Friday, July 28, 2006

Of all the issues affecting these Islands, the one that is easiest to forget is the health of our surrounding reefs. Corals around the world are dying and scientists are struggling to find out why so they can stop, or at least slow down, the rate of mortality.

Even though most of us don't see the reefs on a day to day basis, this should concern us, since they are the main reason tourists come to the Sister Islands.

Should the reefs suffer significant degradation, as is happening in other destinations, our tourist rates will plummet and we will all be affected.

Almost all of the people in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman depend in some way directly or indirectly for their livelihoods on tourism, including all those who work at the airport - security and airport staff, Cayman Airways, customs, immigration and fire officers.

Residents of Belize are so concerned about the danger, they have petitioned the United Nations to step in to protect a barrier reef which lies just off Belize in Central America.

According to the BBC, Island residents fear its erosion could endanger their homes and livelihoods if action is not taken soon.

The people in Belize understand that the reef offers protection from storms, a home for reef creatures, a nursery for many marine species, and is vital to the marine environment. If it dies, there'll be no fishing.

We may not be able to do much about global warming, but we can insist that the politicians do everything they can to support reef research and protect the corals that protect the people, physically and economically.

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