League of Women Voters cites importance of V.I. coral reef workshop on Monday

climate change is a very charged term.. do you mean the same "climate change" that used to be referred to as "global warming" ?

This entire movement has taken good minded people and hitched them to really bad agendas.

Did you know the oceans have been much lower PH before and that Coral reefs had not only addapted but flourished?

Ocean Acidification Fears Debunked: Cold Water Coral Proven To Acclimate & Prosper In Lower pH Environment

Climate alarmist claims that coral will suffer long-term harm due to lower pH levels proven wrong by new study - ocean "acidifcation" fears debunked, robustly

read more here:
http://www.c3headlines.com/2012/03/ocean-acidifcation-fears-debunked-coral.html
or here:
http://buythetruth.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/ocean-acidification-scam/

I aplaud your concern and attempts at doing something, but your time would be much better spent elsewhere, hunting lion fish perhaps, or cleaning up the trash strewn islands (I was shocked today at the amount of trash on StX, isn't there an annual beach clean up? even Alaska was kept cleaner and we couldn't even get to the trash for 9 months of the year due to snow.)

the reefs were devistated by the 2005 bleaching right?

did you know coral bleeching is just a stress response and is caused by (among other things, this one is actually proven however) Solar activity?

guess what happened in 2005:

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/

Yup, you got it, extreme solar activity.

our planets function has been proven time and time again to be CLOSELY tied to solar activity, this is why most ancient people worshiped "sun" gods or other solar based diety.

Anyway, I don't like the EPA's track record, espeically when it is hidden behind something as important as the need for true global conservation & smart usage.

do the research your self, don't allow agencies to spoon feed you information.

Bleaching is a stress response to warmer water temperatures (or colder). Every coral has photosynthetic algae living in their tissues called zooxanthellae. These algae also give the coral their color. In return for protection, the algae provide the coral with food. However, the zooxanthellae are very sensitive to environmental change. When the water warms up too much, they leave their coral. This is what causes the corals to turn white. They are not dead, just have no pigment that the algae used to give them. At this point, they are rather stressed because they aren't getting the food they used to from the algae. However, in the right conditions the coral can obtain new zooxanthellae that are more heat resistant or tolerate higher temps than the old ones. And the coral will recover. Sometimes they don't get new algae, and eventually succumb to disease.

Extreme UV light has been shown (nothing is ever proven in science, you can only find data that supports or does not support your hypotheses using probability--hence you can never be 100% certain about ANYTHING) to impact corals and bleach them. They have done studies in the lab and field--if deep water coral are exposed to higher UV Light wavelengths than they are used too, that can stress the zooxanthellae enough to leave. However, the coral bleaching of 2005 that occurred here was due to temperature. There was very sturdy documentation of temp increases and corals were bleached at depths where UV light changes are not an issue. Also, I must say that the ozone which was severely damaged decades ago by CFC's is the most important moderater of UV light. Less ozone, more UV light, more problems for everything. And since CFC's were banned, the ozone layer has been recovering. Slowly, but recovering, making UV light (especially in the tropics) less of an issue, especially in water below 20ft.

And no, corals aren't just going to adapt to ocean acidification. They are different species from those that were alive in lower pH waters and have evolved over thousands of years to live in the previously very stable pH they are in now (and that is changing). The oceans have an amazing ability to buffer pH changes, but basic acid/base chemistry tells you that eventually with too much CO2, the buffer will be overwhelmed. Perhaps if the corals had 1000's of years to adapt to increasingly lower pH's and higher temps they might have a chance. At the rate we are going and as it stands now, we do not have that kind of time and the reefs as we know them will disappear.

Also, that paper only looked at one species of cold water coral in the lab. Not natural conditions. Here is a summary (non-biased ie not from a website promoting the 'debunking' of climate change, or from a personal blog). http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120216111528.htm. I haven't read the full text article, but it looks like an interesting experiment. Maybe the particular species they studied can tolerate lower pH. Not all coral can.

