[Coral-List] snorkelers and divers

Mon Sep 26 08:39:45 EDT 2016

I’m not sure if I missed something speed-reading through this topic, on the idea that it is challenging to collect direct user-fees for visitors to MPAs/coral reefs? So might not be a great approach?
I can’t imagine a business surviving whose philosophy is that it is difficult to collect payment for services rendered. No wonder nature is in such bad state if this is how we think about its management, vis a vis the companies who are extremely good at getting consumers to pay for goods they’ve extracted from the commons.
Gate fees, extraction licences, polluter-pays, taxes, p ayment for ecosystems goods and services, etc should be the cornerstone of nature management/resource use - so focusing on the many ways people have succeeded in getting this done should be a major focus for discussion?
best, David

CORDIO East Africa
#9 Kibaki Flats, Kenyatta Beach, Bamburi Beach
P.O.BOX 10135 Mombasa 80101, Kenya
www.cordioea.net ; Email: dobura at cordioea.net [dobura at cordioea.net] ; davidobura at gmail.com [davidobura at gmail.com]
Mobile: +254-715 067417 [tel:+254-715 067417] ; skype dobura; Twitter @dobura
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Today's Topics:

1. Acoustics as MPAs? therapist: Listening to the coral reef to
know its condition. (C?cile Berthe)
2. snorkelers and divers (Eugene Shinn)
3. some good coral news (BRUCE CARLSON)
4. Re: snorkelers and divers (Melbourne Briscoe)
5. Re: snorkelers and divers (HARDCASTLE James)
6. Re: SPAM R2: Re: snorkelers and divers (Julian)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2016 07:09:44 -1000
From: C?cile Berthe <cecile.berthe at criobe.pf>
Subject: [Coral-List] Acoustics as MPAs? therapist: Listening to the
coral reef to know its condition.
To: Coral List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Message-ID:
<CABDCYGob4o37o2Qk=hkuowd65-4T5DZzDQykusNZ8y54ZKoXQQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Dear Listers,

We are honored to share with you the results of our recent study on AMP and
Marine Acoustics, subject of a scientific publication in Scientific Report
that is in OPEN ACESS (Bertucci, F. et al Acoustic cues provide information
on the status of coral reefs. An example from Moorea Island in the South
Pacific. Sci Rep 6, 33326; doi:10.1038 / srep33326 (2016)).

Coral reefs are among the most diverse and complex ecosystems (marine and
terrestrial alike) in the world. Yet, only 2.1% are preserved by Marine
Protected Areas (MPAs). Face to rapid global changes, it is essential to
establish MPAs in coral reefs with efficient management tools able to
measure quickly and on a large spatial scale degradation rate and / or
resilience of such protected environments. In this context, a study led by
researchers from CRIOBE (Insular Research Center and Environment
Observatory, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD) and the University of Li?ge was born
on the island of Moorea, French Polynesia, a.k.a. the most studied island
in the world. Their questioning was: can we use underwater acoustics to
determine environment biodiversity? Terrestrial studies have shown that
degraded forests had a less varied "acoustic landscape" due to altered
animal communities. Can we apply this concept of "soundscape" in the marine
environment? And if so, can it bring information on the health of coral
reefs?

Fr?d?ric Bertucci, who conducted the study as part of his post-doctorate at
CRIOBE (funded by the Total Foundation) decrypts: "Recent studies provided
audio description of different marine environments worldwide. In Moorea, we
have also been able to describe the acoustic signatures of different types
of habitats of the lagoon from the reef crest to the coast. The problem
remained to apply this concept to one type of habitat which may have
different states, more or less degraded. Differences should be more subtle,
but if they exist, and if they are related to the condition of the milieu,
then sound could be used over a long term monitoring and conservation
efforts." To listen to the coral reef of Moorea, the researchers placed
hydrophones at different locations on the outer slope of the island, half
of the instruments in MPAs, the other half in unprotected areas. Audio
monitoring lasted four months and demonstrated that a reef with a strong
coral cover was louder than a degraded reef. Similarly, sites with greater
biodiversity produced more varied soundscapes..

