Professor Ivan Goodbody, Contributor
Sea egg grazing on coral.
WE MUST REMEMBER that entire ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangroves represent a part of our biodiversity and need special attention for protection and conservation. Both reefs and mangroves are a part of the natural protection against coastal erosion and each provides a barrier against abnormal wave action. This role as coastal protection was amply demonstrated in parts of the Indian Ocean during the Tsunami event of 2004 and on our own shores was effective along the north coast during the events of several recent hurricanes, notably 'Allen' in 1980 and 'Gilbert' in 1988.
Apart from natural events such as storms and tsunamis, one of the greatest threats to our marine biodiversity is unregulated activity by man. The problem of over fishing is well known and has frequently been the subject of columns in this newspaper. Over fishing is essentially the unsustainable harvesting of stocks in such a manner that the rate of reproduction is unable to keep pace with the rate of mortality caused
by fishing practices. Other examples of human activity may be quoted: the development of the tourist industry requires development along the coastline involving hotel construction, waste disposal, beach development and other activities which in sum total may destroy or modify animal and plant
communities. