[Coral-List] NOAA lists 20 new corals
Steve Mussman
sealab at earthlink.net
Thu Sep 11 10:06:28 EDT 2014
Dear Gene,
I guess that I am guilty of viewing NOAA in a more positive light, but I
don't defend every action taken without consideration. Pesticides and sewage
are part of the problem, but I worry less than you do about sunscreen and
divers urinating in close proximity to the reefs. If the latter ultimately
proves to be a major contributor to the malaise affecting corals I
will forever be burdened with guilt. Until then, what concerns me the most
is the lack of clarity and urgency in the messaging emanating from the
scientific community in response to the assault on coral reefs and
terrestrial ecosystems world-wide. Gene, maybe it is too late, but even if
we had a plan in place that was designed to reverse current trends over the
next 400 years, that would be infinity better than our current state of
inaction and equivocation. In the end whether lawyers or scientists lead the
way is of little consequence, we have got to get moving on this. Science is
about the truth, but we can't wait for every possible factor to be debated
ad nauseum. We have got enough certainty to work with as it is, lets get
going already. Steve
Their proposals, especially those that highlight
problems that do not underpin Keys tourism-based economy and agency
objectives have not been supported. For example: effects of all mosquito
pesticides on coral health, sewage, diver urination, and bleaching
effects of sunscreens to name a few. Sewage has been perceived by many
to harm corals but where are the classic straightforward bioassays to
determine if there are harmful effects? How about sunscreens and the
spraying of toxic pesticides to control mosquitos? (The draft recovery
plan mentions only a single mosquito pesticide, Dibrom.) Clearly a ban
on any one of these substances would have serious economic consequences.
Yes, The Emperor has no Clothes.
Mussman apparently does not want anyone to know the "Emperor has no
Clothes." However, he thinks there is hope for me because I mentioned
climate change----- it might bring me around from the "dark side.." Ummm
I didn't know I was on the dark side! I thought science was all about
truth. If the cause of coral demise really is climate change as the
current bandwagon insists there is little hope for corals. It would
require 50 to 100 years to significantly reduce concentrations in the
environment if all emissions were topped today. But don't worry; the
target time for Acropora recovery in the draft recovery plan is 400
years! You read that right! Listing corals is a very long-term solution.
"The Recovery Team estimated that it will take approximately 400 years
to achieve recovery based on the significant mitigative actions
identified in this plan." Wow! That is encouraging! Elsewhere it says
the purpose is to save the coral so it can be delisted!Tell me a lawyer
didn't write that. Gene
-----Original Message-----
>From: Eugene Shinn
>Sent: Sep 10, 2014 3:22 PM
>To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov"
>Subject: [Coral-List] NOAA lists 20 new corals
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>I wish to thank all who sent positive replies (most are offline) to my
>posting re listing of 20 species and failing condition of Florida coral
>reefs. Online Doug Fenner pointed out that NOAA is under dept. of
>Commerce. Thanks but I have known that ever since NOAA was created. I
>was trying to be subtle. I have a lot of friends at NOAA. I frequently
>point out that many researchers have long thought that an agency with
>regulatory authority that funds research related to that agencies
>mission constitutes a conflict of interest. In this case the agency's
>regulations greatly influence the kind of coral research they support.
>We geologists have been fortunate because geology and mapping has not
>been perceived to conflict with Keys commerce or agency management
>objectives. I remain indebted to NOAA for the funding we received in the
>past to do geology and mapping in the past. I suspect biologists have
>been less fortunate. Their proposals, especially those that highlight
>problems that do not underpin Keys tourism-based economy and agency
>objectives have not been supported. For example: effects of all mosquito
>pesticides on coral health, sewage, diver urination, and bleaching
>effects of sunscreens to name a few. Sewage has been perceived by many
>to harm corals but where are the classic straightforward bioassays to
>determine if there are harmful effects? How about sunscreens and the
>spraying of toxic pesticides to control mosquitos? (The draft recovery
>plan mentions only a single mosquito pesticide, Dibrom.) Clearly a ban
>on any one of these substances would have serious economic consequences.
>Yes, The Emperor has no Clothes.
>
>Mussman apparently does not want anyone to know the "Emperor has no
>Clothes." However, he thinks there is hope for me because I mentioned
>climate change----- it might bring me around from the "dark side." Ummm
>I didn't know I was on the dark side! I thought science was all about
>truth. If the cause of coral demise really is climate change as the
>current bandwagon insists there is little hope for corals. It would
>require 50 to 100 years to significantly reduce concentrations in the
>environment if all emissions were topped today. But don't worry; the
>target time for Acropora recovery in the draft recovery plan is 400
>years! You read that right! Listing corals is a very long-term solution.
>"The Recovery Team estimated that it will take approximately 400 years
>to achieve recovery based on the significant mitigative actions
>identified in this plan." Wow! That is encouraging! Elsewhere it says
>the purpose is to save the coral so it can be delisted!Tell me a lawyer
>didn't write that. Gene
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>
>
>No Rocks, No Water, No Ecosystem (EAS)
>------------------------------------ -----------------------------------
>E. A. Shinn, Courtesy Professor
>University of South Florida
>College of Marine Science Room 221A
>140 Seventh Avenue South
>St. Petersburg, FL 33701
>
>Tel 727 553-1158
>---------------------------------- -----------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>Coral-List mailing list
>Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
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