[Coral-List] Take care in making attributions on the trigger for SCTLD

[Steve Mussman]

Dear Nohora,

It seems that two conflicting narratives are developing here.

I would argue that, (like the comic strip character Pogo), you have clearly identified the (right) enemy . . . and he is us.

Are “environmental crusaders”, those who want to directly confront the myriad of local and global stressors you mentioned promoting their agenda just to raise money and to make their funders feel good? Or have those questionable motives become the provenance of overzealous restoration advocates who would have us believe that the right way forward is to focus on attempts to offset environmental degradation by outplanting genetically modified corals specifically designed to withstand any and all of the inevitable insults that we insist on continuing to heap upon coral reefs with impunity?

I’d like to think that both sides are motivated by unassailable ideals, but I can’t help but conclude that the focus on restoration and the development of “super corals” in response to the demise of the world’s coral reefs is especially good news for one particular constituency - those who are intent on maintaining a business as usual approach.

Regards,

Steve Mussman

On 3/8/23, 3:52 PM, International Coral Reef Observatory via Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:

Thanks Leslie for your caution that adds perfectly to the necessary

discussion. Let me take the opportunity to greet all female coral listers

on the International Women's Day.

Great to underline the courage that some conservationists have shown.

Perhaps calling them "environmental crusaders" is a compliment to the

people that care about coral reef conservation. Some people need to walk

the extra mile to improve it, even if money is not buying their

consciences.

Optimistic or Pessimistic perspectives separately will not improve

conservation effectiveness if the "real enemy" is not acknowledged, ALL the

potential causes should be addressed as a precautionary principle. We can

look at a coral colony being infected by SCTLD in the first stages and say

that it is half healthy or half sick but the fact is that it is in a

process of degradation that compromises the integrity of the whole

ecosystem !! https://www.instagram.com/p/B_AC_Qvj5vt/

Nine years from the appearance of SCTLD in the reports with a specific

location in the Caribbean Sea and multiple scientists dedicated to study of

SCTLD, but interesting enough, the "right enemy" has not been identified

within the dates (2013- 2015 Dredging operation), perhaps exactly the

enemy, it is the $$$ that funds megaprojects on coral reef areas and hires

with confidential contracts to deviate attention from potential local

causes that justify outbreak factors and epidemics pathways.

Of course, it is vague to blame Climate Change so it is convenient. I

agree, it always has a component to influence outbreaks too. Thus, there is

nothing to stop specifically anywhere or change specifically as it is a

global problem and the blue economy is funding coral restoration to "save

coral reefs".

Overpopulation in a coral reef area, leaking of pollution e.g. sewage,

import of aquaria, silting and destruction of coral reefs have become

scientifically accepted...with the good news that genetically, someday will

be possible to create super corals that will survive any kind of local or

global threats without any need for changing human behavior or

improving decision making!!

All the best,

Nohora Galvis

Expert in Transdisciplinary research to improve coral reef conservation

effectiveness

ICRO, International Coral Reef Observatory.

Follow us on Facebookcom/ICRObservatory

Instagram, Twitter and Twitter ICR_Observatory

El mar, 7 mar 2023 a las 7:20, Kaufman, Leslie S via Coral-List (<

coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>) escribió:

> > Regarding the origin of SCTLD, it is important to keep things in

> perspective. The notion that sediment disturbance could have triggered the

> coral disease syndrome SCTLD is a valid if yet unproven hypothesis. For

> Port of Miami, so is the possibility of SCTLD being launched by the Miami

> sewer outfall and Miami River. There may be other hypotheses as well. The

> evidence is not nearly conclusive as yet in support of any particular

> hypothesis. The real issue in Florida is the overall overdevelopment of

> the Kissimee ecosystem from Orlando to Key West, plus the failure to

> adequately consider the environment and marginalized people in development

> plans. There may even be no plan other than get in, suck profits, get out.

> Environmental crusaders should stick with rigor to the data and be careful

> to choose the right enemy, unless the intent is really just to raise money

> to keep crusading. That of course requires a simple story and a singular

> target to make funders feel good.

>

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> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov

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