One of the great assets of the Caribbean is the coral reefs. This have been taken for granted for a long time. They have been deteriorating, not as an effect of the warming of the sea. The main causes are human behavior. The neglect by law and policy makers, the over development of the beaches, and the removing of the mangle threes. The sediment sand on the reefs and the invasion by species like the lionfish. In Curacao and Bonaire the lionfish is being handled. There are divers going after them. The result is that Curacao and Bonaire still have comparatively the best reefs. Taking careof the reefs in Bonaire is priority. In Curacao, this is not the case. The reefs are taken for granted. The Carmabi research institute is a silent voice. The Caribbean needs to understand the economic value of the reefs. Many tourist travel to the island to dive. The reefs also protect the island as well from the impact of the waves. In school children are being taught about the reefs but this needs to be done more intensly. Also media should get involved.This is currently not the case. I few NGO’s do the work, but they are not strong enough.
"Revisiting the Great Barrier Reef, Stewart found that 38% is now dead. (We were distressed to see large patches of coral skeletons when we were there a few years ago.) Over 90% of Caribbean coral reefs are bleached white by acidic waters and are now dead. Reefs are dying everywhere. So are the fish which rely on them. The lifeless zone in the Gulf of Mexico is now larger than the state of Connecticut, and there are 400 others around the globe which are expanding. Our gas guzzling and consumption of electricity from dirty fuels is changing the atmosphere and, in the process, turning the seas into an acid wash suitable for jellyfish, but not for Nemo or any of the other fish that a large proportion of humanity relies on to survive." (http://spiraldynamics.org/2013/02/e_f_g_h_problems/, Accessed on 6 April 2013)
Comments