SCTLD started in Cozumel last December from what I’m told - I was here in November and seen nothing, moved here in April and it’s here. NOAA has done huge studies for cause and cure - as far as I’m aware, no answers. They have maps showing the disease spread thru Florida and the Caribbean - it’s not a bleaching, it kills the coral within weeks.
I inquired about doing something here, getting involved with NOAA, let’s get to work here but it’s difficult, not sure what the park did at all. I do know there are a lot of “retired “ divers that would have loved to chart and observe, but you can’t do anything.
I did see a dive op post something on Facebook about their efforts, was it coordinated with anyone, who knows.
What is stressful is this method - will it work? What are the goals, what are the standards? I do know a rash decision as this is what it looks like, will have negative long term effects - I’m not saying tourism should drive conservation but you should think about it.
If we really feel that diving is causing stress, shut down a few sites - put red buoys out - no diving from here to there, huge penalties. Of course that is much harder to police verses sitting a guy on a pier.
How about the existing rules?? Why not enforce those? Why not evaluate the runoff problem if there is one?
I’m all for trying something, I’d just hope it was an organized and well thought out plan, encompassing all the potential problems.