Environmentalists and coral reef decay

THE EDITOR, Madam:

ENVIRONMENTALISTS WILL have a lot to answer for in years to come especially so from the younger generation. Why have they waited so long to tell us about the marine decay north of Doctors Cave Beach in Montego Bay? The coral reef there is barren rather like an abandoned graveyard. One could snorkel there with tears in one's eyes. Not an inch stem of coral remains, these to be found on the beach where the sea meets the sand, the result of meticulous dredging.

Visitors to the North Coast and locals alike are speechless. The local owner of the glass bottom boat makes a daily rendezvous with the few fishes remaining which are fed with bread from a plastic bag.

How does one rebuild a coral reef? The eerie silence of the dead coral suggests that this is not an easy task, but one that must be encouraged from now into the near future.

I am, etc.,

PAM GORDON-HICKLING

Harbour View

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