There is a recent post on Trip Reports about no more Green Morays and few spotted eels. Does anyone have updated information from Jerry or CIEE?

How about eels on the east side? They would appear to be unaffected by any runoff problems.

Maybe this is a stimulus to act on runoff issues or whatever is the cause.

Does anyone know about any eel autopsy or toxin studies that were being done last fall?

We had a chance to meet Jerry and speak with him when we were in Bonaire over Christmas. At that time, he said the cause of the eels dying was related to a cholera-like bacteria which has been found in South America. He did also say that the presence of this in the water was usually related to inadequate sewage treatment.

Now, you'll have to forgive me if I've totally botched up the science here (bacteria vs. virus...) but the gist of this report is on target - the cause of the eels dying has to do with water quality.

With that said, my wife and I saw many, many eels along the Bari Reef corridor and off Klein - a couple of good size greem morays, some baby greens, many spotted, a couple of chain morays, several sharptails, and a few goldentail. [If I can find the formatting guides, I'll post our dive pictures - there's one of a tiny, tiny eel of which I'm pretty proud...8^)...].

Jerry had said something about posting an update...hope he will - hate to rely on me...8^)


Peace,

John

John - thanks. The issue is obviously of great concern to everyone - divers and non-divers. I am looking forward to an update from Jerry.

You can read CIEE student Kara Kozak's report about the Moray Eel mortalities in issue # 4 (Fall 2008) of CIEE's Physis Journal of Marine Science. Here is the link...
http://www.cieebonaire.org/downloads/Physis%20Vol%204.pdf

It is clear from this report that sewage is the culprit. What will it take for Bonaire to realize that the sewage must be stopped? Will it take mounds of putrifying fish also dying of bacterias and viruses coming from human waste seeping from shoreline hotels, resorts, condos, apartments, etc.? Will it take some tourists getting e coli sickness and maybe even dying? That should put a real dent in Bonaire's #1 rating by divers!

Time to get serious with polluters; time for fines, criminal penalties, etc. or Bonaire will not be "leading by example," as the tourist literature claims, but instead a "shameful example."

SOS Campaign To Save Bonaire's Reefs
SOSBonaireReef@gmail.com

Thanks Ellen.

That was an excellent article from CIEE. Thanks. I devoured it in detail but it does not identify a source of the problem like sewage, so......

OK, just finished reading the eel study findings, and the waste water study. Very interesting. It seems that the eel deaths were due to a bacterium that affected only eels. The numbers dropped dramatically in November (good news for eels).

Now, the fact that Enterococcus bacteria (not the bacterium that killed the eels) was found at all sites in the waste water runoff study...pretty disgusting.

Dan I'm with you, I loved reading the information...

(Message edited by cyndelee on January 7, 2009)

Excellent reading on the eels & also is #2 the #1 problem. Lets hope that the downward spike in the # of dead eels in Nov is not because the majority were already killed. The students & staff are doing great work & ought to be commended.

Yes - strong commendations to CIEE and BNMP folks, Jerry and all who assisted these efforts. It was a rapid response to an acute problem by all involved. Unfortunately no response from governmental authorities on how their roles and duties will play out. No word of concern I have seen in Bonaire Reporter of Bonaire Insider yet of the acknowledgement of this matter. I trust that will come in due course as the issue affects the future of the island as a business matter.

What is needed for sewage treatment in Bonaire?

Are we talking about a major infrastructure project (a plant) or just dusting some powder in the cesspools around the island?

If it's a plant (which would be my guess), what's the estimated cost and can it be financed (and how) in the current crisis?

Leo..This is a super MAJOR project. The money (24 mil Euro) for the sewage plant & lines has already been allocated by the European Union (19 mil) Netherlands Gov.(5 mil). This is what they call a tertiary treatment plant. The system will pipe the waste water inland and treat it sufficiently so that a portion can be used for irrigation. Construction scheduled to begin mid 2010 with completion 2014.. From what I understand the government is in the process of securing construction bids.

Vince, that's good to hear. I assume then that the old controversy about the fraud allegations has been settled?

Leo and Vince, no, there are still fraud allegations swirling around, and what is more disturbing is that an alternative plan that would cost less money and be operational much sooner has been rejected in favor of the "white elephant" plan, which will be much more costly and not be operational until after the reefs are dead (according to estimates by Ramon De Leon, Director of the Marine Park, and other marine biologists). Typical bureaucratic nonsense to hide who is getting paid under the table, so to speak.

Supposedly a mobile sewage processing plant is crated and on its way. No word when that will be operational. Perhaps the new Dutch Czar in charge of the transition can jumpstart the project to save both Bonaire's reefs and its economy. Pray everyone!

SOS Campaign To Save Bonaire's Reefs

I enjoyed reading Ms. Kozak's paper in Physis. Very well done and kudos to all the researchers at the CIEE marine station.

Let me start by saying that: 1). I DO believe that Bonaire's reefs are suffering and are in danger of major decline, and 2). I DO believe that improper sewage management is contributing to the declining health of Bonaire's reefs.

Having said that, there are no data in the very nice article in Physis to convince me that sewage was the proximate cause of the eel die-off. The author provided only gross anatomic descriptions of the eel pathology, with no supporting microbiologic data to confirm her hypothesis that V. vulnificus is the pathogen. Stating that the necropsy findings were "consistent with" Vibro disease is very interesting but doesn't come close to fulfilling Koch's postulates for causality (which Ms. Kozak clearly acknowledges). I hope some confirmatory microbiologic studies are still ongoing.

In addition, V. vulnificus is not a bacteria that is usually associated with human waste run-off. It is a common part of the normal marine flora, found worldwide in warm shallow water, especially in areas with lower salinity. Different serovars occupy various ecological niches. (Parenthetically, V. vulnificus can kill people, too. Ever see those signs in restaurants or bars in the U.S. advising people with liver disease to avoid eating raw oysters? The threat of potentially lethal Vibrio vulnificus infection is the reason.)

Anyway, the point of this tedious lecture is that the eel die-off COULD be a natural phenomenon unrelated to the sewage management issue. Until the precise cause of the eel mortality is established, it would not be appropriate to use the dead eels as evidence supporting the need for a modern waste management facility on Bonaire. There are plenty of other data (like the #2 article in the same issue of Physis) that make it clear that improved sewage disposal must be a top priority.

John..I noted the same thing but really did not want to open up a can of worms so to speak since 99% of us on this board believe that increasing eutrophication of the surrounding waters are caused by human activity.

The pathogen resulting in the die off "may" also be the result of construction activity increasing particulate matter in the water or other human related activities & not necessarily resulting from sewage. Alternatively, it could also be a naturally occurring event not related to human activity; like the decimation of the sea urchins in the late 80's & early 90's.

**Pauline** I was under the impression that the mobile sewage to be in place early part of 2009 was an interim/temporary measure to buy time before the aforementioned sewage project is to be completely functional by 2014.

Vince, yes, that is the hope of having a mobile sewage processing plant but everyone must be convinced or forced to truck their sewage to be processed. and still there are some resorts, hotels, buildings, etc. that are not trucking their sewage in a timely fashion. I am hoping there will be an ordinance passed forcing all on the shoreline across the island ( and not just from Hato to Punt Vierkant) to truck their sewage frequently before it can seep into the sea.

Only then will it be a success.

Of course, the seeping landfill at lagoen is also causing major pollution and that does not seem to be addressed. Drive to Lagoen and check out all the algae, scum, oil slick,etc. and you will think you are in an urban area not Bonaire.
Of course, the seeping landfill in Lagoen is another major source of pollution

Nonetheless, a mobile sewage treatment capability is better than than nothing. Kudo's to whoever's behind that effort.