[Coral-List] Reassessing Coral Reefs

Chloe Harvey hunt.chloe at gmail.com
Fri Apr 3 03:54:19 EDT 2015


Dear all,

In response to William's statement *"Perhaps some of the coral-list members
would be willing to collectively propose a few simple common-sense
guidelines for regulating local impacts of the scuba diving industry."*

Green Fins <http://www.greenfins.net> provides a code of conduct for the
diving industry and guidelines
<http://greenfins.net/a/img/cms/Downloads/GREENFINS_GUIDELINES_COC_POSTER_20141120%20(Copy).jpg>
to this code of conduct have recently been released and can be found on the
downloads <http://greenfins.net/downloads> section of the Green Fins
website. All the materials are free to use, please do feel free to share
them.

Green Fins is a public private partnership for environmental stewardship in
the reef tourism industry, focusing on diving and snorkelling. Established
by UNEP and The Reef-World Foundation, it has a decade-long history in
supporting environmentally sustainable diving in Asia, including some of
the world’s top diving destinations in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and
Thailand. The approach encompasses three main elements: certification of
dive centre operations based on a code of conduct and a robust assessment
system; support towards developing or strengthening implementation of
relevant regulatory frameworks; and strategic outreach to dive centres and
their customers as well as government partners.

We are now focusing on strategic outreach to marine recreational tourists
with Green Fins, one means to do so is to be represented more at the dive
shows and so will be at the Marine Diving Fair in Tokyo this weekend, and
will have a booth and give a presentation at ADEX next week (come and say
hello if you're there!).

If any of the Coral Listers have any suggestions in line with this
(although please keep in mind that we are working with minimal budgets), I
would be pleased to hear about them.

Best wishes,
Chloe



On 31 March 2015 at 23:44, <coral-list-request at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Director - School of Biological Sciences - The University of
>       Hong Kong (dmbaker)
>    2. Re: Reassessing Coral Reefs (Steve Mussman)
>    3. Re: Reassessing Coral Reefs (Alex Brylske)
>    4. Re: Even chickens can help save coral reefs (Peter Sale)
>    5. Reassessing Coral Reefs (Alevizon, William Stephen)
>    6. Re: Reassessing Coral Reefs (Quenton Dokken)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2015 12:59:50 +0800
> From: dmbaker <dmbaker at hku.hk>
> Subject: [Coral-List] Director - School of Biological Sciences - The
>         University of Hong Kong
> To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID: <488EAC1E-6400-4813-8B62-E94271384B5F at hku.hk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>
> Applications are invited for appointment as Professor in the School of
> Biological Sciences, to commence on January 1, 2016 or as soon as possible
> thereafter.  The appointee will also be appointed as Director of the School
> of Biological Sciences for a three-year term starting from January 1, 2016
> or as soon as possible thereafter.  Tenure may be offered to qualified
> candidates.  Directorship re-appointment will be subject to the
> University's established procedures.
> The School has excellent research facilities and resources, and is
> supported by a dedicated team of experienced academic and research staff.
> Currently, the four strategic research areas of the School are: Ecology;
> Endocrinology; Food Safety and Food for Health; and Plant Evolution and
> Adaptation.  Information about the School can be obtained at
> http://www.biosch.hku.hk/.
> Applicants should have a distinguished international reputation with a
> substantial research record.  They should be able to provide leadership to
> enhance the School's profile both locally and internationally as a centre
> of excellence in research and teaching.  Experience in management would be
> an advantage.
> A highly competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and
> experience will be offered, in addition to annual leave and medical
> benefits.  The appointment will attract a contract-end gratuity and
> University contribution to a retirement benefits scheme, totalling up to
> 15% of basic salary.  Housing benefits will be provided as applicable.
> Research start-up funds will be available.
> For enquiries about the post, please write to Professor Sun Kwok, Dean of
> Faculty of Science (fax: (852) 2858 4620 or e-mail: sunkwok at hku.hk<mailto:
> sunkwok at hku.hk>).  Applicants should submit a completed application form,
> together with an up-to-date C.V., a research proposal, and a statement of
> teaching philosophy to scsbs at hku.hk<mailto:scsbs at hku.hk>.  Please
> indicate clearly the reference number in the subject of the e-mail.