I can show you a hundred other papers that have shown that lower pH's will erode the underlying calcium carbonate structure of corals. One paper on one species does not an entire theory debunk. But questioning is always a good thing, especially if it is done using solid science and the scientific method.

League of Women Voters cites importance of V.I. coral reef workshop on Monday.

If you care about the well being of our Virgin Islands beaches, fish and other local marine animals including as turtle and if you care about our fishing industry and marine recreation, then The League of Women Voters VI Committee on Planning and Environmental Quality urges you to attend the workshop sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Caribbean Coral Protection Group.

The conference is from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Monday at UVI. On the St. Thomas campus, it is in the Administration and Conference Center, and on the St. Croix campus, it is in the Great Hall.

With threats to our marine environment from climate change - for example rising ocean levels and increased acidification of oceans leading to coral disease - we must all be concerned, especially since so much of our island life depends on the health of our oceans.

Can you imagine living without fish and with unsafe beaches as result of dying coral, overfishing and acidification of the oceans?

In addition to all who care deeply about our V.I. environment, this conference will be ideal for high school classes in environmental and marine biology as well as UVI biology majors.

At the meeting, EPA will talk about local endangered coral and the consequences of such designation and will be soliciting suggestions from the public as to how to reduce the stresses on coral habitat.

Here in the Virgin Islands we have the opportunity to reduce local sources of stress to our oceans such as careless reef fishing, poor land clearing practices, malfunctioning wastewater systems and storm water runoff that carries sediments and toxins from unlined landfills and industrial sites right into our oceans.

For more information on the Caribbean Coral Protection Group, visit http://epa.gov/region2/coral.

To reserve a seat at the conference call 714-2333 or email webbe.keshema@epa.gov

- Gwen Moolenaar, LWV VI President

Please show your interest and attend!!!

And I think that this is great! People can do multiple things to help the ocean. Trash pickups and killing lionfish are great efforts. But research still needs to be done on corals. And events like this are terrific. The more people are educated and involved in the process of science and research, i think that more that can get done. Reefs belong to all of us and everyone has a stake in their survival. Thanks for posting Alana!

Thanks STXEM. I was quite surprised at LiquidFloride's response but then he is a brand new arrival so may not be aware of all of the issues and problems facing us. He can however educate himself by attending the meeting.

A large problem we also face that endangers our local coral reefs are the inadequate septic systems and waste water treatment plants we have here in the islands. Doesn't STX beaches get shut down regularly due to this because untreated sewage is running into the water off the beaches and bays? ? Do any of you go into the water after heavy rains when the water has turned brown for miles out? Why do you think they have to issue those beach advisories for coli-form content in our waters due to runoff?

He mentions the amount of trash on STX. Unfortunately, we have it here in STT, too! Where do you think all that ends up, eventually?
In our waters! How healthy is all of this for our reefs, corals and fish, much less ourselves?

Liquid Floride plans on spearfishing in our waters so it would be nice if he learned about the problems facing our coral reefs and possibly even how he can help, in his own way, even if STX will not be his forever home. It can't hurt to educate yourself!

Here's another way to help:

637 signatures on the Ban Plastic Pollution in the US Virgin ISlands. The total we are seeking are 1,500. I know many of you signed the petition - please forward and share this with your friends, family and supporters of the VI. We need to clean our act up for the present, and future generations.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/603/676/271/virgin-islands-no-more-plastic-bag-pollution/

and check this out: http://www.care2.com/causes/disturbing-video-of-a-seagull-eating-a-plastic-bag.html

Liquid Floride plans on spearfishing in our waters so it would be nice if he learned about the problems facing our coral reefs and possibly even how he can help, in his own way, even if STX will not be his forever home. It can't hurt to educate yourself!

I'll definitely continue reading & learning while here, I think I was just triggered by "EPA" which does so much damage in alaska in the name of a worthy cause & I have done a lot of research into historic c02 levels, they really have nothing to do with man & have fluctuated in the past (along with "climate change" & global temps) my findings are that the only constant seems to be change; even if we don't like the change it still happens.

