Miami waterways dredging to destroy thriving corals

[Thepopo]

Thought I post this. If anyone in the area can go help and collect as many as possible that be great. Too bad they didn't reach out to more individuals for help.

http://www.npr.org/2014/06/04/31879...ign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140604

 

[ReefingWerewolf]

So sad

 

[billsreef]

That dredging project started late last fall/early winter.

 

[ganjero]

Did you see these comments about the article in the comment area?

"With global warming its dead anyway, this is a waste of time and effort."
"I'm all for global warming, for the US and the rest of the developed world the net cost is estimated to be 0, while programs to avoid it would definitely be negative. Nonetheless, the coral will die, unfortunate, but what can do?"

 

[ca1ore]

Free speech applies to everyone ..... even morons.

 

[G_Sanab922]

Same thing is happening in Bimini. It wont be the same there anymore

 

[zachfishman]

There are three major reefs running parallel to shore in SEFL (inner, middle, outer). The first two were dredged long ago to make the current channel, but the third, because of its depth, wasn't impacted as much. It is this third reef that will be impacted the most by this project.

I was part of the team that surveyed the coral communities growing in the channel between the inner and outer reefs, and honestly there wasn't a lot there. The bottom was mostly unconsolidated rubble (baseball to basketball sized), which keeps reef communities from establishing. IMO they should incorporate an element of rubble stabilization in the channel after dredging (or dredge it deeper and then dump very large boulders such as those used in reef mitigation). This would allow new reef communities to develop in the channel, rather than it remaining as rubble.

 

[Mark426]

What to do? Ships gotta get to the port, corals are growing in the shipping cannels. Maybe use the survey that was done to establish how much coral will be impacted and build an equivalent reef in another location. No easy or low cost solutions.

 

[zachfishman]

What to do? Ships gotta get to the port, corals are growing in the shipping cannels. Maybe use the survey that was done to establish how much coral will be impacted and build an equivalent reef in another location. No easy or low cost solutions.

Our work did exactly that - quantify what coral populations would be lost due to the port expansion. Whether it gets used for mitigation (building equivalent habitat in another location) is another story.

 

[thenewguy997]

I dont mean to stereotype but some city ppl (im a city dweller) never took a step outside the industrial world.

Theyll never understand life is precious. Someday our childrens children will inherit an earth that is full of pollution and where beautiful animals used to thrive there is no sidewalk and metal.

 

[G_Sanab922]

I dont mean to stereotype but some city ppl (im a city dweller) never took a step outside the industrial world.

Theyll never understand life is precious. Someday our childrens children will inherit an earth that is full of pollution and where beautiful animals used to thrive there is no sidewalk and metal.

Very true. People don't appreciate the natural beauty we have around us because they are so mixed up in their lives.
But sometimes it's not even the city people, at least here in South Florida. Since our culture here is VERY diverse, we get all types of people. Especially from other countries in the Caribbean and Central America. Those countries have no education on the hazards of pollution. At least not like here in the states. In those countries, it is common for you to be driving on the road and throw outside your window the mcdonald's bag you just ate along with all the drinking cups and whatever else you have in your car that is garbage. Imagine if they do that what else they do (throw garbage in the rivers that lead to the ocean, oil and gas into the water, etc. etc...)
So when they come from those countries they bring all of that with them.
In the end it starts from the top of your family. If the person that cares for you in the early stages in our lives do those things then most likely we will do the same.

 

[Illhaveanother]

I agree with the last 2 comments, completely !