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I can't resist adding to this... A recent federal study, (sorry can't remember which agency) has definitively linked the decline of the Key's reef system to the management and redirection of freshwater from the Everglades along with the elevations of nitrates caused by the GIANT sugar industry of South Florida. There is to date, no real evidence linking the reef's decline to usage by the public (although I'm sure that divers do cause damage). What we are talking about here as an analogy, is if your house is burning down, NOAA wants to hang a sign that says "NO SMOKING". Sorry to say, the real solution to correct the inevitable loss of North America's only living coral reef system is not possible and is not going to happen; that solution would entail restoring the Everglades to it's pre-twentieth century condition, (Billions of Dollars) severely regulating and forcing the Sugar industry to clean up the mess,(hundreds of millions of Dollars) and forcing South Florida to find a new water source other than the Biscayne Aquifer (hudreds of millions of Dollars). It is obvious to those who are even remotely connected with this situation, that the Reef system is ultimately doomed in the long run and all NOAA can hope to do is stave off it's demise for a couple of dozen years, if that. Mr. Martinez, you know this is all true and yet your agency's hands are tied except for restricting usage by the little guy. What is the reason? Plain and simple; MONEY Mark Steingart Tom Mercier wrote: > > Mr. Martinez, I am absolutely in favor of preserving all underwater > environments. I am absolutely in favor of preserving free access for all > divers and others who wish to enjoy those habitats. I am opposed to any > who seek to allow only their favored few, especially consessionaires, to > control that access. It eliminates free trade and thus begins to cost > individual divers and others exorbant amounts of dollars to enjoy their > environment. The parks and open waters are not only for the rich....you > have only to look to the National Parks to see how the consessionaires have > screwed up the park system. It is all for the people not the privileged > few. Having had lived in Florida and dove, and fished, extensively in the > Keys...I have seen damage that has been done in the 28 years that I have > been diving in the Keys....cut the flow of crap that is being pumped into > the water...cut off the fertlizer and pesticide runoff from the golf > courses and the green lawns that everyone seems to plant....process the > runoff from the roads before it is allowed to flow into the Bay...and leave > the recreational divers and fishermen alone. NOAA use your resources to > deal with the real problems. I remain opposed to the establishment of a > NOAA Sanctuary in the Keys. I am ,like yourself, a concerned citizen but > not a paid NOAA employee...I pay the cost now...I use my own time and > resources to preserve the underwater environment...how about you? > > Captain Tom Mercier BSc > Vice President of Michigans Thumb Area Bottomlands Preserve > Board Member of Michigan Underwater Preserve Council > > > ---------- > > From: Anthony Martinez <Anthony.Martinez@no*.go*> > > To: merciert@ti*.co*; freeattic@co*.ci*.uf*.ed* > > Subject: Re[2]: Say "no" to NOAA?? > > Date: Friday, February 19, 1999 8:52 AM > > > > > > If you would have personally witnessed the massive decline in resource > quality > > in and around the Keys, you might not be so adamant in your objection to > > preserving one of this countries most amazing eco-systems. Even if it > comes at a > > cost. I say this as a concerned citizen and not an employee of NOAA. - > Tony > > > > ____________________Reply Separator____________________ > > Subject: Re: Say "no" to NOAA?? > > Author: merciert@ti*.co* > > Date: 2/16/99 8:42 PM > > > > Apparently NOAA wants to make a preserve of a large portion of the > > keys. > > Where this was done in other places and their Attempt in Michigans > Thunder > > Bay... NOAA grants consessions to business and kicks out anyone who is > not > > a consessionaire. The costs to divers then just goes up and up as the > > prices are then controlled by a very few businesses who have no > competition > > thanks to the US of A. > > > > Captain Tom Mercier > > > > ---------- > > From: Bill Lais <billlais@mp*.ne*> > > To: Cost effective home improvement <freeattic@co*.ci*.uf*.ed*> > > Subject: Say "no" to NOAA?? > > Date: Tuesday, February 16, 1999 2:12 AM > > > > As I was driving through Marathon Key Monday, I noticed a small submarine > > with "Just say no to NOAA" painted on the side of it in front of a dive > > shop. Anyone know why?? > > > > - Bill
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