Coral reefs coming back from the dead
Perceptive Travel reports that efforts to re-seed dying coral reefs are performing better than anyone dared hope. This is the best news I've had this season -- I've been convinced that the reefs would all be dead before my daughter was old enough to dive them.
Link (Thanks, Marilyn!)On land, EcoReefs look attractive but artificial, like contemporary sculpture. Nearly two years later, they're something else entirely: a hybrid of technology and organic life, like Jeff Goldblum at the end of The Fly. Their antler-shaped arms are covered with baby corals and sponges, more varieties than I can count. Parrotfish, Moorish idols and clownfish have set up shop beneath their limbs; two tiger cowries nestle near one's center.
One of the techniques used to jump-start growth on the EcoReefs was "coral tranplants." Chunks of loose coral were physically attached to the EcoReefs with little plastic ties. Oddly, those modules have done no better than the ones left to their own devices. No one knows why; perhaps corals, like delicate houseplants, favor a specific angle to the sun. When that orientation is lost, the polyps wallow in confusion...
In my early days as a diver I'd heard that damaged reefs would take a century to re-grow. It's mind-boggling to see how fast these corals are returning. Moore has a lot of faith in his reefs--"If we build them, they will come"--but this growth would probably exceed his wildest dreams.
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lord I hope so, one of the finest things a human can do is free dive for your dinner...........
Long Live the Uplifted Reef!
The dying coral reefs was one of the main reasons I got my oldest daughter certified at the youngest age possible (10).
Yes, yes I know. It's dangerous, she could get hurt/killed. She is probably not equipped to handle an underwater emergency.
She swims, rides horses, plays soccer and attends tumbling class. Any one of those activites could also hurt/kill her. No one is ready for an underwater emergency until they actually have one. The pay off of diving is much greater than the payoff from diving.
I've been a diver for 20 years. The best dive I have ever been on was the first openwater dive with my daughter. Holding her hand as we swam underwater and she witnessed the beauty is something I'll cherish until I die.
It was at San Pedro, Belize. The same place I had my first open water dive 20 years ago.
Hooray for the good guys.
Beautiful!
See also: story in today's NY Times about how artificial reefs off the coast of Delaware made from decommissioned NYC subway cars are so successful people are starting to fight over them.
Somehow, some way, someone will use this piece of news for anti-alarmist sentiment.
Looks like this article dates back to 2005. A little more info available here - http://www.seacology.org/projects/individualprojects/INDON_bunaken2004.htm - does anyone know how well the project is doing 4 years after beginning??