By Mike Adams (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 5:22 pm: |
I have been to Bonaire 3 times in the last few years, but had to skip last year due to the birth of our first. I read this article today and was wondering if Bonaire has been hurt. I hope to return later this year and was wanting to know what to expect.
|
By Jan Kloos (BonaireTalker - Post #48) on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 6:41 pm: |
Mike, I received the article below some days ago. It shows that the reefs around Bonaire are still healthy but... we have to protect them. Divers can be a hazard so take care of good buoyancy and never touch the corals.
|
By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #565) on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 8:33 am: |
Jan: Is there anything that fights the undesireable algae in the water (i.e. parrot fish?) or is the only option to stop the cause on land before it reaches the ocean? Thanks
|
By Jan Kloos (BonaireTalker - Post #49) on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 3:18 pm: |
I am not sure but I think there is, although I am no expert. However if the ecological balance has been disturbed and the growth of algea cannot be stopped, the corals will die eventually. That is why we have to control the outlet of nutrients into the sea.
|
By Meryl Virga (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4537) on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 9:51 pm: |
Well, run off from rivers and streams have a great effect on the ocean...we all know this...
|
By shawn thiele (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #140) on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 12:57 am: |
The problem isn't runoff as much as it is global warming. Most of the problems with pollution and an increase of acidity of the water has to do with fossil fuel burning. When we pollute the air we are not only destroying our ozone and changing the composition of the atmosphere, but the composition of the ocean as well. The ocean absorbs the carbon monoxide as well changing the pH of the water killing off much of the good algae and plankton the fish need to live. The coral are being damaged by the temperature of the waters rising for the increased temperatures here on earth. If you want to save the coral, then start lobbying the goverments to promote greater energy care. When the U.S. blew off the Kyoto pact I was not too pleased. Then they want to destroy more of world to drill for more oil instead of investing in renewalable energy sources. Just another reason why I'd never vote for a republican
|
By Susan - Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #282) on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 11:55 am: |
Shawn,
|
By shawn thiele (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #141) on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 6:12 pm: |
I'm not saying that there isn't runoff, the article was an interesting read and would be interested to see their data when they get it. I still think global warming is a bigger issue at hand for coral reef health at this point. If the temperatures keep rising we're gonna lose most of the reefs in the next 10 years whereas sediments I don't think would destroy all the reefs just the ones closest to the areas being polluted.
|
By Jamie Barber (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #151) on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 1:27 pm: |
Shawn, please consider the effects of nutrient load and sediment runoff on diverse aquatic ecosystems such as the fringing reefs of Jamiaca and the Chesapeake Bay estuary. Both have been virtually killed from sediment/nutrient overload in the last few decades (mostly from poor development practices). Global warming may be a big (and politically hot) topic but it's only one chapter of the whole story! It's also a BIG challenge to address (not saying it shouldn't be), whereas point-, or even nonpoint-, sources of runnoff pollution can often be addressed immediately and locally. And the effects can often be dramatic! Thanks Jan and Susan for your posts, and to all involved--thanks for the hard work. Keep at it. And thanks Shawn for you posts as well. Lets educate everyone so we can continue to quickly work towards solutions.
|
Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites