I thought some of you (Lee and Wade) might be interested in the following
letter. It's bad news about coral reefs in Florida again. I think you
Floridians should unite against this "dredge - dump" stupidity. Is there any
kind of effort to stop this? I'll bet not, and it will soon be too late for
these reefs. You guys need to wake up!
Also, about Florida... I still have a good chance of being one of the "Too
Many People in Florida". Last week, the supervisor at Dry Tortugas National
Park called my supervisor for a reference!!! I have been waiting, and
hoping, and just going nuts wishing I'd get this job. If they only knew how
much I want that job..... So, take care of my reefs in Florida! I want to
see them like they're meant to be!!! :-))
><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.¸¸><((((º> Brad
,..,.,...,...,.,..,.,.,.,.,...,..,.,,..,,....,,...,.,.,..,.,.,
Coral Bleaching and Disease Affect Broward Reefs
September 21, 2003, Fort Lauderdale, Fl. New outbreaks of coral bleaching
and disease, affecting a major Florida coral reef, are currently underway in
the waters off Broward County. The surveys, conducted by Cry of the Water
and Global Coral Reef Alliance, evaluated the health of over 450 coral
colonies in two separate areas. The reefs in question are some of the best
near shore coral reefs left in North America.
The 9/14/2003 studies found 61.5% of all branching Staghorn coral colonies
were adversely affected by white band diseases (range 55% to 68%), and 48%
of all massive corals were bleached (range 39% to 57%). High water
temperatures (85 degrees F) are the likely cause of bleaching.
In addition to several other coral diseases, the researchers report that
Broward County reefs are overgrown by the slimy cyano-bacterial mats
typically found around sewage outfalls in South Florida. This algae growth
appears to be expanding.
Broward reefs are known to have the largest living stands of the once common
Staghorn coral remaining in the Caribbean region as well as the highest
density of ancient corals in North America. These reefs in front of Fort
Lauderdale are the only reefs in the continental United States that can be
easily reached by swimmers from shore.
Unfortunately, these reefs have never been officially designated as a coral
reef habitat and are legally unprotected and threatened with imminent
extinction from an unwise and short-sighted plan by Broward County to
dump-fill the adjacent beach with dredged sand.
The plan, approved by Governor Bush and the Florida Cabinet, is due to start
immediately after impact assessments on corals at beach dredge-dump projects
in Hollywood and Dania are completed. These reefs have already been largely
killed by mud and sand from repeated previous beach dredge-filling and are
not comparable to the still healthy reefs in front of Fort Lauderdale. The
latter reefs are close to shore and protect the beach and protect the beach
from erosion.
Recent surveys show that the Broward County reefs are threatened by climate
change, diseases, and water quality deterioration, as well as from physical
damage.
We call for immediate monitoring of these Fort Lauderdale reefs for impacts
due to increasing temperature, diseases, water pollution (including
nutrients and bacteria), and turbidity. In addition, we suggest development
of an emergency management plan to protect this last ancient reef, a
priceless national treasure, from being killed by mud and sand dumping. We
also call on all responsible federal, state, county, and municipal
authorities to preserve these reefs for future generations.
For more information please see Broward County Reefs Threatened by Dredging
at www.cryofthewater.org/report%20081301.htm
www.globalcoral.org/News.htm.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Dan Clark, President Tom Goreau, President
Cry of the Water Global Coral Reef
Alliance
P.O. Box 8143 37 Pleasant Street
Coral Springs, FL 33075 Cambridge, MA 0213
www.cryofthewater.org www.globalcoral.org
954-298-9737 617-864-4226
Cry of the Water
P.O. Box 8143
Coral Springs, FL 33075
www.cryofthewater.org
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