I only want to spear fish to kill lion fish, I'm not much of a fish eater (though that may change while here) I hope the meeting goes well, monday is my first day of work so I do not know that I will be able to attend unless it runs long.

best of luck.

Thanks LiquidFloride! I hope you have a wonderful life in de islands, mon!
It can be trying at times but hopefully as more people become aware of issues, we can all help do positive things to help.

Glad your doggies all made it with you.

Here's a good link from a Daily News Op-Ed piece just recently published.

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/op-ed/v-i-wastewater-problems-are-great-but-the-solutions-are-readily-available-1.1447035

Don't forget to attend!

I'm attending in spirit! Somebody take good notes. I'd love to hear what was discussed.

Will post tomorrow as time allows on the conference.
Personally, I thought the infomation and public speakers were great.
I hope it will have impact on the environtmental challenges the VI has been facing and will continue to face unless we change and have changes for the better implemented.
Not much attendance from STX on video conference!

If you want changes to protect our way of life and our wonderful environment, (which is why many of you move here), you must get involved
to protect and speak out! Cheese and Bread!

In yesterday's Daily News:

Community has big stake in coral reefs' health

Published: February 25, 2013

The Caribbean is known for its coral reefs: the vast and beautiful ecosystems that lie below the surface of coastal waters of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The corals are vital to the environment and local economies, yet many people don't realize that coral reefs are in trouble.

Rising water temperatures associated with climate change bleach the coral and make them more susceptible to pollution and disease. Discharges of raw sewage damage their health and over-fishing has also had a negative impact on these cherished natural resources.

The U.S. Virgin Islands' waters were severely threatened 40 years ago. Industries discharged pollution directly into harbors and the ocean causing serious water pollution problems. Thanks to the federal Clean Water Act, these discharges are now regulated. But aging wastewater infrastructure and inadequate maintenance still allow sewage to run into coastal waters and human activities continue to threaten the U.S. Virgin Islands' coral reefs.

The benefits of saving coral reefs are substantial. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors travel to see these natural wonders first-hand, generating millions of dollars for the local tourism industry.

Coral reefs help protect shore communities, shielding the land from damaging storms and ocean surges. Reefs create habitats that are vital to maintaining bountiful fisheries and harbor organisms that can be harvested to produce medicines.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is creating standards that will allow the agency to take the health of coral reefs into account in developing permits that limit the discharge of pollutants into Caribbean waters. The EPA will also work with local governments to reduce the impacts of storm runoff that carries pollutants into ocean waters when it rains.

In addition to government, there are actions that individuals and businesses can take to protect the health of coral reefs.

Boaters should pump on-board sewage into proper pumpout stations instead of discharging sewage into local waters.

Snorkelers and swimmers can preserve corals for others to enjoy by refraining from touching them. Marinas and the tourism industry can encourage visitors to enjoy the corals while increasing awareness of their fragile state and how to protect them.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched the Caribbean Coral Reef Protection Group to combine the resources of federal and local agencies in protecting coral reefs. Today, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., the EPA and other federal and Commonwealth agencies will bring communities in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands together for a listening session in St. Thomas on the state of coral reefs and the best ways to protect them. The listening session will take place at UVI on St. Thomas in the first floor Conference Room at the Administration and Conference Center. The session will be broadcasted live on St. Croix in the Great Hall at UVI.

Ultimately, coral reefs can be revitalized if government agencies, businesses and communities have a vision for their future and work together to ensure their protection.

For information on the coral reefs listening session, visit: http://epa.gov/region2/coralreefs/

- Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator

http://www.care2.com/causes/how-many-marine-mammals-did-your-plastic-grocery-bag-kill-today.html

Please sign the petiton to ban single use plastic bags in the V!!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/603/676/271/virgin-islands-no-more-plastic-bag-pollution/