> Application forms (341/1111) can be downloaded at
> http://www.hku.hk/apptunit/form-ext.doc and further particulars can be
> obtained at http://jobs.hku.hk/.  Closes June 30, 2015.  The University
> thanks applicants for their interest, but advises that only candidates
> shortlisted for interviews will be notified of the application result.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> David M. Baker, Ph.D.
> Assistant Professor
> The Swire Institute of Marine Science,
> School of Biological Sciences &
> Department of Earth Science
> The University of Hong Kong
> Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building
> Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, PRC
>
> dmbaker at hku.hk<mailto:dmbaker at hku.hk>
>
> www.thelifeisotopic.com<http://www.thelifeisotopic.com>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2015 08:20:40 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
> From: Steve Mussman <sealab at earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Reassessing Coral Reefs
> To: Judith Lang <jlang at riposi.net>,     "julian at reefcheck.org.my"
>         <julian at reefcheck.org.my>,      "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov"
>         <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID:
>         <
> 5106951.1427718041213.JavaMail.root at wamui-junio.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
>
>    Dear Judy, Julian and Listers,
>
>    I believe all of us realize that even if we could put together a
> coalition
>    comprised of coral scientists and diving industry leaders dedicated to
>    saving  coral  reefs  at all costs, we would still be facing an uphill
>    battle against those who view these issues through an antithetical
> prism.
>    Still  there  is a  recognition  of some level of moral responsibility
>    which speaks  to many coral  scientists  and divers as a result of our
>    connatural and inherent connection to the underwater world. So although
> I
>    have become somewhat cynical in formulating my opinion as to how all
> this
>    will ultimately play out, in the end I agree that we need to keep
> trying.
>    As Judy said, every bit helps and there is plenty of work to be done.
> Coral
>    scientists should be shearching for creative ways to get their findings
> out
>    beyond the shielded confines of scientific journals and into the wider
>    public domain. Diving industry leaders ([1]
> http://www.dema.org/?page=About)
>    should be reexamining their own mission statement while working to
> realign
>    themselves with an ethical and transparent commitment to promote
> sustainable
>    growth in safe recreational diving and snorkeling while protecting the
>    underwater environment. There is ample evidence that the industry's
> stated
>    goal  of  conserving and protecting natural aquatic resources is being
>    dishonored by their refusal to acknowledge the impacts of climate
> change.
>    Julian  and  I  are  separated  by a vast geographical divide, yet our
>    experiences and frustrations are indistinguishable.There is much that
> needs
>    to be done. Not the least of which is to make it perfectly clear as to
> what
>    the future holds for the world's coral reefs if we continue to do
> business
>    as usual ignoring the unmitigated effects of anthropogenic stressors,
> both
>    local and global.
>
>    Steve
>
>      -----Original Message-----
>      From: Judith Lang
>      Sent: Mar 27, 2015 1:20 PM
>      To: Steve Mussman , "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov list"
>      Subject: [Coral-List] Reassessing Coral Reefs
>
>    Hi again Steve,
>
>    Acting alone, coral scientists can't resolve the issue of our excessive
>    human consumption of fossil fuels. If you and your allies can convince
> the
>    dive industry to take climate change seriously, that would be splendid
>    because every bit helps; so I echo Peter Sale's comment that, "People
> might
>    even listen to dive industry spokespeople who argue for action to save
> coral
>    reefs. Go for it."
>
>    For those interested in mitigation,
>
>    We  can also add our voices to groups that are trying to reach a wider
>    audience. For that reason, I'll share my experiences with one of them,
> and
>    perhaps others can do the same with additional examples.
>
>    Noting that, "Politicians don't create political will, they respond to
> it,"
>    the Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) is a grassroots advocacy organization..
