[Coral-List] Diver distance from Reef
Steve Mussman
sealab at earthlink.net
Wed Jul 31 11:01:08 EDT 2013
Dear Alex and Julian,
We don't have even a partial disagreement when evaluating the motives
behind the dive industry's apparent lack of concern regarding climate
change and the threat it presents to coral reefs worldwide.
Alex, you must excuse my facetious nature, but our industry's leaders
are likely avoiding the issue for a number of reasons.. Some most certainly
are actual deniers, but others are likely circumventing a forthright
approach in order to appease a significant segment of the diving
public who threaten to become alienated if the industry concedes a point
that for them has become a fundamental tenet at the core of their
political beliefs. You have good reason to be skeptical, but please don't
give up just yet. Perhaps there are ways we can move them forward
before leaving it to the next generation of divers to deal with deficiencies
that after all, evolved and intensified on our watch.
Julian, the scuba industry knows full well how important coral reefs are as
business assets, but they still see the threat as long-term and as we've
seen with the demise of other enterprises, the focus often remains
on short-term goals to the end. It requires real leadership to look ahead,
take risks and stand on principle. And real leadership is exactly what's
lacking.
I believe that the actual resort operators are the key since they are on the
front-line and will be the first to feel the brunt of wide-spread coral reef
degradation. If they just open their eyes, the future is clearly in view and
it's undeniable. They should be leading the charge dragging the
manufacturing sector along kicking and screaming all the way if necessary.
Its true that divers can be a forceful advocacy for marine conservation,
but they are also a reflection of the current political divide. Although
they may appreciate the wonders of the underwater world, many still believe
that climate change is rot with hyperbole, rising CO2 is good, acidification
imaginary and all the science tainted by alarmists. As long as the industry
remains silent, noncommittal and evasive they have reason to be emboldened.
But I have to say that one of the best things about this list is that it
brings otherwise disconnected and diverse people together to share thoughts
and ideas. From the Yucatan to the Florida Keys all the way to
Malaysia, the willingness of so many to keep fighting the good fight,
speaking truth to power continues to reinforce my belief that your
unrelenting efforts will eventually turn the tide. It's good to know that
you're out there.
Regards,
Steve
Steve
-----Original Message-----
>From: Alex Brylske
>Sent: Jul 30, 2013 6:20 PM
>To: Steve Mussman
>Cc: Gregor Hodgson , Georgina Bustamate , Rene Kantun ,
"coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov"
>Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Diver distance from Reef
>
>The very idea that some minimum distance can be set (let alone enforced) to
keep divers away from reefs is absurd, and reflects a complete lack of
understanding of how the resort scuba industry/community operates. Steve's
suggestion that the effort should be placed on training more professional
divemasters is really the only way to achieve the objective of reducing
impact. (Forget changing diver training standards; it will never happen.)
However, several programs to accomplish such a goal have been attempted (an
area in which I have consideration experienceâincluding my own doctoral
dissertation) but have fallen flat on their face, in part, due to
lack-luster support from the diving industry. So, Steve is also spot on
regarding how one can't depend on "training agencies" to developâor more
than tacitly supportâsuch efforts. In my view, government resource managers
have to get involve with the force of law if this issue is to be addressed
effectively. The diving industry is, after all, an industry, and like any
other will always defer to short-term economic considerations. I'd love to
see something like this happen, but I've been involved with the diving
industry at virtually every level since 1971, and I'm certainly not going to
hold my breath. Hopefully, I'm just an old crumudgeonly skeptic and some
Gen-Xer will prove me wrong, so good luck.
>
>But I will somewhat disagree with Steve's point about the industry's
position on climate change. He's right that there is no position, but that's
because some of the most important opinion-makers in the industry are
climate change deniers! Now you perhaps understand why I'm so skeptical.
However, understand that my comments are limited to North American diving
industry. (Unfortunately, the one that still drives international efforts.)
I have little insight into other regions.
>
>Alex Brylske
>
>On Jul 29, 2013, at 8:31 PM, Steve Mussman wrote:
>
>>
>> To all,
>> This thread exposes the practical difficulties inherent in
>> developing protocols designed to protect coral reefs from damage imposed
by
>> divers. I'm not sure that a mandated minimum distance is the best
approach
>> although a suggested range might be recommended.
>> There are several factors to consider in addition to the obvious
>> problems of enforcement that would be central to any strict minimum
distance
>> regulation. Even a two meter limit presents hazards to coral reefs if
divers
>> are incompetent while a skilled diver can hover innocuously at a much
closer
>> range. Photography, lionfish hunting, night diving, caverns and
>> swim-throughs all present additional challenges to strict distance
limits.
>> Based on my experiences, requiring well trained dive masters who
>> can educate, guide and oversee a limited number of divers is the best
>> solution. Dive masters in the Yucatan and other regions are generally
highly
>> motivated, conscientious and truly care about protecting their reefs.
>> Empower them and let them use their own discretion based on an evaluation
of
>> the skill level of individual divers.
>> We certainly can't leave it to the scuba industry. If protecting and
>> conserving coral reefs were a genuine objective dive training agencies
would
>> already be implementing higher standards that require basic education
>> regarding coral reef ecology and advanced buoyancy control before
allowing
>> divers into MPAs. But in the end these forces are more focused on
economic
>> growth and can't be relied upon to effectively address critical
>> environmental issues. One only has to examine the industry's public
position
>> on climate change as it applies to coral reefs to divulge this reality.
Oh
>> wait a minute, they don't have a clearly articulated position on climate
>> change. . . It must not be a threat after all.
>> Regards,
>> Steve Mussman
>> Sea Lab Diving
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Gregor Hodgson
>>> Sent: Jul 27, 2013 1:49 PM
>>> To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov"
>>> Subject: [Coral-List] Diver distance from Reef
>>>
>>> Parks might want to consider a 2 m (or 6 feet) distance from a practical
>>> standpoint. Most divers are about 2 m long (tall) when in the water with
>>> fins but with legs bent, oriented at an angle and not completely
stretched
>>> out. Hence any distance less than that risks bumping into the reef
>>> inadvertently when turning. It might be easier to remember and for
divers
>> to
>>> conceptualize a body length of 2 m than 1.5.
>>>
>>> That being said, a lot of photographers enjoy macro-photography and a
lot
>> of
>>> divers are photographers. By zoning the entire park as 2 m distance
only,
>>> you are excluding macro-photographers. Also lot of dive guides like
showing
>>> small creatures such as anemone shrimp to customers.
>>>
>>> Perhaps there should be a zone where closer observation/photography is
>>> permitted or when a guide is present who can enforce/remind?
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Gregor Hodgson, PhD
>>> Executive Director
>>> Reef Check Foundation
>>> PO Box 1057 (mail)
>>> 17575 Pacific Coast Highway (overnight)
>>> Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 USA
>>> T: 1 310-230-2371 or 2360
>>> Gregorh at reefcheck.org
>>> Skype: gregorh001
>>>
>>>
>>> From:
>>> Reply-To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov"
>>> Date: Saturday, July 27, 2013 9:00 AM
>>> To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov"
>>> Subject: Coral-List Digest, Vol 59, Issue 23
>>>
>>> Send Coral-List mailing list submissions to
>>> coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>>>
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>>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>>> coral-list-request at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>>>
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>>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
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>>> please only include quoted text from prior posts that is necessary to
>>> make your point; avoid re-sending the entire Digest back to the list.
>>>
>>>
>>> Today's Topics:
>>>
>>> 1. Arrecife Alacranes Park manager needs documentation for
>>> proposed regulation re: divers distance from reef (Sustento
>>> t?cnico para regla de buceo en PN Arrecife Alacranes (Mexico):
>>> distancia del buzo al arrecife) (Georgina Bustamante)
>>>
>>>
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>> Message: 1
>>> Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 16:00:49 -0400
>>> From: "Georgina Bustamante"
>>> Subject: [Coral-List] Arrecife Alacranes Park manager needs
>>> documentation for proposed regulation re: divers distance from reef
>>> (Sustento t?cnico para regla de buceo en PN Arrecife Alacranes
>>> (Mexico): distancia del buzo al arrecife)
>>> To: "CaMPAM Forum" , "'coral list'"
>>> , "'Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries
>>> Institute Network'" , "'Bruce Potter at
>>> IRF'" ,
>>>
>>> Message-ID: <09ec01ce8971$aa681260$ff383720$@com>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>>
>>> (My translation to English below)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> El colega Ren? Kant?n, director del Parque Nacional Arrecifes Alacranes,
>>> necesita ayuda para apoyar una nueva regulaci?n en el parque: los
>> buceadores
>>> deben mantener una distancia m?nima de 1.5m del arrecife.
>>>
>>> Favor de leer su mensaje abajo y comunicarse con el si puede ayudarlo.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> GB
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Rene Humberto Kantun Palma [mailto:rkantun at conanp.gob.mx]
>>> Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2013 2:53 PM
>>> To: gbustamante09 at gmail.com
>>> Cc: renekantun at hotmail.com
>>> Subject: RV: Sustento t?cnico para buceo
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Estimada Georgina:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Una disculpa por distraerte de tus m?ltiples ocupaciones.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Te comento que estamos en el proceso de modificaci?n del Programa de
Manejo
>>> del Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes, en el estado de Yucat?n, M?xico;
en
>>> dicho documento estamos proponiendo incorporar como regla
administrativa,
>>> respetar, en las pr?cticas de buceo, una distancia m?nima de 1.5 metros
de
>>> las formaciones coralinas, con objeto de evitar da?os a las mismas.