This research opens a new way of observing the underwater environment,
combining two key elements (sound level and complexity) and demonstrates
two things: yes, underwater acoustics can be used to determine the state of
an environment. And yes, Marine Protected Areas are effective in Moorea!
Indeed, the audio monitoring, carried out in four MPAs of the island and
four non-protected areas, clearly made it possible to differentiate the
two. MPAs of Moorea having a higher biodiversity thanks to their healthy
coral cover were the noisiest areas. The future of acoustic monitoring in
coral reef environment seems promising!

*SCIENCE CONTACT(S)*

Fr?d?ric BERTUCCI (Perpignan, France) :

Tel: +33 6 64 35 36 31 | fred.bertucci at gmail.com

David LECCHINI (Moorea, Polyn?sie fran?aise) :

Tel: +689 40 56 13 45 | lecchini at univ-perp.fr

*PRESS CONTACTS*

C?cile Berthe (French Polynesia) | cecile.berthe at criobe.pf

Jeanine Almany (Perpignan ? France) | jeanine.almany at univ-perp.fr

-----------------------------------------
*C?cile BERTHE*
Communication CRIOBE
Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL"
Tel : (+689) 40 56 13 45
Port : (+689) 87 31 05 54

-----------------------------------------

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2016 15:23:33 -0400
From: Eugene Shinn <eugeneshinn at mail.usf.edu>
Subject: [Coral-List] snorkelers and divers
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Message-ID: <a4cc92f1-09b7-b644-1581-7227c8741c1b at mail.usf.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

The kind remarks about my look back at the past regarding snorkels and
scuba were greatly appreciated. One may wonder why many of us early
divers (in the 1950s) resisted snorkels so strongly. In those days
spearfishing was the main reason people got into the water. At the time
breath-holding spearfishing contests were popular and sponsored by the
AAU(Amateur Athletic Union}. They hosted spearfishing contests at both
State and National levels. Contests continued into the 1960s when
killing fish for sport began losing popularity. Underwater photography
had not yet caught on and few people in Florida, other than Jerry
Greenberg, could afford underwater cameras (he produced and sold Sea
Hawk housings for the Argus C3 35mm camera). Spearfishing remained king
and a young diver could make money selling speared fish to fish markets
and restaurants in the Miami area. And don?t forget lobster, which
brought more money than fish (as much as 25 cents/lb. while fish like
grouper and snapper garnered 15 to 20 cents/lb.

Two to three person teams in a 15 to 20 foot outboard boat generally did
most of the spearfishing back then. Communication was key to efficiency.
We divers could talk to each other when we surfaced for air. That was
when your ears were out of the water. Often someone using a snorkel
would be invited along but once they left the boat and their ears
submerged they were in another world and communication ceased. When they
swam off with their ears underwater we wasted a lot of time yelling to
get them back when it was time to pull the anchor. In a spearfishing
contest it was especially important for the team to communicate. As we
got older and smarter we eventually discovered how much energy was saved
using a snorkel. Ah the good ole days when reef fish were abundant.
Ironically we blamed the hook and line fishermen when fish began to
decline.We now know that fish in Florida had already begun to decline
before spearfishing became popular. For an amazing and interesting look
at Florida fishing in the 1930s and 40s read ?Son of the Sea? by Gilbert
Voss (University Press of Florida). His posthumous book was published
earlier this year. And yes, I was a reviewer. Gene

--

No Rocks, No Water, No Ecosystem (EAS)
------------------------------------ -----------------------------------
E. A. Shinn, Courtesy Professor
University of South Florida
College of Marine Science Room 221A
140 Seventh Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
<eugeneshinn at mail.usf.edu>
Tel 727 553-1158
---------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2016 09:40:21 -1000
From: BRUCE CARLSON <exallias2 at gmail.com>
Subject: [Coral-List] some good coral news
To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov list"
<coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Message-ID: <836A6C4E-8851-4C71-BEC3-A2C8C67FCAD7 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

?Blue Acropora of Mane Island?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjYxrrZAdNo

With all the gloom and doom about coral bleaching the past two years, I would like to share a good news video story about one coral colony that my wife and I have been observing periodically over the past 23 years in the Solomon Islands. We went back to the Solomons last December and snorkeled over to this reef with some trepidation wondering if the reefs in this area had succumbed to the recent world-wide bleaching events. Fortunately, this reef was unaffected. In fact, we saw no evidence of bleaching anywhere in the Solomon of December 2015.