> CCL
>    is  focused  on  generating the political will to pass legislation for
>    revenue-neutral  carbon  taxes (which is also called a "carbon fee and
>    dividend"). Members lobby politicians, plus their staffers, and engage
> with
>    the public via letters or op-eds in newspapers and in person at
> community
>    events.   It   is   growing   rapidly,   both  in  North  America  and
>    internationally, from 42 chapters in 2011 to 257 today. Countries with
> CCL
>    chapters currently include some with reefs, some with overseas
> territories
>    containing reefs, and some with foreign aid projects in tropical
> countries
>    that have reefs
>    (see [2]https://citizensclimatelobby.org/about-ccl/#Chapters).
>
>    In  the  US, this approach for starting the process of reducing carbon
>    emissions has been endorsed by some prominent scientists, corporations
> and
>    Republicans.  It's  also mentioned with increasing frequency in the US
>    national media, but doesn't yet have a sufficiently large ground swell
> of
>    public support that the US Congress feels any need to respond?so there's
>    still plenty of work to be done.
>
>    Judy
>
> References
>
>    1. http://www.dema.org/?page=About
>    2. https://citizensclimatelobby.org/about-ccl/#Chapters
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2015 16:45:58 -0400
> From: Alex Brylske <brylske at me.com>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Reassessing Coral Reefs
> To: "Julian @ Reef Check" <julian at reefcheck.org.my>
> Cc: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Message-ID: <C27F2ED2-936E-4A60-9E5E-124E42473131 at me.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> Wow! I?ve been scuba diving since LBJ was in office, and involved in the
> profession virtually full-time since 1976, and this is the most honest,
> accurate and lucid assessment of our industry?even here in North
> America/Caribbean?that I?ve ever seen! It makes me sick to say it, but my
> own experience is completely consistent with Julian?s. Whether it?s through
> true ignorance or insisting the Emperor is, in fact, wearing clothes, the
> dive industry, in my view, has been lying and/or ignoring the situation for
> far too long. It?s truly sad that a bright and well-intended individual
> like Julian is so frustrated that he?s essentially written off dive
> industry professionals, but I certainly can?t blame him
>
> Alex Brylske
>
>
> > On Mar 29, 2015, at 6:13 AM, Julian @ Reef Check <
> julian at reefcheck.org.my> wrote:
> >
> > Steve
> >
> >> From 2000 to 2006 I ran my own small dive centre on Tioman island, off
> the
> > East coast of Malaysia. The philosophy of the dive centre was "fun,
> safety,
> > conservation"; we put RM 10 (US$ 3) of the revenue from each customer
> into a
> > kitty to pay for things that had to be done but weren't being done by
> others
> > - net removal, etc. Most customers would top it up from their own cash.
> This
> > way we managed to put aside some cash flow for petrol, etc., instead of
> > having to pay for it all out of day to day cash flow.
> >
> > At the time, I was completely astounded at the apparent total lack of
> > concern demonstrated by fellow dive operators for the health of the
> marine
> > environment - and I still pretty much am today. They didn't seem to
> equate
> > reef health with good future business - and they still don't today. I
> tried
> > to explain in different ways but failed (eg., if Ford motor company were
> to
> > stop servicing its main asset - production line - it would quickly stop
> > running; if an airline company were to stop servicing its main asset -
> > planes - they would quickly stop running; so with the dive industry - our
> > main asset is reefs; if we don't look after them, they will "stop
> running").
> >
> > No response. But we did what we could and fortunately the local Marine
> Park
> > authority picked up on some of it (like Crown of Thorns clean ups).
> >
> > Leaving the island, in 2007 I found myself involved with Reef Check
> > Malaysia, which I now run. After 8 years, I see little difference in
> > attitude of the industry. One or two operators, yes. But most? Not
> > interested. Money seems to be all that counts. Typical is Perhentian
> island.
> > They have basically a 6 month season, and they are full every day of that
> > six months. So why bother with conservation? People still come. Why
> bother
> > setting yourself up as an "environmentally friendly" dive centre (such as
> > Green Fins) when customers are not demanding it - and we are still full
> > every day?
