people find out that I study coral reefs and technical dives for a living they
and technical dives for a living they
and technical dives for a living they always have a lot of questions usually
always have a lot of questions usually
always have a lot of questions usually it starts something along the lines of
it starts something along the lines of
it starts something along the lines of oh my god
oh my god
oh my god sharks and then we go somewhere else
sharks and then we go somewhere else
sharks and then we go somewhere else from there nowadays inevitably
from there nowadays inevitably
from there nowadays inevitably we wind up going pretty much the same
we wind up going pretty much the same
we wind up going pretty much the same place with everybody some people ask it
place with everybody some people ask it
place with everybody some people ask it gently they tiptoe around the issue
gently they tiptoe around the issue
gently they tiptoe around the issue other times they’re a little more blunt
other times they’re a little more blunt
other times they’re a little more blunt but inevitably we wind up with something
but inevitably we wind up with something
but inevitably we wind up with something along the lines of how can you do what
along the lines of how can you do what
along the lines of how can you do what you do when everything you love is dying
you do when everything you love is dying
you do when everything you love is dying it’s kind of a brutal question it’s not
it’s kind of a brutal question it’s not
it’s kind of a brutal question it’s not really what I thought I’d be dealing
really what I thought I’d be dealing
really what I thought I’d be dealing with when I was four years old
with when I was four years old
with when I was four years old snorkeling with my grandfather and
snorkeling with my grandfather and
snorkeling with my grandfather and decided this was going to be my life but
decided this was going to be my life but
decided this was going to be my life but it’s really not hard to understand how
it’s really not hard to understand how
it’s really not hard to understand how people get their 5 minutes on Google got
people get their 5 minutes on Google got
people get their 5 minutes on Google got me these so pessimism
me these so pessimism
me these so pessimism apathy a general avoidance of these
apathy a general avoidance of these
apathy a general avoidance of these issues is all sort of understandable if
issues is all sort of understandable if
issues is all sort of understandable if this is what you’re reading now the
this is what you’re reading now the
this is what you’re reading now the thing is we have lost a lot of coral
thing is we have lost a lot of coral
thing is we have lost a lot of coral reefs but this isn’t the whole story
reefs but this isn’t the whole story
reefs but this isn’t the whole story tonight I’m not going to tell you that
tonight I’m not going to tell you that
tonight I’m not going to tell you that we’ve found a silver bullet to fix the
we’ve found a silver bullet to fix the
we’ve found a silver bullet to fix the problem or that we won’t lose more coral
problem or that we won’t lose more coral
problem or that we won’t lose more coral in the future but what I am going to
in the future but what I am going to
in the future but what I am going to tell you is a small part of this story
tell you is a small part of this story
tell you is a small part of this story that that almost no one ever gets to
that that almost no one ever gets to
that that almost no one ever gets to hear one that’s a little bit more
hear one that’s a little bit more
hear one that’s a little bit more positive than the rest and one that I
positive than the rest and one that I
positive than the rest and one that I get to work on every day by the end of
get to work on every day by the end of
get to work on every day by the end of this you’ll know my answer to that first
this you’ll know my answer to that first
this you’ll know my answer to that first question and just maybe you’ll have a
question and just maybe you’ll have a
question and just maybe you’ll have a little bit of hope for the future of
little bit of hope for the future of
little bit of hope for the future of coral reefs so to start off what is a
coral reefs so to start off what is a
coral reefs so to start off what is a coral reef and why should you care in a
coral reef and why should you care in a
coral reef and why should you care in a nutshell
nutshell
nutshell reefs are food on our tables and roofs
reefs are food on our tables and roofs
reefs are food on our tables and roofs over our heads the World Wildlife Fund
over our heads the World Wildlife Fund
over our heads the World Wildlife Fund estimates that up to 1 billion people
estimates that up to 1 billion people
estimates that up to 1 billion people throughout the world throughout the
throughout the world throughout the
throughout the world throughout the tropics get their food their paychecks
tropics get their food their paychecks
tropics get their food their paychecks or both from coral reefs so the fact
or both from coral reefs so the fact
or both from coral reefs so the fact that we’re losing them is kind of a big
that we’re losing them is kind of a big
that we’re losing them is kind of a big problem right coral reefs are created by
problem right coral reefs are created by
problem right coral reefs are created by these fishy colorful looking rocks that
these fishy colorful looking rocks that
these fishy colorful looking rocks that are actually an animal living with algae
are actually an animal living with algae
are actually an animal living with algae and as they photosynthesize they lay
and as they photosynthesize they lay
and as they photosynthesize they lay down layer after layer after layer of
down layer after layer after layer of
down layer after layer after layer of skeleton make forming those rocks that
skeleton make forming those rocks that
skeleton make forming those rocks that you can see in these videos and those
you can see in these videos and those
you can see in these videos and those rocks provide habitat for one of the
rocks provide habitat for one of the
rocks provide habitat for one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the
most biodiverse ecosystems on the
most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet as diverse as any rainforest
planet as diverse as any rainforest
planet as diverse as any rainforest you’ve ever seen and more importantly
you’ve ever seen and more importantly
you’ve ever seen and more importantly perhaps these provide habitat space for
perhaps these provide habitat space for
perhaps these provide habitat space for some really tasty things things like
some really tasty things things like
some really tasty things things like grouper snapper lobster and crabs
grouper snapper lobster and crabs
grouper snapper lobster and crabs so as these ecosystems are dying it’s
so as these ecosystems are dying it’s
so as these ecosystems are dying it’s really important especially in an island
really important especially in an island
really important especially in an island like this where you can look around this
like this where you can look around this
like this where you can look around this room and see people who make their
room and see people who make their
room and see people who make their living off of these things it’s really
living off of these things it’s really
living off of these things it’s really important that we find ways to just
important that we find ways to just
important that we find ways to just study them and try to help protect them
study them and try to help protect them
study them and try to help protect them now in the territory since about 2001
now in the territory since about 2001
now in the territory since about 2001 we’ve been undertaking the Virgin
we’ve been undertaking the Virgin
we’ve been undertaking the Virgin Islands territorial coral reef
Islands territorial coral reef
Islands territorial coral reef monitoring program part of the it’s a
monitoring program part of the it’s a
monitoring program part of the it’s a organ that are it’s part of the national
organ that are it’s part of the national
organ that are it’s part of the national oceanographic administration
oceanographic administration
oceanographic administration administered through UVI once a year we
administered through UVI once a year we
administered through UVI once a year we go to each of these thirty three red
go to each of these thirty three red
go to each of these thirty three red dots which each represent a coral reef
dots which each represent a coral reef
dots which each represent a coral reef and we measure the amount of coral
and we measure the amount of coral
and we measure the amount of coral that’s there the health of the coral and
that’s there the health of the coral and
that’s there the health of the coral and the fish that are living in those
the fish that are living in those
the fish that are living in those ecosystems so a couple of things you can
ecosystems so a couple of things you can
ecosystems so a couple of things you can notice from this st. Thomas and st. John
notice from this st. Thomas and st. John
notice from this st. Thomas and st. John are in the north st. Croix is in the
are in the north st. Croix is in the
are in the north st. Croix is in the south there is that sort of black hole
south there is that sort of black hole
south there is that sort of black hole in there in between the islands that’s
in there in between the islands that’s
in there in between the islands that’s called the N I got a passage that area
called the N I got a passage that area
called the N I got a passage that area is actually over two miles deep and so
is actually over two miles deep and so
is actually over two miles deep and so it means that the reefs in st. Croix are
it means that the reefs in st. Croix are
it means that the reefs in st. Croix are a little bit different than the reefs up
a little bit different than the reefs up
a little bit different than the reefs up here in st. Thomas and st. John so for
here in st. Thomas and st. John so for