This short video is partly a story about this particular colony of Acropora yongei, but I also realized when I was viewing the video that there was another embedded story. I set up the GoPro 4 camera and just let it run recording 4K video. At first, there are only a few fish in the scene, but within a few minutes both the number of species and biomass of fishes increases significantly. I counted 36 species and later in the last frame I found one more making the fish tally 37 species. That is a lot of species captured in one small ?window?. The list of species appears at the end of the video.

Who knows how long these Solomon Island reefs will continue to persist, but at least for now they are thriving.

Bruce

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2016 20:35:41 -0400
From: "Melbourne Briscoe" <Mel at briscoe.com>
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] snorkelers and divers
To: "'Ed Blume'" <eblume2702 at gmail.com>, "'Coral-List Subscribers'"
<coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Message-ID: <29a501d21469$4036cae0$c0a460a0$@Briscoe.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Buddy Dive resort in Bonaire already adds $1/day to one's resort costs to give to the Coral Restoration Foundation. You can opt out when you get your bill. I don't think anyone does.

-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov [mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Ed Blume
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 10:46
To: Coral-List Subscribers <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] snorkelers and divers

Could dive operators ask each diver to contribute $1 per dive voluntarily to a marine conservation organization? The operator would collect the contributions and send them on. Would divers rebel? Would the operator lose business? I'd think that it could work.

Ed Blume
?Diver and ocean enthusiast?

?Madison, WI?

On Tue, Sep 20, 2016 at 6:28 AM, Steve Mussman <sealab at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Dear Gene,
> Most scuba divers receive little snorkeling training these days and
> although some enlightened instructors might mention Oxybenzone,
> lionfish and trash, major coral reef threats such as land-based
> pollutants, over-fishing and climate change are rarely introduced.
> Talk about addressing climate change at a gathering of diving
> professionals here in the US will get you nothing but a heated debate.
> Unfortunately, industry leaders seem unmoved by the current level of
> scientific consonance and therefore do nothing to change the paradigm.
> Regards,
> Steve
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> > On Sep 19, 2016, at 10:35 AM, Eugene Shinn
> > <eugeneshinn at mail.usf.edu>
> wrote:
> >
> > Whats the big deal? Don't scuba divers start by learning to snorkel
> > first? Maybe we should be asking which group is using the most
> > sunscreen containing coral-killing Oxybenzone as the primary
> > ingredient. Gene
> >
> > --
> >
> >
> > No Rocks, No Water, No Ecosystem (EAS)
> > ------------------------------------
> > -----------------------------------
> > E. A. Shinn, Courtesy Professor
> > University of South Florida
> > College of Marine Science Room 221A
> > 140 Seventh Avenue South
> > St. Petersburg, FL 33701
> > <eugeneshinn at mail.usf.edu>
> > Tel 727 553-1158
> > ----------------------------------
> > -----------------------------------
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Coral-List mailing list
> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>
> _______________________________________________
> Coral-List mailing list
> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>
_______________________________________________
Coral-List mailing list
Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2016 06:59:34 +0000
From: HARDCASTLE James <James.HARDCASTLE at iucn.org>
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] snorkelers and divers
To: Ed Blume <eblume2702 at gmail.com>, Coral-List Subscribers
<coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Message-ID:
<94EFC2189BCB0446BA730F32CB65B88A018920D27F at chglmx01.IUCN.SYS>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Hi Ed,

Lots of studies on user fees for MPAs, especially in Caribbean, but none so recent (?). Complexities in governance and collection of fees for direct resourcing of MPAs are key challenges. A global fund idea could work if it had all relevant players behind it, and a good financial vehicle already in place. But then you get into a whole new set of issues - who is eligible to receive funds, how are they tracked, does the company now expect any access or user rights, do the divers feel they have 'done their part' and forego other conservation actions or investments.