> >
> > In 2012/13, RCM was involved in a research programme to assess the
> economic
> > impact on dive tourism of the 2010 bleaching and  possible future
> bleaching
> > events. The programme was run by Heidi Schuttenberg, and had
> representatives
> > from NOAA, CSIRO, James Cook uni, etc. A good team.
> >
> > The project talked to dive operators and relevant institutions in three
> > locations in Malaysia, two in Thailand and three in Indonesia. After
> > listening to some of the results from Malaysia (and I think they were
> > similar elsewhere), some of the conclusions I came to were:
> >
> > - in most places there had been little economic impact from the bleaching
> > - in many of these locations a significant part of their business is
> basic
> > diver certifications; trainees don't know what a reef looks like anyway,
> so
> > reef condition is not a decider in whether they decide to dive
> > - the overwhelming attitude seemed to be that if reefs die and get taken
> > over by algae - people will still dive; partly to see what an algae reef
> > looks like, partly because they love to dive.
> >
> > So the industry sees little to concern themselves. Frustrating, right?
> >
> > I believe that chasing climate change is a lost cause - certainly here
> and
> > perhaps other developing markets. There are just so many other priorities
> > (economic development) that are much more important. The message just
> isn't
> > getting across. We had flooding here early this year - probably partly
> due
> > to climate change...but no response from government or anyone; no
> linking it
> > to climate change.
> >
> > Our focus has turned to resilience type concepts and local impacts. We
> are
> > working with local authorities to assess local impacts to reefs, in
> order to
> > meet Aichi target 10 on eliminating anthropogenic (we call them local)
> > impacts. This gets the management authority involved, which is a good
> thing;
> > it is also a national obligation, which gets some attention; and it
> allows
> > us to do a lot of work on the ground with various stakeholders -
> including
> > the dive industry. So we are pushing Green Fins as a way to reduce diver
> and
> > snorkeler impacts, for example.
> >
> > (I don't want to get involved in a debate here about whether or not
> divers
> > and snorkelers have an impact: my own observation tells me they MUST -
> you
> > only have to go to some islands here and watch up to 500 snorkelers -
> most
> > of whom can't swim - enter the water and crawl all over the place...fish
> > feeding...etc. There's an impact.)
> >
> > Using GF provides a framework for introducing various measures - not just
> > user impacts but sewage treatment, fishing access, etc. It also provides
> the
> > opportunity to push for improving regulations - requiring resort
> operators
> > to improve infrastructure, training snorkelling and dive guides in
> > eco-friendly guiding, etc.
> >
> > Using resilience I have found is a useful tool in giving local people a
> > simple explanation about reef health - compare to a healthy human,
> rested,
> > no stress - illness bounces off; but if that person is (like me!) - less
> > healthy, not enough rest...then the illness has a major impact. Same with
> > reefs - healthy, no impacts - bleaching "bounces off" - it's not quite
> that
> > simple, but that's the gist of it. Talk to them about bleaching - no
> > response - they don't get it; talk to them in terms they can understand,
> > more of a response. It's a starting point. And usually the local
> communities
> > are responsible for a large proportion of those local impacts.
> >
> > But at the end of the day, what I am realising (this may be a developing
> > country issue) is that people STILL won't take action until pressed to
> do so
> > by government; back to the Aichi targets, which can be used as a bit of a
> > stick at all levels - government signed up for it, there's national
> pride at
> > stake, so we have to get on and do it.
> >
> > Sorry for such a long response; but I hope it's useful. I fully support
> what
> > you are doing, I think the dive industry has been using the oceans for
> free
> > for far too long without any responsibility for their health, and want to
> > help any way I can. But I think the scuba industry is just in it for the
> > money; they don't really care about conservation (except for individual
> > operators). So for our part of the world, I'm sorry to say I think we are
> > going to need more sticks; hopefully user-friendly ones like the Aichi
> > targets, but sticks nonetheless.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Julian Hyde
> > General Manager
> > Reef Check Malaysia
> > 03 2161 5948
> > www.reefcheck.org.my
> > Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rcmalaysia
> >
> > HEARD A FISH BOMB? TEXT US AT 011 2532 7368 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 Steve
> Mussman
> > Sent: Thursday, 26 March, 2015 2:54 AM
> > To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > Subject: [Coral-List] Reassessing Coral Reefs
> >
> >
> >   Dear Listers,
> >
> >   I'm working with others to try and encourage the scuba diving industry
> to
> >   get more proactive
> >   with regard to it's policies on coral reef conservation. As you know,
> > there
> >   has been no progress
> >   within the industry on addressing climate change.. That issue is and
> has
> >   been a non-starter for
> >   years. Now the question arises as to whether or not to even focus on
> that
> >   concern going forward.
