First, thanks Sean for your vigilance and the recent Youtube-we have to prevent Freewinds damage. Are we at risk for Pfiesteria or other toxic algal bloom from either sewage or other runoff or an imbalance caused by the high ammonia dumps? Since toxic algae would kill fish and endanger humans as well is this another issue? Can the water and fish be tested? Are there any lesions on fish being noticed? It doesn't take much to cause an imbalance in the ecology so with all our lack of control over these pollutants awareness of these types of toxins should, we hope, increase.

Dennis: You seem to be a bit behind. Let me try to catch you up. Read Update on Moray Mortality at bottom of this topic page and also, another blog of mine, http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/366674/387059.html?1233419426

also Dennis, this before the moray mortality discovery. Sort of a premonition
http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/366674/374534.html?1220400776

Jerry-is the red algae you refer to the same species as the "red tide" algae in the Gulf of Mexico? There it aerolizes and becomes a respiratory and skin irritant and causes fish kills-I haven't seen any fish kills on Bonaire...

Dennis: Algal blooms (Red Tides)info on Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tide

Almost positive that the two are not the same. The red algae that I refer to is bottom dwelling and is directly related to nutrients coming from sewage, which is human caused.
It is disheartening to learn that only a small percentage of the resort managers are intelligent enough to see the consequences of continuing to let their septic tanks run over and leak into the ocean. And it is disheartening also to learn that the govt officials are not intelligent enough to not know the SCIENCE behind why we are killing our reefs. And there seems little hope coming from STINAPA, our marine park manager, because they know the science, yet are powerless to do anything about it. Ignorance is bliss. Jerry

What's the latest on sewage trucking and the temporary sewage treatment capability?

I wonder if someone can give me some more information here?
there have been projects running for well over a year to monitor water quality. Have these studies shown any evidence that there is a connection between the water treatment system on the island and pollution in the water? If so, has that information been published and if so where?
Is there any relative information about the effect sea-side resorts, cargo ships, small boats and of course everyone's favourite whipping post - Freewinds.
What I am getting at is - everyone is so sure that Freewinds and the lack of sewage treatment are our biggest problems, but is there any evidence that we are right to think that.
if there is any actual evidence, then just maybe if you read Bruce Bowker's excellent guest editorial in this week's Reporter, something CAN be done.

Although I sympathize with Jerry's pessimism, it is possible for us all to make a difference by writing to the Dutch transition folks and telling them what you are seeing on Bonaire's reefs. (for their names, see this week's Reporter www.bonairereporter.com.) Also check out my column this week, "Sewage Dreams," in the same issue.

The STINAPA folks are just afraid of losing their jobs, so they don't agitate or enforce and end up looking the other way. So there need to be other true environmentalists who have nothing to lose to agitate for change from the outside. If you fit that description, DO IT before these reefs are dead!!!

After all, these reefs do not belong to Bonaire, but to the planet; there were here millions of years before Bonaire was even a word.

Pauline: Before Stinapa can be accused of not enforcing or looking the other way, there has to be regulations, and there just aren't any to deal with the sewage. It is not illegal to dump poo onto the reef, just individual hotel and dive shop managers' conscience and knowledge of what the effects will be.

I know Ramon, and Elsmarie well enough to know the depth of their commitment. Right now all Stinapa can do is try to make the island people realize the damage, and appeal to their conscience to do, voluntarily, what they should do to save the reefs, and wait for some enforcement to come via the Island's Nature Ordinance recommendations.

Kudos to Bruce Bowker's editorial. I sometimes need some positive input, and welcome it. I have had recent communication with one of the transition members from Holland and he is appalled at the lack of concern shown by govt officials. THey do not have the SCIENCE to make helpful regulations. Jerry

I guess I don't understand. STINAPA has regulations it has made, such as no gloves. Why can it not make regulations against sewage? The science showing sewage is a problem is far more extensive and compelling than the science against gloves.

Gloves don't make sewage..but they are a hazard to the reef..
The ships/establishments etc. are making and DEPOSITING sewage and they are a hazard to the reef...
Regulation's I would imagine have nothing to do with science...(of the reef.)

I believe I understand Mel's point as that gloves (or divers with gloves) and sewage both cause damage to the reef.

I suspect the difference is that the law/regulations establishing STINAPA does not give them the authority to 'regulate' sewage. The old Rule of Law thing.

Pauline. Thanks for your article & also suggestion for writing to the Regional Service Center (RSC).

Perhaps if we had the RSC director's (Wil van Delft) e mail, it would make it a bit easier. I suspect he would be the person to contact to express our concern over the lack of a proper waste water disposal complex. Does anyone have it? If so please post. I'd be glad (as I'm sure many others) would be to send him correspondence on this subject.

I guess the lack of an answer tells me that either the research that has been done on Bonaire does not prove that sewage is causing damage, or that no results ever get published.
usually if results don't get published it means that they don't prove what people want to prove.

I would LOVE to see the results of local research on the water quality. Mayge CIEE and LMSP can do a presentation one day!