In Palau, the 'Green Fee' is a flat rate collected per entry to the country, regardless of dives or nor. The funds go to the Micronesia Conservation Trust towards implementing island, marine and coastal conservation activities.

As to snorkelers, I visited Hanauma bay this month, near Honolulu, Hawai'i. It is intensely visited and snorkelled. The reef was in a poor state, visibility low, but because it is not fished, there are some very large, colourful characters (usual common suspects ie wrasse, parrotfish, moray, chaets etc, Chelonia). The enthusiasm and dedication was tangible from the many first-time and low frequency snorkelers, young and old, from many nationalities. A fee is collected and everyone has to watch a video and take a briefing, which is great. Very easy watching, but educational. The visitor centre is also top-notch.

The website http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/oahu/beaches/hanauma-bay/ says 'get there early' as the water will cloud up once many people are already there...!

3,000 per day is not good news at all for the reef; but the educational impact, providing a reef experience, instilling some value and understanding, is likely quite high. Millions per year go away with a reef experience they can treasure.

Unfortunately, I also asked about sunscreen, as there is no information provided to visitors about the potential impacts on the reef. I was informed (by a volunteer) that they are aware, but "this is the tropics, we value the health and safety of our people first".

Not the answer I wished. Of course, people need to be protected from the sun, but there are many ways to reduce the impacts by advising people to:

- cover up main parts of body with suitable protective clothing (they sell 'rashies' in the gift shop)
- check the contents of their creams and not to choose those with the nasty O word in the ingredients
- consider sun blocks where possible instead of screens
- apply well in advance of hitting the beach, and rub in completely, so it doesn't instantly wash-off....(I saw one guy completely caked from top to toe, bar his speedos; he left a milky wake for a hundred yards).
- cover exposed skin while on the beach, re-apply where needed before going in the water.
- research alternatives for next trip (ie aspirin, other remedies and creams)

This being US, the choice of hazardous sunscreens on the shelves is alarming, but again, the gift shop could provide an approved sunscreen for sale.

In short, somewhere like Hanauma bay is ideal for educating snorkelers, providing a safe reef experience.

Similar example in Europe is Cerbere-Banyuls in French Mediterranean, with a marked snorkel safari trail that 'sacrifices' a portion of the shore and reef, while the 99% of the bay is generally unsnorkeled. The educational value is significant and has won plaudits across the region. The site is one of the first IUCN Green List MPAs.

Em tasol,

James

-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov [mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Ed Blume
Sent: 21 September 2016 16:46
To: Coral-List Subscribers
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] snorkelers and divers

Could dive operators ask each diver to contribute $1 per dive voluntarily to a marine conservation organization? The operator would collect the contributions and send them on.. Would divers rebel? Would the operator lose business? I'd think that it could work.

Ed Blume
?Diver and ocean enthusiast?

?Madison, WI?

On Tue, Sep 20, 2016 at 6:28 AM, Steve Mussman <sealab at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Dear Gene,
> Most scuba divers receive little snorkeling training these days and
> although some enlightened instructors might mention Oxybenzone,
> lionfish and trash, major coral reef threats such as land-based
> pollutants, over-fishing and climate change are rarely introduced.
> Talk about addressing climate change at a gathering of diving
> professionals here in the US will get you nothing but a heated debate.
> Unfortunately, industry leaders seem unmoved by the current level of
> scientific consonance and therefore do nothing to change the paradigm.
> Regards,
> Steve
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> > On Sep 19, 2016, at 10:35 AM, Eugene Shinn
> > <eugeneshinn at mail.usf.edu>
> wrote:
> >
> > Whats the big deal? Don't scuba divers start by learning to snorkel
> > first? Maybe we should be asking which group is using the most
> > sunscreen containing coral-killing Oxybenzone as the primary
> > ingredient. Gene
> >
> > --
> >
> >
> > No Rocks, No Water, No Ecosystem (EAS)
> > ------------------------------------
> > -----------------------------------
> > E. A. Shinn, Courtesy Professor
> > University of South Florida
> > College of Marine Science Room 221A
> > 140 Seventh Avenue South
> > St. Petersburg, FL 33701
> > <eugeneshinn at mail.usf.edu>
> > Tel 727 553-1158
> > ----------------------------------
> > -----------------------------------
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Coral-List mailing list
> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>
> _______________________________________________
> Coral-List mailing list
> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>
_______________________________________________
Coral-List mailing list
Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list