> >   Many of you seem to be resigned to the fact that that ship has already
> >   sailed. Recent comments seem
> >   to indicate a shift in focus from avoidance to mitigation and
> adjustment
> > to
> >   a new reality which envisions
> >   coral reefs as a manifestation of the concept of "novel ecosystems". If
> > that
> >   is in fact the case, on what
> >   issues should the industry be focusing if and when it ever becomes
> > willing
> >   to become seriously involved
> >   in developing effective measures designed to conserve the reefs of
> > tomorrow
> >   whatever their composition
> >   may be? Do we shift entirely to land-based pollutants, sedimentation
> and
> >   over-fishing or do we continue
> >   to press for action or at least policy objectives related to
> > sustainability
> >   and carbon emissions? I need input.
> >   Contact  me  off-list  if necessary, but exchanging ideas openly seems
> >   appropriate and even beneficial.
> >   It would certainly be refreshing to witness a free flow of ideas.
> >
> >   Regards,
> >   Steve
> > _______________________________________________
> > Coral-List mailing list
> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
> >
> >
> > -----
> > No virus found in this message.
> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
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> >
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> > _______________________________________________
> > Coral-List mailing list
> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2015 18:23:09 -0400
> From: Peter Sale <sale at uwindsor.ca>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Even chickens can help save coral reefs
> To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov,     Douglas Fenner
>         <douglasfennertassi at gmail.com>
> Message-ID:
>         <
> OF006D641C.CD01CC84-ON85257E18.00785879-85257E18.007AF870 at uwindsor.ca>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> Doug and List,
> I largely support the sentiments in your comment, but must respond to your
> claim that "We are NOT going to solve the coral reef crisis by reducing
> the population, it is WAY WAY too slow."
> Actually, taking serious action to slow and then reverse human population
> growth is a process that could have significant positive effects on time
> scales comparable to those required to transition away from use of fossil
> fuels.  China's population policy, which has been so roundly criticized,
> played a significant role (but was not the sole cause) in a reduction of
> growth rate from 2.8% per annum in 1970 to 0.5% per annum today.  In the
> same time period, India has gone from 2.2% per annum to 1.2% per annum,
> and the USA has gone from 1.2% per annum to 0.7% per annum today (yes,
> higher than China's).  Many nations, including the USA, use immigration
> policy to keep population growth positive, because our economic theory
> demands growth.
>
> Concerted action with the goal of turning global population growth
> negative could be achieved, probably without the "coercive" regulations
> China used, if governments could be convinced that perpetual GDP growth is
> impossible.  Reefs, and a whole lot of other things would certainly
> benefit.
>
> Peter Sale
>
>
> sale at uwindsor.ca                 @PeterSale3
> www.uwindsor.ca/sale           www.petersalebooks.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 00:16:53 +0000
> From: "Alevizon, William Stephen" <alevizonws at cofc.edu>
> Subject: [Coral-List] Reassessing Coral Reefs
> To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID:
>         <DA95663F3659FB47B4052A2E30D5EABB3395A0A6 at ORANGE.COUGARS.INT>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
>
>
>
> Julian, Steve, Alex
>
> I am also in total agreement with Julian?s excellent and honest appraisal
> of the non-commitment of the scuba diving industry leaders to contributing
> anything but lip-service to the cause of coral reef protection.  Of course,
> DEMA and PADI often tout Project Aware as a prime example of their efforts,
> but I would note that the main impacts of dive tourism - too may divers on
> a reef, and harassment of marine life (including feeding, touching, and
> handling of fishes and other creatures) - are never addressed.