here in st. Thomas and st. John so for tonight I’m just gonna focus up here in
tonight I’m just gonna focus up here in
tonight I’m just gonna focus up here in the northern islands everything I’m
the northern islands everything I’m
the northern islands everything I’m about to say does apply in some way or
about to say does apply in some way or
about to say does apply in some way or another to st. Croix but just keep to
another to st. Croix but just keep to
another to st. Croix but just keep to keep things simple without having to
keep things simple without having to
keep things simple without having to explain all the different environments
explain all the different environments
explain all the different environments I’ll just focus up here so there are 19
I’ll just focus up here so there are 19
I’ll just focus up here so there are 19 red dots on this screen they each
red dots on this screen they each
red dots on this screen they each represent a specific reef that we study
represent a specific reef that we study
represent a specific reef that we study and what you can tell first of all is
and what you can tell first of all is
and what you can tell first of all is that they’re all distributed everywhere
that they’re all distributed everywhere
that they’re all distributed everywhere right we have some on the north side of
right we have some on the north side of
right we have some on the north side of st. Thomas we have some close to shore
st. Thomas we have some close to shore
st. Thomas we have some close to shore then there are a handful of them that
then there are a handful of them that
then there are a handful of them that are way offshore of a South drop so all
are way offshore of a South drop so all
are way offshore of a South drop so all these reefs are created equal and we
these reefs are created equal and we
these reefs are created equal and we selected them to try and get a good
selected them to try and get a good
selected them to try and get a good coverage and a good example
coverage and a good example
coverage and a good example representative sample of everything of
representative sample of everything of
representative sample of everything of all the reefs in the Virgin Islands so
all the reefs in the Virgin Islands so
all the reefs in the Virgin Islands so you saw all those headlines right that’s
you saw all those headlines right that’s
you saw all those headlines right that’s the big world well what’s happening here
the big world well what’s happening here
the big world well what’s happening here this is the only graph I’m going to show
this is the only graph I’m going to show
this is the only graph I’m going to show you tonight they promise so in 2003 when
you tonight they promise so in 2003 when
you tonight they promise so in 2003 when the program really got going coral cover
the program really got going coral cover
the program really got going coral cover was up around 26 27 percent on average
was up around 26 27 percent on average
was up around 26 27 percent on average if you’ve been here since then you
if you’ve been here since then you
if you’ve been here since then you remember that in 2005 and 2006 we had a
remember that in 2005 and 2006 we had a
remember that in 2005 and 2006 we had a really really hot summer temperature is
really really hot summer temperature is
really really hot summer temperature is what kills coral they can’t move and if
what kills coral they can’t move and if
what kills coral they can’t move and if they get above a certain temperature
they get above a certain temperature
they get above a certain temperature they get stressed out they get sick they
they get stressed out they get sick they
they get stressed out they get sick they die so during that year we actually lost
die so during that year we actually lost
die so during that year we actually lost 40% of the coral in the northern Virgin
40% of the coral in the northern Virgin
40% of the coral in the northern Virgin Islands st. Thomas and st. John but
Islands st. Thomas and st. John but
Islands st. Thomas and st. John but again this is 19 reefs right and we show
again this is 19 reefs right and we show
again this is 19 reefs right and we show I showed you that they were all in
I showed you that they were all in
I showed you that they were all in different places some of them are
different places some of them are
different places some of them are different depths some of them are close
different depths some of them are close
different depths some of them are close to shore or far from shore and so this
to shore or far from shore and so this
to shore or far from shore and so this average line is actually kind of hiding
average line is actually kind of hiding
average line is actually kind of hiding something really interesting so what I’m
something really interesting so what I’m
something really interesting so what I’m gonna do is just draw a line at a
gonna do is just draw a line at a
gonna do is just draw a line at a hundred feet okay and the first line I’m
hundred feet okay and the first line I’m