Joby: I am also waiting for any new results from the LMSP. Supposedly, during the summer, the professors have more time to input new results. THe volunteers have been downloading the data from the sites, they have been keeping the sensor pads clean of algae build-up and CIEE has been sending the data to the U of Cal professors. Everyone is waiting. For the latest that I have, visit the STINAPA website: http://www.bmp.org/lightandmotion.html
Jerry

I certainly agree should be interesting to see the latest data generated from the LMSP program. Jerry please let us know when this comes in.

Joby, Two years ago, Brian La Pointe, marine biologist from Florida and an expert in nutrient pollution, spent 4 days here explaining results of testing that had been done and toured the island pointing out algae evidence of nutrient pollution from wastewater and sewage. At that time, he declared Bonaire's reefs were "at the point of no return," mostly because of wastewater pollution (i.e. sewage and run-off)

About a year later, Director of the Marine Park, Ramon de Leon, issued a statement saying the reefs were being seriously compromised by sewage and that they could not wait until 2014 for the sewage plan to be implemented. As a result, a short-term plan for trucking sewage from shoreline hotels and resorts was developed. We are still waiting for the trucks and the portable sewage processin plant.

The evidence is clear that sewage is killing the reef. The will to stop the sewage from seeping into the sea and killing the reef seems to be sorely lacking, however.

Maybe the Dutch transitional officers will "grease the wheels" before it is too late.

It would be nice to see the more recent test results from LMSP - that should settle the issue and stop it from being just opinion. the sooner the sewage treatment gets underway, obviously the better anyway.

But what about other sources of pollution such as the fine dust/sand run-off which is clear to see from building sites on the front/ What about the 100s(?) or at least dozens of small boats flushing directly above the reef - is it chemicals or untreated waste they are depositing?

there are plenty of controls on board the cruise ships to ensure they only dump well off-shore, but are there such controls for cargo ships?

Is any of the pollution washed onto our reef from elsewhere?

JOBY, do you have any evidence that your speculation is based on anything valid? ("No" would be the right answer.) Why, for example, would you even bring up "fine dust/sand" since the problem is nutrient enrichment, not passive sediment? The science is clear, there is no argument. The politics are clear, there is no argument. The problem is that the science and the politics yield different solutions, and politics always trumps.

I don't mean to be unkind, but the fact that you do not understand the science doesn't imply that the science is not clear.

Waiting for LMSP results is a delaying tactic and a red herring. LMSP cannot be definitive, and will be surrounded by caveats. Those who wish the science to triumph will claim all is now clear; those who wish to do nothing will claim we still don't have hard data. Bonaire is not the first place this kind of argument has taken place, and will not be the last.

What is at balance is the health of the reefs.

I apologize if this comes across as unfair or too harsh, but JOBY's msg pushed about a dozen of my hot buttons.

Mel, Wonderful analysis! Let's just hope that someone in the political world sees that Bonaire's tourist economy is perched on a precipice because of the sewage and that without IMMEDIATE trucking and treatment, the Netherlands will be signing on for an island with little means of bringing in money.

I am hopeful someone in the Dutch transition team will see the train coming down the tracks and get the trucks and the portable sewage processing plant here ASAP! (i.e. yesterday)

STINAPA - no gloves policy is "helping" preserve the reef.

However, the evidence is clear that sewage is killing the reef.

Pretty soon Bonaire will need to adopt the policy where gloves will be mandatory to prevent contamination!

Penny-wise and pound foolish. Gloves do little to preserve the reef. Wake-up people.

Bob

I am sorry, gloves DO NOT hurt the reef any more than GUNS kill..
It is people that do the damage!

People /divers/businesses not caring what they do to damage the reef or not understanding the consequences of their actions

just my 2cents..

[It is people that do the damage!]

Quite true Krispi and I'm in your camp on this. But, people are not the sole cause of damage to the reef. Case in point, mother nature has been known to cause quite a bit of damage on occasion.

Exactly my point guys. STINAPA and others make diving with gloves a felony but ignore the obvious damage done by Mother Nature (Omar, Lenny) and they make little or no effort to impact the MOST PREVENTABLE destruction caused by the sewage discharge problem.

Unbelievable.

Bob

First, let me say that LMSP is an UNFUNDED program. All the monies for the sensors were from donations-mostly divers. Second, neither the divers servicing the sensors nor the scientists evaluating the data have been paid a dime. Third, BNMP, dispite a limited budget, has supported LMSP with funds and SIGNIFICENT effort to make the program work.

In the case of the scientists evaluating the data, funding has been cut 50% due to the economic situation in the US.

That being said I am looking at data from the last year and will write a report based on it when analysis is complete. (You want faster action-SEND MONEY!)

My conclusions will be based on the scientific evidence not opinion. (You recall that our experiments concluded that the cruise ships did NOT cause mechanical damage the reef like many here thought.) As scientists we can only publish definitive data. We will publish when we are ready.

Expect a report in about a month or two. It will be posted at www.rainbowsensor.com and the BNMP site. There is currently some preliminary data on water clarity and temperature up on www.rainbowsensor.com.

STINAPA and BNMP is NOT ignoring the situation. I am in constant communication with Ramon. We are working the issue.

Regards,
Tom Reynolds
LMSP Program Manager (USA)