>
> When I served as scientific advisor to the group that led the effort to
> get the feeding of sharks and other marine life banned here in Florida back
> around 2000, DEMA and PADI fought the proposed regulation with everything
> they had, but eventually lost.
>
> Paradoxically, even though Florida banned marine life feeding in all state
> waters almost 15 years ago, the management of the Florida Keys National
> Marine Sanctuary failed to pass complimentary rules. This resulted in the
> utter absurdity of the ?Sanctuary? being the only remaining expanse of
> shallow reef habitat readily accessible to Florida divers and snorkelers
> that still - even today - allows the hand feeding of fishes.  As was
> predictable from prior research at other coral reef areas, normal feeding
> behavior and distribution/abundance patterns of local populations of a
> number of reef fish species have been severely disrupted by this practice,
> even within so-called ?Specially Protected Areas? (SPAs) of the FKNMS.
>
> If those entrusted to protect the resource are unwilling to take some heat
> from locals in order to fulfill their mandate, why should we expect local
> dive operators to voluntarily become less competitive?
>
> Perhaps some of the coral-list members would be willing to collectively
> propose a few simple common-sense guidelines for regulating local impacts
> of the scuba diving industry.  Something like that coming from a coalition
> of dive industry professionals and reef scientists - with proper press
> exposure - might actually get results.  I certainly don?t think waiting for
> government to get no-nonsense about this issue is a productive alternative.
>
> Years ago I compiled an archive of published research on these issues,
> which needs updating but is unambiguous in documenting the need for
> sensible regulation in this context.
>
>
>
> William S. Alevizon
>
> Research Associate
>
> Dept. of Biology
>
> College of Charleston
>
> 58 Coming St.
>
> Charleston,  S.C. 29424
>
> USA
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2015 19:39:21 -0500
> From: "Quenton Dokken" <qdokken at gulfmex.org>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Reassessing Coral Reefs
> To: "'Alex Brylske'" <brylske at me.com>,  "'Julian @ Reef Check'"
>         <julian at reefcheck.org.my>
> Cc: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Message-ID: <000f01d06b4b$214e1930$63ea4b90$@gulfmex.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="utf-8"
>
> Hey Team,
>
> I am fully sympathetic to the message.  But, it falls far short of
> addressing the challenge.  In 2010 I was in St. Thomas (VI) for NOAA's
> Coral Reef Task Force meeting.  Scientists lined up at the podium to
> promote the need for "more science."  We were in a shore side hotel for
> which the mangroves had been bulldozed out to create a beach front for the
> visiting tourist.  It was raining and the panoramic windows provided a
> clear vision of the sediment plumes draining into the bay from the resort
> being built next door.  I  commented to the governor's assistant sitting
> next to me, " we don't need more science, we need to enforce the laws
> already on the books."  With alarm, she responded, "You're not going to say
> that, it would affect tourism and upset the Governor!"  I left the meeting
> and went diving.
>
> Divers in the water are the smallest part of the problem.  The shore side
> infrastructure  to support the divers is the primary part of the problem.
> Roads, hotels, marinas, airports, etc. are the biggest challenge.  Until we
> address those issues, we are not going to save the reefs.
>
> We need to expand our vision of solving the problem!
>
> Quenton Dokken, Ph.D.