hundred feet okay and the first line I’m gonna add to this is all the reefs
gonna add to this is all the reefs
gonna add to this is all the reefs shallower than 100 feet these are the
shallower than 100 feet these are the
shallower than 100 feet these are the reefs that you can scuba dive on if
reefs that you can scuba dive on if
reefs that you can scuba dive on if you’re a recreational diver they’re the
you’re a recreational diver they’re the
you’re a recreational diver they’re the reefs that you snorkel on when you go
reefs that you snorkel on when you go
reefs that you snorkel on when you go from shore they’ve been hitting much
from shore they’ve been hitting much
from shore they’ve been hitting much harder than the rest of the reefs these
harder than the rest of the reefs these
harder than the rest of the reefs these are 14 of those 19 reefs in the northern
are 14 of those 19 reefs in the northern
are 14 of those 19 reefs in the northern b.i they started out lower in 2003 down
b.i they started out lower in 2003 down
b.i they started out lower in 2003 down around 22 23 percent and they wound up
around 22 23 percent and they wound up
around 22 23 percent and they wound up losing 60 percent of their coral versus
losing 60 percent of their coral versus
losing 60 percent of their coral versus the 40 for the average so what about
the 40 for the average so what about
the 40 for the average so what about those other 5 sites these reefs below
those other 5 sites these reefs below
those other 5 sites these reefs below 100 feet are called Mesa photic or
100 feet are called Mesa photic or
100 feet are called Mesa photic or Twilight Zone reefs and this is really
Twilight Zone reefs and this is really
Twilight Zone reefs and this is really the whole purpose of why I’m up here
the whole purpose of why I’m up here
the whole purpose of why I’m up here tonight they look like this so not only
tonight they look like this so not only
tonight they look like this so not only did they start up at 36 37% coral back
did they start up at 36 37% coral back
did they start up at 36 37% coral back in 2003 they did lose a little bit in
in 2003 they did lose a little bit in
in 2003 they did lose a little bit in 2005 about 15% drop but even today
2005 about 15% drop but even today
2005 about 15% drop but even today they’re up at 29% so those five reef
they’re up at 29% so those five reef
they’re up at 29% so those five reef systems are still doing better than the
systems are still doing better than the
systems are still doing better than the average reef was in 2003 so it’s a
average reef was in 2003 so it’s a
average reef was in 2003 so it’s a pretty cool story now why is that so
pretty cool story now why is that so
pretty cool story now why is that so these deep reefs they they’re below 100
these deep reefs they they’re below 100
these deep reefs they they’re below 100 feet and they’re generally far from
feet and they’re generally far from
feet and they’re generally far from shore so it means they get less
shore so it means they get less
shore so it means they get less pollution their damage less by human
pollution their damage less by human
pollution their damage less by human activities like anchoring and things
activities like anchoring and things
activities like anchoring and things like that but most importantly they have
like that but most importantly they have
like that but most importantly they have an average temperature that’s about two
an average temperature that’s about two
an average temperature that’s about two degrees cooler than all those shallow
degrees cooler than all those shallow
degrees cooler than all those shallow reefs so when you go beyond the depth of
reefs so when you go beyond the depth of
reefs so when you go beyond the depth of recreational scuba diving you wind up
recreational scuba diving you wind up
recreational scuba diving you wind up with reefs that are just a little bit
with reefs that are just a little bit
with reefs that are just a little bit more buffered from those hot summers
more buffered from those hot summers
more buffered from those hot summers that can kill all this coral and so what
that can kill all this coral and so what
that can kill all this coral and so what we found is that these these reefs out
we found is that these these reefs out
we found is that these these reefs out here they’re huge they’re thriving and
here they’re huge they’re thriving and
here they’re huge they’re thriving and they’re supporting endangered species
they’re supporting endangered species
they’re supporting endangered species and
and
and of tasty things for our islands so we
of tasty things for our islands so we
of tasty things for our islands so we come back to this graphic now I’ve
come back to this graphic now I’ve
come back to this graphic now I’ve changed a little bit the land is still
changed a little bit the land is still
changed a little bit the land is still colored black but what I’ve done is the
colored black but what I’ve done is the
colored black but what I’ve done is the colorful area outside of that land is
colorful area outside of that land is
colorful area outside of that land is now only between one and 300 feet and
now only between one and 300 feet and
now only between one and 300 feet and you can still see the 19 sites for the
you can still see the 19 sites for the
you can still see the 19 sites for the territorial monitoring program up here
territorial monitoring program up here
territorial monitoring program up here now you see those ones on the south drop
now you see those ones on the south drop
now you see those ones on the south drop those are those really good ones but
those are those really good ones but
those are those really good ones but with five reef sites we sort of we
with five reef sites we sort of we
with five reef sites we sort of we wanted to ask the question well what is
wanted to ask the question well what is
wanted to ask the question well what is this huge space around us what’s the
this huge space around us what’s the
this huge space around us what’s the potential for these reefs out here
potential for these reefs out here
potential for these reefs out here I mean it’s 435 square square miles so
I mean it’s 435 square square miles so
I mean it’s 435 square square miles so studying that is a little difficult for
studying that is a little difficult for
studying that is a little difficult for little old UVI with a handful of
little old UVI with a handful of
little old UVI with a handful of professors a handful of staff and a
professors a handful of staff and a
professors a handful of staff and a handful of graduate students so when I
handful of graduate students so when I
handful of graduate students so when I moved here five years ago we set out to
moved here five years ago we set out to
moved here five years ago we set out to develop a method that would allow us to
develop a method that would allow us to
develop a method that would allow us to sample these reefs in a way that we
sample these reefs in a way that we
sample these reefs in a way that we could manage and what we rested on was a
could manage and what we rested on was a
could manage and what we rested on was a set of GoPros and really deep water
set of GoPros and really deep water
set of GoPros and really deep water housings that would take pictures for us
housings that would take pictures for us
housings that would take pictures for us the nice thing about this is when we
the nice thing about this is when we
the nice thing about this is when we dived a 220 feet you have to spend hour
dived a 220 feet you have to spend hour
dived a 220 feet you have to spend hour you spend over an hour getting out of
you spend over an hour getting out of
you spend over an hour getting out of the water it’s dangerous and so using
the water it’s dangerous and so using
the water it’s dangerous and so using this system allows us to check out reefs
this system allows us to check out reefs
this system allows us to check out reefs before we go dive then you said that to
before we go dive then you said that to
before we go dive then you said that to take pictures every 10 seconds throw it
take pictures every 10 seconds throw it
take pictures every 10 seconds throw it into the water get a good one and lay
into the water get a good one and lay
into the water get a good one and lay points over it
points over it
points over it the ratio of coral points to the total
the ratio of coral points to the total
the ratio of coral points to the total tells you how much corals at that site
tells you how much corals at that site
tells you how much corals at that site it’s pretty simple we reduce the cost of
it’s pretty simple we reduce the cost of
it’s pretty simple we reduce the cost of sampling a reef by 95 percent we’ve also
sampling a reef by 95 percent we’ve also
sampling a reef by 95 percent we’ve also made our world a lot safer so we’re back
made our world a lot safer so we’re back
made our world a lot safer so we’re back to this one right we’ve been talking
to this one right we’ve been talking
to this one right we’ve been talking about these five breeders yeah these
about these five breeders yeah these
about these five breeders yeah these five debriefs these 19 total reefs that
five debriefs these 19 total reefs that
five debriefs these 19 total reefs that we’ve been monitoring up here since 2012
we’ve been monitoring up here since 2012
we’ve been monitoring up here since 2012 we’ve used that system that camera
we’ve used that system that camera
we’ve used that system that camera system to sample four hundred and
system to sample four hundred and
system to sample four hundred and sixteen reefs across the northern part
sixteen reefs across the northern part
sixteen reefs across the northern part of the territory to do that diving would
of the territory to do that diving would
of the territory to do that diving would have taken many many more days probably
have taken many many more days probably
have taken many many more days probably tenfold the number of days that we put
tenfold the number of days that we put
