[Coral-List] Long term monitoring of negative impacts caused by dredging operations and other unsustainable development

Mon Oct 16 15:30:19 UTC 2023

Thanks, Steven, for you explanation: "The question of what kind of
mitigation activities are best-suited is a separate topic, but outplanting
large numbers of corals that have low survivorship off the Miami coast
would not be at the top of my list - and I'm generally an advocate for
conducting coral outplanting. I served on the board of directors of the
Coral Restoration Foundation for many years and chaired their science
advisory committee.".

We transparently advocate for coral reefs worldwide. Our Science of Loss
Program is based on the application of transdisciplinary science monitoring
in the long term, coral reef case studies that had and still are having
negative effects from environmental impacts such as unstable deposits of
sediments from dredging, enlargement of channels and ports, sewage pipe
leaking, massive transportation, other local and international pollution
that cause biodiversity loss.

In the case of Port of Miami, we got chronological reports from Miami
Keepers describing initial explotions to break hard bottom in the dredging
operation area. Also a report from Dr. William Precht ( He told us will
publish it soon) about a leaking pipe close to the first sighting of SCTLD.
As well as the increase in cruises frequency and passenger numbers.
Scientific publications about polluted ballast water and the outbreak of
the coral disease in the whole Caribbean Region. The most recent report was
the NOAA s 2023, report that includes in it's text that the dredging
operation maybe related to the SCTLD emergence.

All the Best,

NOHORA GALVIS
ICRS World Reef Award Winner
International Coral Reef Observatory, ICRO Director
Follow us on Facebook ICROBSERVATORY
Twitter /instagram/ YouTube ICR_OBSERVATORY

El sábado, 14 de octubre de 2023, Steven L Miller <smiller52 at gmail.com>
escribió:

> Hi Nohora
>
> Just to you. A cautionary note because I don't want to make a big deal of
> things on the Coral List-Server. I'm not trying to out-duel you in public.
> I sincerely believe in more personal communication.
>
> It's clear to me that you lead with advocacy. We need advocates. However,
> scientists need to be constrained by the truth. If not, then we become like
> every other agency representative or NGO who can speak freely without
> accountability. Scientists are fortunate that they often get a seat at the
> stakeholder table when big projects are evaluated, like dredging. But it's
> just one seat. When we are at our best we are viewed as honest brokers who
> use science to support our views. Otherwise, we are just like everyone else
> with their opinions. Therefore, as I said in my previous post, best
> practices are sometimes all we can hope for when projects with huge
> economic consequences are conducted near coral reefs.
>
> Regarding Port Miami, my view is that it's a huge distraction. Not too
> long ago state employees in Florida could not use the words climate change
> in their reports or public presentations. Thus, dredging became an easy
> target where those who had environmental concerns could focus. The bar was
> set so low that NGOs and government agencies battled to protect low relief
> hard-bottoms. These hard-bottoms are not close to what the public would
> consider a coral reef. Still, I would advocate that monitoring is needed to
> evaluate dredge impacts on corals so appropriate mitigation costs can be
> determined. The question of what kind of mitigation activities are
> best-suited is a separate topic, but outplanting large numbers of corals
> that have low survivorship off the Miami coast would not be at the top of
> my list - and I'm generally an advocate for conducting coral outplanting. I
> served on the board of directors of the Coral Restoration Foundation for
> many years and chaired their science advisory committee.
>
> I care about coral reefs. I know that you do too. If Port Miami dumped
> dredge materials on Looe Key Reef or Molasses Reef, then are views would
> likely align.
>
> Best Regards
>
> Steven
>
>
>
>
> On 10/14/23 8:07 AM, International Coral Reef Observatory wrote:
>
> Dear Steven,
>
> Great to have made you smile and to know you are an academic person.
> Because you did not have a signature in your first message and you were
> supporting the point of view of EIA performed by restoration practitioners,
> it was possible to confuse you with Steven Miller (smiller at dredge.com).
> According to your message, we both perhaps have a bias. Mine is on
> effective coral reef conservation. I simply can not agree with the
> scientists that say that they can not ask for alternatives only before the
> megaprojects, they should be allowed passively to study what is going to be
> destroyed.
>
> Dredging is happening everywhere in the world even in coral reef protected
> areas and then blaming only climate change and investing all the
> environmental costs in restoration practices but very little in avoiding
> local and global causes of habitat and ecosystems destruction, pollution
> and biodiversity loss.
>
> Priorities should be clear according to the objectives of conservation or
> development. We can not have beautiful healthy coral reefs in sanctuaries
> and other marine protected areas if not focus in avoiding massive tourism
> (e.g. cruises in key West) Or the coral reef futures goal is to become all
> ports close to coral reefs (Florida Keys) and coral habitats (Biscayne Bay)
> like this https://twitter.com/PortMiami/status/1709969713613209742
>
> NOHORA GALVIS
> ICRS World Reef Award Winner
> International Coral Reef Observatory, ICRO Director
> Follow us on Facebook ICROBSERVATORY
> Twitter /instagram/ YouTube ICR_OBSERVATORY
>
> El vie, 13 oct 2023 a las 12:49, Steven L Miller (<smiller52 at gmail.com>)
> escribió:
>
>> Dear Nohora
>>
>> Oh my. You made me smile this morning.
>>
>> It's human nature I guess to make assumptions. In this case, maybe some
>> confirmation bias too?
>>
>> Just to be clear, I am not the Steve Miller you addressed in your last
>> post. I am not the Regional Sales Manager for Restoration Dredge, or any
>> other dredge company affiliation.
>>
>> Here's my contact information.
>>
>> Steven Miller, Ph.D.
>>
>> Senior Research Scientist
>>
>> Nova Southeastern University
>>
>> https://works.bepress.com/steven-miller/?_aiid=12167
>>
>> https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=1QLmgmQAAAAJ
>>
>> My career spans the time from when coral reef research was not dominated
>> by monitoring, but instead was defined by experimental ecology, to where
>> we are today - catastrophic decline.
>>
>> Related to your post, what you call a coral reef adjacent to Port Miami
>> is instead a naturally occurring hardbottom characterized by extremely
>> low coral cover. The area is also subjected to major human-caused
>> modifications that started over 120 years ago when dramatic shoreline
>> modifications began in south Miami, including development of the port.
>>
>> My point is, pick your battles. Damage caused by Port Miami dredging was
>> a fly-speck compared to losses elsewhere in Florida from global warming.
>> However, Port Miami dredging was an easy target that allowed local
>> groups and agencies to solicit public sympathy and funding. That's why
>> the science matters. It also matters how the science is communicated.
>>
>> Please don't get me wrong. I am not advocating for unconstrained
>> dredging. Instead, best-practices are called for in terms of how
>> dredging is conducted, scientific monitoring is performed to evaluate
>> damages, mitigation costs are derived, and ultimately what restoration
>> activities arise.
>>
>> If you want to discuss further, please contact me at smiller52 at gmail.com
>> or smiller at nova.edu.
>>
>> Best Regards
>>
>> Steven
>>
>>