> President/CEO
> Gulf of Mexico Foundation
> 361-882-3939 o
> 361-442-6064 m
> 361-882-1262 f
> qdokken at gulfmex.org
> www.gulfmex.org
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov [mailto:
> coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Alex Brylske
> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2015 3:46 PM
> To: Julian @ Reef Check
> Cc: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Reassessing Coral Reefs
>
> Wow! I?ve been scuba diving since LBJ was in office, and involved in the
> profession virtually full-time since 1976, and this is the most honest,
> accurate and lucid assessment of our industry?even here in North
> America/Caribbean?that I?ve ever seen! It makes me sick to say it, but my
> own experience is completely consistent with Julian?s. Whether it?s through
> true ignorance or insisting the Emperor is, in fact, wearing clothes, the
> dive industry, in my view, has been lying and/or ignoring the situation for
> far too long. It?s truly sad that a bright and well-intended individual
> like Julian is so frustrated that he?s essentially written off dive
> industry professionals, but I certainly can?t blame him
>
> Alex Brylske
>
>
> > On Mar 29, 2015, at 6:13 AM, Julian @ Reef Check <
> julian at reefcheck.org.my> wrote:
> >
> > Steve
> >
> >> From 2000 to 2006 I ran my own small dive centre on Tioman island,
> >> off the
> > East coast of Malaysia. The philosophy of the dive centre was "fun,
> > safety, conservation"; we put RM 10 (US$ 3) of the revenue from each
> > customer into a kitty to pay for things that had to be done but
> > weren't being done by others
> > - net removal, etc. Most customers would top it up from their own
> > cash. This way we managed to put aside some cash flow for petrol,
> > etc., instead of having to pay for it all out of day to day cash flow.
> >
> > At the time, I was completely astounded at the apparent total lack of
> > concern demonstrated by fellow dive operators for the health of the
> > marine environment - and I still pretty much am today. They didn't
> > seem to equate reef health with good future business - and they still
> > don't today. I tried to explain in different ways but failed (eg., if
> > Ford motor company were to stop servicing its main asset - production
> > line - it would quickly stop running; if an airline company were to
> > stop servicing its main asset - planes - they would quickly stop
> > running; so with the dive industry - our main asset is reefs; if we
> don't look after them, they will "stop running").
> >
> > No response. But we did what we could and fortunately the local Marine
> > Park authority picked up on some of it (like Crown of Thorns clean ups)..
> >
> > Leaving the island, in 2007 I found myself involved with Reef Check
> > Malaysia, which I now run. After 8 years, I see little difference in
> > attitude of the industry. One or two operators, yes. But most? Not
> > interested. Money seems to be all that counts. Typical is Perhentian
> island.
> > They have basically a 6 month season, and they are full every day of
> > that six months. So why bother with conservation? People still come.
> > Why bother setting yourself up as an "environmentally friendly" dive
> > centre (such as Green Fins) when customers are not demanding it - and
> > we are still full every day?
> >
> > In 2012/13, RCM was involved in a research programme to assess the
> > economic impact on dive tourism of the 2010 bleaching and  possible
> > future bleaching events. The programme was run by Heidi Schuttenberg,
> > and had representatives from NOAA, CSIRO, James Cook uni, etc. A good
> team.
> >
> > The project talked to dive operators and relevant institutions in
> > three locations in Malaysia, two in Thailand and three in Indonesia.
> > After listening to some of the results from Malaysia (and I think they
> > were similar elsewhere), some of the conclusions I came to were:
> >
> > - in most places there had been little economic impact from the
> > bleaching
> > - in many of these locations a significant part of their business is
> > basic diver certifications; trainees don't know what a reef looks like
> > anyway, so reef condition is not a decider in whether they decide to
> > dive
> > - the overwhelming attitude seemed to be that if reefs die and get
> > taken over by algae - people will still dive; partly to see what an
> > algae reef looks like, partly because they love to dive.
> >
> > So the industry sees little to concern themselves. Frustrating, right?
> >
> > I believe that chasing climate change is a lost cause - certainly here
> > and perhaps other developing markets. There are just so many other
> > priorities (economic development) that are much more important. The
> > message just isn't getting across. We had flooding here early this
> > year - probably partly due to climate change...but no response from
> > government or anyone; no linking it to climate change.
> >
> > Our focus has turned to resilience type concepts and local impacts. We
> > are working with local authorities to assess local impacts to reefs,
> > in order to meet Aichi target 10 on eliminating anthropogenic (we call
> > them local) impacts. This gets the management authority involved,
> > which is a good thing; it is also a national obligation, which gets
> > some attention; and it allows us to do a lot of work on the ground
> > with various stakeholders - including the dive industry. So we are
> > pushing Green Fins as a way to reduce diver and snorkeler impacts, for
> example.