tenfold the number of days that we put into this work what’s even cooler about
into this work what’s even cooler about
into this work what’s even cooler about this is that 85% of those pink dots 85%
this is that 85% of those pink dots 85%
this is that 85% of those pink dots 85% of those drops had some kind of coral in
of those drops had some kind of coral in
of those drops had some kind of coral in them that doesn’t mean they all look
them that doesn’t mean they all look
them that doesn’t mean they all look like that last one that I showed you but
like that last one that I showed you but
like that last one that I showed you but many of them do especially in this area
many of them do especially in this area
many of them do especially in this area so if you know anything about the South
so if you know anything about the South
so if you know anything about the South drop you know that we have two protected
drop you know that we have two protected
drop you know that we have two protected reef areas out here in
reef areas out here in
reef areas out here in purple box based on our data and a very
purple box based on our data and a very
purple box based on our data and a very conservative estimate we believe there
conservative estimate we believe there
conservative estimate we believe there are more than 200 million living coral
are more than 200 million living coral
are more than 200 million living coral colonies right now in 2017 when all you
colonies right now in 2017 when all you
colonies right now in 2017 when all you read are those headlines about reefs
read are those headlines about reefs
read are those headlines about reefs dying it’s amazing these reefs are a
dying it’s amazing these reefs are a
dying it’s amazing these reefs are a jewel of the Caribbean it’s one of the
jewel of the Caribbean it’s one of the
jewel of the Caribbean it’s one of the only places out here where things are
only places out here where things are
only places out here where things are still holding on and thriving it’s
still holding on and thriving it’s
still holding on and thriving it’s pretty cool now I want to tell you a
pretty cool now I want to tell you a
pretty cool now I want to tell you a tale a bit of a precautionary tale about
tale a bit of a precautionary tale about
tale a bit of a precautionary tale about why we need to study these reefs and why
why we need to study these reefs and why
why we need to study these reefs and why we need to do it quickly I’m gonna tell
we need to do it quickly I’m gonna tell
we need to do it quickly I’m gonna tell you about Ginsburg’s fringe
you about Ginsburg’s fringe
you about Ginsburg’s fringe it’s a reef on the last drop into the
it’s a reef on the last drop into the
it’s a reef on the last drop into the Anegada Passage just south of the
Anegada Passage just south of the
Anegada Passage just south of the Grammatik Bank closure it’s in 220 feet
Grammatik Bank closure it’s in 220 feet
Grammatik Bank closure it’s in 220 feet of water to get down there and spend 20
of water to get down there and spend 20
of water to get down there and spend 20 minutes it takes us 70 minutes to
minutes it takes us 70 minutes to
minutes it takes us 70 minutes to decompress on our rebreathers not only
decompress on our rebreathers not only
decompress on our rebreathers not only that sometimes some big things come to
that sometimes some big things come to
that sometimes some big things come to say hello but what’s amazing about
say hello but what’s amazing about
say hello but what’s amazing about Ginsburg’s fringe is we really
Ginsburg’s fringe is we really
Ginsburg’s fringe is we really discovered this reef started
discovered this reef started
discovered this reef started understanding it in 2008 and we only put
understanding it in 2008 and we only put
understanding it in 2008 and we only put it into the monitoring program in 2011
it into the monitoring program in 2011
it into the monitoring program in 2011 back then it had 44% coral cover higher
back then it had 44% coral cover higher
back then it had 44% coral cover higher than just about any other known reef
than just about any other known reef
than just about any other known reef that we’ve studied in the territory but
that we’ve studied in the territory but
that we’ve studied in the territory but this reef sits just outside the
this reef sits just outside the
this reef sits just outside the Grammatik Bank closure because when that
Grammatik Bank closure because when that
Grammatik Bank closure because when that closure was made
closure was made
closure was made nobody knew this existed so harmonic
nobody knew this existed so harmonic
nobody knew this existed so harmonic Bank is a no fishing no anchoring zone
Bank is a no fishing no anchoring zone
Bank is a no fishing no anchoring zone that’s a really well protected and
that’s a really well protected and
that’s a really well protected and beautiful reef that’s part of that
beautiful reef that’s part of that
beautiful reef that’s part of that really healthy system I showed you the
