[Coral-List] algae crowding out corals; =?utf-8?Q?cora=3Dl_?=restoration review

[Steve Mussman]

“ . . . highlighting that coral restoration is likely to continue to fail even at small scales unless climate change and other anthropogenic impacts are urgently reduced”.

Hi Doug,

I would think that the summary’s concluding statement (above) defines the consensus opinion of the coral science community worldwide. So, in that sense, it is hardly a controversial assertion. In light of that, please help me to understand why a scientific discipline would continue focusing on a practice which the science itself has determined is a failed approach under current environmental conditions.

Further to this point, if the only way coral reef restoration can succeed long-term is for anthropogenic impacts to be reduced and if it is true that science follows the science, one would assume that coral scientists would be all in on the need to reduce stressors first and foremost or, at the very least, the coral science community would be emphasizing unequivocally the limits of restoration without a precipitous reduction in what we know to be the major stressors. Without that disclaimer displayed clearly and upfront it comes across as somewhat of a conspiracy in deception.

Here is where it overlaps with David Obura’s call for action. If coral scientists here are reluctant to speak out on climate change and other major stressors, what are the odds that they are willing to stick their necks out even further and advocate for fundamental shifts in the world’s predominant economic system? This, despite the fact that most everyone can see the connection between the need for socio-economic reforms and the future health and wellbeing of the world’s coral reefs.

Warm regards,

Steve Mussman

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On 11/8/23, 11:25 PM, Douglas Fenner via Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:

Algae outbreaks around the world are crowding out corals

Already-stressed reefs face a red menace

https://www.science.org/content/article/algal-outbreaks-around-world-are-crowding-out-corals?utm_source=sfmc

Principles for coral reef restoration in the anthropocene

*SUMMARY: Coral reefs are critically important ecosystems that support

coastal societies and economies throughout the tropical oceans. However,

many of the word’s coral reefs are already seriously degraded, especially

by over-fishing, pollution, and anthropogenic climate change. Consequently,

a resurgence of ecological restoration programs is underway in an attempt

to halt or reverse reef degradation and to develop new approaches in

anticipation of further declines in coming decades. Some forms of

rehabilitation of assemblages of corals may be feasible, affordable, and

ethical—using currently available methods and capabilities—for very small

areas (typically 1 km2 ) of high economic value, such as tourist sites.

However, our review of the current and proposed restoration interventions

indicates that more ambitious outcomes remain elusive and may even be

counter-productive. In light of these challenges, we provide

recommendations and a conceptual framework to guide future restoration

projects and emerging approaches, highlighting that coral restoration is

likely to continue to fail even at small scales unless climate change and

other anthropogenic impacts are urgently reduced.*

https://www.cell.com/one-earth/pdf/S2590-3322(23)00189-6.pdf

open-access

Cheers, Doug

--

Douglas Fenner

Lynker Technologies, LLC, Contractor

NOAA Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office

Honolulu

and:

Coral Reef Consulting

PO Box 997390

Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799-6298 USA

Huge expansion of fossil fuels planned, will be very destructive

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/08/insanity-petrostates-planning-huge-expansion-of-fossil-fuels-says-un-report

"without policy changes, the world will heat up enough by the end of the

century that more than 2 billion people will live in life-threatening hot

climates" Will you be in that area???

https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-sounding-alarm-dangerous-problem-123000792.html

World subsidies for fossil fuels reached an all-time high of over $1

TRILLION in 2022, the last year for which data is available. The subsidies

MUST end.

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/fossil-fuel-subsidies-must-end/

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