damage is always
>>>> near
>>>> >> the bottom of the list. Please correct me if I'm wrong. If I
>>>> >> remember,
>>>> >> "Reefs at Risk" lists overfishing and destructive fishing as the
>>>> >> Number
>>>> One
>>>> >> LOCAL threat to coral reefs, pollution (including sedimentation,
>>>> nutrient
>>>> >> runoff and chemical pollution) as the other big threat. The top
>>>> >> GLOBAL
>>>> and
>>>> >> future threats to coral reefs are climate change and acidification.
>>>> The
>>>> >> extensive review of threats by the NOAA team reviewing the petition
>>>> >> for
>>>> >> endangered coral status came to the same conclusion, as have others.
>>>> >> These are the big things that we have to take care of if we are going
>>>> >> to
>>>> >> have reefs left decades from now.
>>>> >> I do not mean to under-estimate the threat from divers. In some
>>>> >> locations they can do serious damage, there are published papers
>>>> >> demonstrating this. But we need to keep it in perspective. Coral
>>>> disease
>>>> >> has killed vastly more coral in the Caribbean & Florida than divers.
>>>> >> A
>>>> >> single hurricane can kill millions, maybe billions of tons of coral.
>>>> >> I
>>>> saw
>>>> >> corals in Cozumel recovering after Hurricane Gilbert, in spite of
>>>> >> 2000
>>>> >> dives
>>>> >> a day on just 15 miles of reefs. Reefs are fully capable of
>>>> >> recovering
>>>> >> from
>>>> >> hurricanes, hurricanes have been going on for hundreds of millions of
>>>> years
>>>> >> and the reefs are still here (granted, they are brief events while
>>>> >> human
>>>> >> caused stress is chronic).
>>>> >> SO, while I support reducing diver damage, and it is important in
>>>> some
>>>> >> areas, if that is the primary focus of concern for us, and for the
>>>> >> dive
>>>> >> industry, we are going to loose the reefs, and it IS re-arranging the
>>>> deck
>>>> >> chairs on the Titanic. We have to solve the big problems, the primary
>>>> >> causes of reef decline or else we are wasting our time on reducing
>>>> >> diver
>>>> >> damage.
>>>> >> Steve and Lad are fundamentally right, if the public (including the
>>>> >> dive
>>>> >> industry) and governments don't get to work in a serious way on
>>>> >> climate
>>>> >> change, we are going to loose the coral reef ecosystems (they will
>>>> become
>>>> >> dominated by algae and be algae beds with a few scattered corals).
>>>> >> We as a world community are going to loose a lot more, too. A recent
>>>> study
>>>> >> found that just the release of methane from Siberian permafrost
>>>> >> caused
>>>> by
>>>> >> global warming, will cause (if we let global warming continue) about
>>>> >> $60
>>>> >> TRILLION dollars damage in addition to the rest of the damage climate
>>>> >> change
>>>> >> will do, which is much larger. That is just less than a whole year
>>>> >> of the whole world economy ($70 trillion). Think what that will do to
>>>> >> the world economy, and you realize the magnitude of the threat.
>>>> >> Killing
>>>> >> off
>>>> >> coral reef ecosystems, bad as it would be, would be a small part of
>>>> >> the
>>>> >> problem for humanity.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Global Price Tag for Arctic Thawing: $60 Trillion
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>>
>>>> http://weather.yahoo.com/global-price-tag-arctic-thawing-60-trillion-1841275
>>>> >> 80.html
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Cheers, Doug
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> On Wed, Jul 31, 2013 at 5:40 AM, Lad Akins wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >>> HI All,
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> I've been reading the diver impact thread over the last few days -
>>>> >>> it
>>>> >>> seems to flare up every year or two and I'd like to throw in another
>>>> >>> slightly different point of view to consider. In most parts of the
>>>> >>> world, especially the Caribbean, diver damage is an undetectable
>>>> >>> signal compared to natural disturbances and other human induced
>>>> >>> impacts (storms, bleaching, ocean acidification, overfishing, etc).
>>>> >>> Yes, it's easy to point a finger at a diver touching the bottom or a
>>>> >>> wayward gauge, but look at what happens in one winter blow, not even
>>>> >>> a
>>>> >>> hurricane, or from turtles grazing on sponges and you'll see more
>>>> >>> damage than divers cause in a year. I'm not saying we shouldn't
>>>> >>> encourage good behavior, proper buoyancy control and a better
>>>> >>> understanding of the marine ecosystem, but realistically, putting
>>>> >>> significant time and effort into diver regulation is not going to
>>>> >>> solve any problems.
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> Thinking more broadly about conservation of coral reefs, divers and
>>>> >>> snorkelers are the true supporters of conservation efforts. If it
>>>> >>> were not for them (us - if you venture into the sea to conduct your
>>>> >>> research, for you too are a diver), who would provide public support
>>>> >>> for protection of this resource unseen to most? How many of us reach
>>>> >>> out to the public to help them better understand the issue? A few on
>>>> >>> the list preach communication of scientific research to the public,
>>>> >>> but most on the list are content to conduct research (often diving
>>>> >>> to
>>>> >>> do so), and publish the results in a journal read only by peers.
>>>> >>> Protection of coral reef ecosystems is only going to come with broad
>>>> >>> public support. And public support is not going to come from those
>>>> >>> who don't have the opportunity to learn about the sea first-hand.
>>>> >>> Restricting divers to distant viewing of marine life is only going
>>>> >>> to
>>>> >>> reduce the intimate connections with the reef system that are
>>>> >>> necessary to build support for difficult decisions that do matter.
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> I caution the easy finger pointing towards an industry who brings
>>>> >>> the
>>>> >>> vast majority of stakeholders into the conservation family. I would
>>>> >>> encourage the discussion of regulation on water quality issues,
>>>> >>> protection from overharvest and clean energy. Tough issues, but ones
>>>> >>> that will make a real difference.
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> Lad
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> **************************
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> Lad Akins
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> Director of Special Projects
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> REEF
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> P O Box 370246
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> 98300 Overseas Hwy
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> Key Largo FL 33037
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> (305) 852-0030 w
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> (305) 942-7333 c
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> www.REEF.org
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> Lad at REEF.org
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> _______________________________________________
>>>> >>> Coral-List mailing list
>>>> >>> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>>>> >>> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> --
>>>> >> PO Box 7390
>>>> >> Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799 USA
>>>> >>
>>>> >> The views expressed are those of the author alone.
>>>> >> _______________________________________________
>>>> >> Coral-List mailing list
>>>> >> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>>>> >> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> -----
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>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > --
>>>> > PO Box 7390
>>>> > Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799 USA
>>>> >
>>>> > The views expressed are those of the author alone.
>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>> > Coral-List mailing list
>>>> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> PO Box 7390
>>> Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799 USA
>>>
>>> The views expressed are those of the author alone.
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