really healthy system I showed you the
really healthy system I showed you the problem is this area not being protected
problem is this area not being protected
problem is this area not being protected we’re starting to see these anchors
we’re starting to see these anchors
we’re starting to see these anchors people are fully legally and but perhaps
people are fully legally and but perhaps
people are fully legally and but perhaps without knowing throwing their anchors
without knowing throwing their anchors
without knowing throwing their anchors onto this reef so they can fish outside
onto this reef so they can fish outside
onto this reef so they can fish outside of the closed area and it’s looking like
of the closed area and it’s looking like
of the closed area and it’s looking like this now since 2011 Ginsburg’s fringe is
this now since 2011 Ginsburg’s fringe is
this now since 2011 Ginsburg’s fringe is dropped from 44% cover to 22 it’s lost
dropped from 44% cover to 22 it’s lost
dropped from 44% cover to 22 it’s lost half of its coral not because of climate
half of its coral not because of climate
half of its coral not because of climate change not because of illegal fishing or
change not because of illegal fishing or
change not because of illegal fishing or illegal anything but because of
illegal anything but because of
illegal anything but because of ignorance because we don’t know these
ignorance because we don’t know these
ignorance because we don’t know these reefs exist and so the reason that this
reefs exist and so the reason that this
reefs exist and so the reason that this is so important to me is because if we
is so important to me is because if we
is so important to me is because if we don’t look for these things if we don’t
don’t look for these things if we don’t
don’t look for these things if we don’t find them understand them and protect
find them understand them and protect
find them understand them and protect them we’re gonna be losing reefs we
them we’re gonna be losing reefs we
them we’re gonna be losing reefs we don’t even know we have
don’t even know we have
don’t even know we have so that’s a bit of a bummer I know but
so that’s a bit of a bummer I know but
so that’s a bit of a bummer I know but we still have 200 million coral colonies
we still have 200 million coral colonies
we still have 200 million coral colonies in that space so it’s still alright
in that space so it’s still alright
in that space so it’s still alright we’re doing really well
we’re doing really well
we’re doing really well and like I said we’re one of the only
and like I said we’re one of the only
and like I said we’re one of the only areas in the Eastern Caribbean that has
areas in the Eastern Caribbean that has
areas in the Eastern Caribbean that has marine protected areas on these reefs so
marine protected areas on these reefs so
marine protected areas on these reefs so all around it’s a really positive story
all around it’s a really positive story
all around it’s a really positive story so we got us thinking we had gone from
so we got us thinking we had gone from
so we got us thinking we had gone from these five deep reefs that were really
these five deep reefs that were really
these five deep reefs that were really incredible
incredible
incredible we’d expand it out to the northern VI
we’d expand it out to the northern VI
we’d expand it out to the northern VI and understood hey there’s a lot of hope
and understood hey there’s a lot of hope
and understood hey there’s a lot of hope here there’s a lot of stuff going on
here there’s a lot of stuff going on
here there’s a lot of stuff going on that we don’t understand that aren’t
that we don’t understand that aren’t
that we don’t understand that aren’t described and aren’t studied what does
described and aren’t studied what does
described and aren’t studied what does that mean elsewhere so we went from home
that mean elsewhere so we went from home
that mean elsewhere so we went from home and we went into the neighborhood so
and we went into the neighborhood so
and we went into the neighborhood so this is something I’m working on daily
this is something I’m working on daily
this is something I’m working on daily this is a map of Musa footik reef
this is a map of Musa footik reef
this is a map of Musa footik reef potential in the Eastern Caribbean I
potential in the Eastern Caribbean I
potential in the Eastern Caribbean I know that Barbados Trinidad and Tobago
know that Barbados Trinidad and Tobago
know that Barbados Trinidad and Tobago should be on this map I didn’t forget
should be on this map I didn’t forget
should be on this map I didn’t forget them I just they aren’t ready yet I’m
them I just they aren’t ready yet I’m
them I just they aren’t ready yet I’m still working on it but what you can see
still working on it but what you can see
still working on it but what you can see here I’ve left the colorful map we were
here I’ve left the colorful map we were
here I’ve left the colorful map we were looking at first seeing Thomas and st.
looking at first seeing Thomas and st.
