[Coral-List] NOAA plan to save coral reefs

[Eugene Shinn]

Mike, You always manage the hit the nail on the head.I certainly agree 
with your assessment. I recently used the term double edge sword and 
took a lot of flack for it. I remember a letter to the editor I wrote 
more than 35 years ago. That was when the Keys Sanctuary was in its 
youth. I pointed out that on one side of the sword people were blaming 
increasing human population and all the toxins, and sewage they produce 
for reef demise. On the other side of the blade the Sanctuary, which was 
initially hated by most long time Keys residents, was promoting the 
reefs to lure people and divers to the Keys. Now it is about to happen 
all over again. Remember the Sanctuary is part of the department of 
Commerce. They now want to fix up the reefs so they will attract more 
tourist /divers. I saw it all happen in the past and recorded the 
demise. There was little population in the Keys when I began diving 
there in the 1950s. There were no dive shops, no fast food restaurants, 
very few motels, no grocery stores, and only two filling stations 
between Homestead and Key West. People depended on rainwater cisterns 
and what they could squeeze from the 12-inch water line that was built 
to supply water to the Navy in Key West. In those days one might get a 
trickle of water for a shower in the few motels that existed back 
then.Then came the 36-inch water line under the Carter administration 
and things took off aided by a 25-year stretch with no significant 
hurricanes.The keys have it all now including an over abundance of 
people.One can be assured that once the coral transplanting begins there 
will be glowing reports of success along with a plethora of new 
regulations. On the other side of the blade we will be learning more 
about coral physiology. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Gene

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No Rocks, No Water, No Ecosystem (EAS)
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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
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