It wasn't about the dept either..... boy when you stick to every single words of a phrase of someone's thread or post man, it was a broad statement in a context of shallow versus depts species.......Geeezzzzz
And you seem to be looking to create an argument.
Mudbeaver, I don't think Bill is trying to start an argument. There's nothing wrong with correcting someone. If you're not willing to listen how would you ever learn.
As far as whose to blame, I couldn't agree more. I've made this argument many times that it's in fact the same governments who point to us as the cause of reef decline when in reality they are much more to blame for allowing agriculture, ports and shipping lanes right smack next to or on top of reefs.
We definitely have to be responsible and maintain a sense of self control when we choose our inhabitants. Buying a mundane animal at the LFS because you know that it likely won't survive there is a bad choice too. It's better to let that animal die at the LFS and let them be out of pocket on the cost. Thus, they won't be so stupid to buy that animal again from the wholesaler. The idea that someone is saving that animal is counterproductive because the LFS figures he just sold one, so he'll buy another to sell and make a profit.
Some of the images you shared are, as always, disturbing. Some of the statistics, however, are not true. For example, newspaper and cigarette butts break down very very fast in the ocean. Sometime as quickly as several days to a few weeks. Aluminum cans break down very fast as well and glass bottles are usually broken down to small pieces very quickly as they smash against rocks, etc. Glass is sand after all. Of course, I'm not arguing that it's ok. Garbage is garbage and should be disposed of properly.
Obviously plastic is terrible. There's no doubt it takes an extremely long time for it to break down.
Some of the images you posted are actually beneficial as it appears they're creating artificial reefs. For example, dropping concrete and the bicycle rack. Artificial reefs have had a positive impact around the world and in my area of Tampa Bay. I wish our government would create more of them.
As far as oil drilling goes, we're actually really good at it. Of course the problem is when it goes bad, it's catastrophic. However, we can look at the BP oil spill and note that the lack of safeguards and uninspected faulty equipment were to blame. Which again the responsibility falls on the government. That's no excuse though and there's no doubt in my mind that the oil rigs need to be over inspected as one mishap can be absolutely terrible. As we've seen first hand. That been said, the Earth itself releases far more oil in to the ocean than we could only imagine pulling out by drilling.
Nevertheless, I applaud your efforts to make important points and be vocal about the issues facing our beloved reefs and oceans. And I'll play the blame game... Governments are the real threat to reefs and oceans. They've just been really good at selling the public on bogus information like hobbyist are raping reefs, global warming and ocean acidification are killing the reefs. We know the latter two are bs, as corals and fish adapt very well to warmer/fluctuating temperatures and depressed ph from the high levels of CO2 in our systems. And ultimately I don't believe the global warming bs anyways as the government has showed their cards in that they simply want to create a tax and distribute that money to less fortunate nations. At least truthful science is beating these bogus statements back and the truth is being made public.
Since that would be flat out impossible and all.
