THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY - IN ONE DIVE
Yesterday, I was honored by Dr. Largo, Chairman of Biology Department, USC to be one of the 16 participants of a special workshop held by NOAA-CRW (National Oceanographic and Athmospheric Administration - Coral Reef Watch). Three scientists from NOAA came all the way from the USA and Australia (Dr. William Skirving, Dr. Scott Heron and Ms. Tyler Christensen) to teach our group on the NOAA Remote Sensing (Satellite) of Coral Reefs technology.
Today, as per request of Dr. Largo, Lapu-Lapu City hosted a dive outing for the NOAA scientists. I thought it would be appropriate to show the group a typical coral reef situation here in Mactan. It so happened that Dr. Largo was interested to find out what the Hadsan Area of Maribago-Agus looks like 6 years after his last study on algal blooms in the area.
THE GOOD: A tribute to the hardiness of the corals - healthy colonies of hard corals were noted from the ledge on down to at least 20 meters depth.
THE BAD: At about the depth of 3 meters on up to the shore, the whole area is blanketed by algal bloom of the platina family - one of the indicators of the presence of human waste pollutants. This was confirmed by Dr. Largo, himself the world's authority on algal blooms.
THE UGLY: We ran across the "Discover Scuba" site of the Korean underwater tourists. Right around the area (and beyond) of their pull-along ropes strung over the precious corals are colonies upon colonies of hard corals piled one on top of the other in various stages of death.
This was genuinely one of the most embarrassing moments of my life...I am thoroughly embarrassed for the whole community of Lapu-Lapu City for allowing this wanton destruction, witnessed first hand by no less than the scientists of the NOAA - Coral Reef Watch, and by Dr. Danilo Largo.
PEOPLE, WAKE-UP!! These are generations old animals killed senselessly!
A formal report is being readied by Andy Berame of Task Force Neptune. Preliminary discussions are being held with the Lapu-Lapu City authorities.
[The Lapu-Lapu City hosts were: LLC Divers, The Mayor's Office, ScubaStar Dive Services, and Amores Charities, Inc. Thank you to the city boat ambulance crew, Andy and Tope, management of ScubaStar Dive Services, and Dino]
Today, as per request of Dr. Largo, Lapu-Lapu City hosted a dive outing for the NOAA scientists. I thought it would be appropriate to show the group a typical coral reef situation here in Mactan. It so happened that Dr. Largo was interested to find out what the Hadsan Area of Maribago-Agus looks like 6 years after his last study on algal blooms in the area.
THE GOOD: A tribute to the hardiness of the corals - healthy colonies of hard corals were noted from the ledge on down to at least 20 meters depth.
THE BAD: At about the depth of 3 meters on up to the shore, the whole area is blanketed by algal bloom of the platina family - one of the indicators of the presence of human waste pollutants. This was confirmed by Dr. Largo, himself the world's authority on algal blooms.
THE UGLY: We ran across the "Discover Scuba" site of the Korean underwater tourists. Right around the area (and beyond) of their pull-along ropes strung over the precious corals are colonies upon colonies of hard corals piled one on top of the other in various stages of death.
This was genuinely one of the most embarrassing moments of my life...I am thoroughly embarrassed for the whole community of Lapu-Lapu City for allowing this wanton destruction, witnessed first hand by no less than the scientists of the NOAA - Coral Reef Watch, and by Dr. Danilo Largo.
PEOPLE, WAKE-UP!! These are generations old animals killed senselessly!
A formal report is being readied by Andy Berame of Task Force Neptune. Preliminary discussions are being held with the Lapu-Lapu City authorities.
[The Lapu-Lapu City hosts were: LLC Divers, The Mayor's Office, ScubaStar Dive Services, and Amores Charities, Inc. Thank you to the city boat ambulance crew, Andy and Tope, management of ScubaStar Dive Services, and Dino]
posted by mactanman at 8:44 PM
1 Comments:
Wala gyud koy sipyat nga mo basa sa imong mga article, kay pina-agi ani, ako gyud nahibaw-an ang mga panghitabo diri sa lapu-lapu ug sa uban pang mga lugar nga dili nato mabasa sa mga newspapers or makita sa TV stations. MORE POWER!!! and GOD BLESS
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