looking at first seeing Thomas and st. John up there and all the other colorful
John up there and all the other colorful
John up there and all the other colorful areas are shelfs like ours that could
areas are shelfs like ours that could
areas are shelfs like ours that could have coral reefs like ours so for
have coral reefs like ours so for
have coral reefs like ours so for instance we know ceiba if you know that
instance we know ceiba if you know that
instance we know ceiba if you know that island that area is full of coral like
island that area is full of coral like
island that area is full of coral like ours but there are all these other
ours but there are all these other
ours but there are all these other systems like the Anguilla Saint Maarten
systems like the Anguilla Saint Maarten
systems like the Anguilla Saint Maarten st. Barts shelf the Antigua of our
st. Barts shelf the Antigua of our
st. Barts shelf the Antigua of our beauty shelf Saint Vincent and
beauty shelf Saint Vincent and
beauty shelf Saint Vincent and Grenadines and Grenada shelf that have
Grenadines and Grenada shelf that have
Grenadines and Grenada shelf that have huge potential areas for these coral
huge potential areas for these coral
huge potential areas for these coral reefs where corals could be clinging to
reefs where corals could be clinging to
reefs where corals could be clinging to life in this changing ocean of ours the
life in this changing ocean of ours the
life in this changing ocean of ours the thing is nobody’s looked at it if just
thing is nobody’s looked at it if just
thing is nobody’s looked at it if just 5% of the space that I’m showing you
5% of the space that I’m showing you
5% of the space that I’m showing you right now looks like our reefs that’s 2
right now looks like our reefs that’s 2
right now looks like our reefs that’s 2 million acres of healthy living coral
million acres of healthy living coral
million acres of healthy living coral reef that’s not known not talked about
reef that’s not known not talked about
reef that’s not known not talked about not protected so there’s work in that
not protected so there’s work in that
not protected so there’s work in that but there’s also a lot of hope and
but there’s also a lot of hope and
but there’s also a lot of hope and that’s what I get to work on every day
that’s what I get to work on every day
that’s what I get to work on every day so when people ask me that question how
so when people ask me that question how
so when people ask me that question how can you do what you do when everything
can you do what you do when everything
can you do what you do when everything you love is dying I don’t sugarcoat it
you love is dying I don’t sugarcoat it
you love is dying I don’t sugarcoat it I tell them yeah we’ve lost more coral
I tell them yeah we’ve lost more coral
I tell them yeah we’ve lost more coral in my lifetime than the past ten
in my lifetime than the past ten
in my lifetime than the past ten lifetimes but we haven’t even looked at
lifetimes but we haven’t even looked at
lifetimes but we haven’t even looked at half of the seafloor that could have
half of the seafloor that could have
half of the seafloor that could have coral reefs on it and where we have here
coral reefs on it and where we have here
coral reefs on it and where we have here in the VI
in the VI
in the VI the coral reefs are unlike anything else
the coral reefs are unlike anything else
the coral reefs are unlike anything else that you can see diving snorkeling
that you can see diving snorkeling
that you can see diving snorkeling recreationally and they’re still doing
recreationally and they’re still doing
recreationally and they’re still doing really well
really well
really well and for me that’s hope for me that’s a
and for me that’s hope for me that’s a
and for me that’s hope for me that’s a chance for the future so it’s about this
chance for the future so it’s about this
chance for the future so it’s about this time in the conference in the
time in the conference in the
time in the conference in the conversation that people asked me their
conversation that people asked me their
conversation that people asked me their final question what can I do how can I
final question what can I do how can I
final question what can I do how can I help and what I tell them is you have to
help and what I tell them is you have to
help and what I tell them is you have to take stock of every part of your life be
take stock of every part of your life be
take stock of every part of your life be mindful of the way that your choices the
mindful of the way that your choices the
mindful of the way that your choices the things you consume the waste you produce
things you consume the waste you produce
things you consume the waste you produce how that affects the world around you
how that affects the world around you
how that affects the world around you and that that goes for anybody living
and that that goes for anybody living
and that that goes for anybody living here on an island surrounded by reefs in
here on an island surrounded by reefs in
here on an island surrounded by reefs in the ocean or if you live up in the
the ocean or if you live up in the
the ocean or if you live up in the States in the middle of the country your
States in the middle of the country your
States in the middle of the country your choices matter where you throw your
choices matter where you throw your
choices matter where you throw your anchor what food you eat what ways do
anchor what food you eat what ways do
anchor what food you eat what ways do you produce think on those things and
you produce think on those things and
you produce think on those things and you might help help out thank you very
you might help help out thank you very
you might help help out thank you very much
”
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