> >
> > (I don't want to get involved in a debate here about whether or not
> > divers and snorkelers have an impact: my own observation tells me they
> > MUST - you only have to go to some islands here and watch up to 500
> > snorkelers - most of whom can't swim - enter the water and crawl all
> > over the place...fish feeding...etc. There's an impact.)
> >
> > Using GF provides a framework for introducing various measures - not
> > just user impacts but sewage treatment, fishing access, etc. It also
> > provides the opportunity to push for improving regulations - requiring
> > resort operators to improve infrastructure, training snorkelling and
> > dive guides in eco-friendly guiding, etc.
> >
> > Using resilience I have found is a useful tool in giving local people
> > a simple explanation about reef health - compare to a healthy human,
> > rested, no stress - illness bounces off; but if that person is (like
> > me!) - less healthy, not enough rest...then the illness has a major
> > impact. Same with reefs - healthy, no impacts - bleaching "bounces
> > off" - it's not quite that simple, but that's the gist of it. Talk to
> > them about bleaching - no response - they don't get it; talk to them
> > in terms they can understand, more of a response. It's a starting
> > point. And usually the local communities are responsible for a large
> proportion of those local impacts.
> >
> > But at the end of the day, what I am realising (this may be a
> > developing country issue) is that people STILL won't take action until
> > pressed to do so by government; back to the Aichi targets, which can
> > be used as a bit of a stick at all levels - government signed up for
> > it, there's national pride at stake, so we have to get on and do it.
> >
> > Sorry for such a long response; but I hope it's useful. I fully
> > support what you are doing, I think the dive industry has been using
> > the oceans for free for far too long without any responsibility for
> > their health, and want to help any way I can. But I think the scuba
> > industry is just in it for the money; they don't really care about
> > conservation (except for individual operators). So for our part of the
> > world, I'm sorry to say I think we are going to need more sticks;
> > hopefully user-friendly ones like the Aichi targets, but sticks
> nonetheless.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Julian Hyde
> > General Manager
> > Reef Check Malaysia
> > 03 2161 5948
> > www.reefcheck.org.my
> > Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rcmalaysia
> >
> > HEARD A FISH BOMB? TEXT US AT 011 2532 7368 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 Steve
> > Mussman
> > Sent: Thursday, 26 March, 2015 2:54 AM
> > To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > Subject: [Coral-List] Reassessing Coral Reefs
> >
> >
> >   Dear Listers,
> >
> >   I'm working with others to try and encourage the scuba diving industry
> to
> >   get more proactive
> >   with regard to it's policies on coral reef conservation. As you
> > know, there
> >   has been no progress
> >   within the industry on addressing climate change.. That issue is and
> has
> >   been a non-starter for
> >   years. Now the question arises as to whether or not to even focus on
> that
> >   concern going forward.
> >   Many of you seem to be resigned to the fact that that ship has already
> >   sailed. Recent comments seem
> >   to indicate a shift in focus from avoidance to mitigation and
> > adjustment to
> >   a new reality which envisions
> >   coral reefs as a manifestation of the concept of "novel ecosystems".
> > If that
> >   is in fact the case, on what
> >   issues should the industry be focusing if and when it ever becomes
> > willing
> >   to become seriously involved
> >   in developing effective measures designed to conserve the reefs of
> > tomorrow
> >   whatever their composition
> >   may be? Do we shift entirely to land-based pollutants, sedimentation
> and
> >   over-fishing or do we continue
> >   to press for action or at least policy objectives related to
> > sustainability
> >   and carbon emissions? I need input.
> >   Contact  me  off-list  if necessary, but exchanging ideas openly seems
> >   appropriate and even beneficial.
> >   It would certainly be refreshing to witness a free flow of ideas.
> >
> >   Regards,
> >   Steve
> > _______________________________________________
> > Coral-List mailing list
> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
> >
> >
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> End of Coral-List Digest, Vol 79, Issue 30
> ******************************************
>



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*Chloe Harvey*
*Programmes Manager*
The Reef-World Foundation
Green Fins International Coordinators
Mobile: *+44 (0)7967 377 982*



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developing coastal resources, particularly coral reefs and related
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