Famous Caymans coral reefs dying, scientists sayBy Shurna Robbins

[Judi Lynn]

Source: ABC News/Reuters

Famous Caymans coral reefs dying, scientists sayBy Shurna Robbins
May 6, 2007

Print GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (Reuters) - To coral reef-driven tourism industries like those of the Cayman Islands, there could be a greater cost in ignoring climate change than fighting it.

Ranked among the top 10 scuba diving destinations in the world, the reef system of the western Caribbean territory has lost 50 percent of its hard corals in the last 10 years in spite of strong environmental laws, scientists say.

"We are at a very critical time in the history of coral reefs," said Carrie Manfrino, president of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute on Little Cayman island.

"It is like working with a sick patient. How well we treat that patient will determine if that patient survives. We could potentially see the end of hard coral reefs in our lifetime."



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3145107

[kestrel91316]

1. Sadly, this isn't even news anymore. Mother Nature has cancer, and it is us.

[MuseRider]

2. Been diving there.

Those are some of the most beautiful reefs I have ever seen. Bloody Bay wall is just so colorful that you forget where you are until you pass over the edge with nothing but a deep blue abyss under you. Damn. We are going to be in trouble when these reefs go.

[Vogon_Glory]

3. Sleep With Bad Dogs And You'll Get Fleas

The Cayman Islanders are also noted for being virulently homophobic and have ties with the right wing of the mainland Fundamentalist/Evangelical community. As many of us are aware, a lot of this faction are hostile to the notion of climate change or to the idea of doing something about it because they see environmental concerns as being "nature worship" and "unChristian." Of course, the unlucky Cayman Islanders have even bigger worries than their sickly coral reefs--a rising ocean that could send their homes under salt water.