Hemos
>>> hecho una investigaci?n bibliogr?fica, pero ninguna de las publicaciones
>>> habla fehacientemente que para realizar sustentablemente el buceo se
debe
>>> respetar distancia alguna, solo mencionan buenas pr?cticas y controlar
la
>>> flotabilidad, incluso algunas AMP de M?xico contemplan o proponen
>>> distancias, pero no se?alan metodolog?a alguna para determinarlo, peor
a?n,
>>> proponen distancias diferentes (Sian Ka?an 2.5, Cozumel 1.5, etc.).
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Con base en lo anterior, atentamente te solicito tu apoyo a fin de que a
>>> trav?s de tu red de contactos puedas hacer la respectiva consulta, de lo
>>> cual estoy seguro que algo saldr? en alg?n lugar del mundo, lo que
>> permitir?
>>> fortalecer la propuesta de imponer una distancia m?nima al realizar el
>> buceo
>>> en el PNAA.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Por el amable tiempo de haber revisado el presente correo, te agradezco
>>> infinito y aprovecho para enviarte saludos, con la esperanza que nos
>>> saludemos pronto, quiz?s en M?rida??
>>>
>>> Espero tus comentarios.
>>>
>>> Cordialmente
>>>
>>> RK
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Lic. Ren? H. Kant?n Palma
>>>
>>> Comisi?n Nacional de ?reas Naturales Protegidas
>>>
>>> Director
>>>
>>> Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes
>>>
>>> Reserva de la Biosfera R?a Celest?n
>>>
>>> Calle 18 No, 120 X Av. P?rez Ponce, Col.. Itzimn?
>>>
>>> M?rida, Yucat?n, C.P. 97100
>>>
>>> Tel. 999 938 07 09 / 999 938 07 08
>>>
>>> Ext. 101 y 106
>>>
>>> renekantun at hotmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> La informaci?n que se env?a al destinatario mediante esta
>>> transmisi?n es propiedad exclusiva de la Comisi?n
>>> Nacional de ?reas Naturales Protegidas. Si usted no es el
>>> destinatario de esta informaci?n o si la ha recibido por
>>> error, se le comunica que la copia, distribuci?n,
>>> modificaci?n, retransmisi?n, revelaci?n o uso en cualquier
>>> forma, est? estrictamente prohibida.
>>>
>>> ------------------------
>>>
>>> CaMPAM members,
>>>
>>> Our colleague Rene Kantun, director of Arrecifes de Alacranes NP, need
your
>>> help to Support a proposed regulation: for divers to keep a 1.5m
distance
>>> from the reef.
>>>
>>> Read my English translation of his message below, and contact him if you
>> can
>>> help.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> GB
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Dear Georgina:
>>>
>>> An apology for distracting from your busy schedule.
>>>
>>> We are in the process of modifying the Management Program of Alacranes
>>> Reefs National Park, Yucatan, Mexico. We are proposing to incorporate a
new
>>> regulation on diving practices re: a minimum distance of 1.5 m to coral
>>> formations in order to avoid damage to them. We conducted a literature
>>> search, but none of the publications justifies convincingly the distance
to
>>> be respected, just mention good practice and control buoyancy, even some
of
>>> Mexico AMP (2.5m for Sian Ka'an, 1.5m for Cozumel, etc..).
>>>
>>> Based on the above, I request your support for this query thru your
network
>>> and contacts. I hope something will come out somewhere in the world,
which
>>> will strengthen the proposal to impose minimum distance to make diving
in
>>> the NPAA.
>>>
>>> Thank you ??. hoping to greet us soon, maybe in Merida??
>>> I await your comments.
>>> Cordially
>>> RK
>>>
>>> Lic. Ren? H. Kant?n Palma
>>>
>>> Comisi?n Nacional de ?reas Naturales Protegidas
>>>
>>> Director
>>>
>>> Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes
>>>
>>> Reserva de la Biosfera R?a Celest?n
>>>
>>> Calle 18 No, 120 X Av. P?rez Ponce, Col. Itzimn?
>>>
>>> M?rida, Yucat?n, C.P. 97100
>>>
>>> Tel. 999 938 07 09 / 999 938 07 08
>>>
>>> Ext. 101 y 106
>>>
>>> renekantun at hotmail.com
>>>
>>> ??
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Coral-List mailing list
>>> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>>> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>>>
>>> End of Coral-List Digest, Vol 59, Issue 23
>>> ******************************************
>>>
>>>
>>>
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