________________________________

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------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2016 19:36:39 +0800
From: "Julian" <julian at reefcheck.org.my>
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] SPAM R2: Re: snorkelers and divers
To: "'Melbourne Briscoe'" <Mel at briscoe.com>, "'Ed Blume'"
<eblume2702 at gmail.com>, "'Coral-List Subscribers'"
<coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Message-ID: <016f01d214c5$9aa43010$cfec9030$@org.my>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Anyone who wants to can do this. When I run my centre we used to put aside RM 10 (approx US$2.5) from every customer into a fund for things like paying for petrol for fishing net clearing that we did, stuff like that (filling the boat with petrol was an expensive business!!). We asked everyone to sign a book acknowledging their contribution - and most people matched it with at least another RM 10 of their own. It was a way to put a bit of money aside to pay for the little bits of conservation we did off our own initiative, without having to pay for it all at once from daily cash flow. Went down well with pretty much everyone, as evidenced by the number of people who matched what we were putting into the fund.

Julian Hyde

-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov [mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Melbourne Briscoe
Sent: Thursday, 22 September, 2016 8:36 AM
To: 'Ed Blume'; 'Coral-List Subscribers'
Subject: SPAM R2: Re: [Coral-List] snorkelers and divers

Buddy Dive resort in Bonaire already adds $1/day to one's resort costs to give to the Coral Restoration Foundation. You can opt out when you get your bill. I don't think anyone does.

-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov [mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Ed Blume
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 10:46
To: Coral-List Subscribers <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] snorkelers and divers

Could dive operators ask each diver to contribute $1 per dive voluntarily to a marine conservation organization? The operator would collect the contributions and send them on.. Would divers rebel? Would the operator lose business? I'd think that it could work.

Ed Blume
?Diver and ocean enthusiast?

?Madison, WI?

On Tue, Sep 20, 2016 at 6:28 AM, Steve Mussman <sealab at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Dear Gene,
> Most scuba divers receive little snorkeling training these days and
> although some enlightened instructors might mention Oxybenzone,
> lionfish and trash, major coral reef threats such as land-based
> pollutants, over-fishing and climate change are rarely introduced.
> Talk about addressing climate change at a gathering of diving
> professionals here in the US will get you nothing but a heated debate.
> Unfortunately, industry leaders seem unmoved by the current level of
> scientific consonance and therefore do nothing to change the paradigm.
> Regards,
> Steve
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> > On Sep 19, 2016, at 10:35 AM, Eugene Shinn
> > <eugeneshinn at mail.usf.edu>
> wrote:
> >
> > Whats the big deal? Don't scuba divers start by learning to snorkel
> > first? Maybe we should be asking which group is using the most
> > sunscreen containing coral-killing Oxybenzone as the primary
> > ingredient. Gene
> >
> > --
> >
> >
> > No Rocks, No Water, No Ecosystem (EAS)
> > ------------------------------------
> > -----------------------------------
> > E. A. Shinn, Courtesy Professor
> > University of South Florida
> > College of Marine Science Room 221A
> > 140 Seventh Avenue South
> > St. Petersburg, FL 33701
> > <eugeneshinn at mail.usf.edu>
> > Tel 727 553-1158
> > ----------------------------------
> > -----------------------------------
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Coral-List mailing list
> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>
> _______________________________________________
> Coral-List mailing list
> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>
_______________________________________________
Coral-List mailing list
Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list

_______________________________________________
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 97, Issue 19
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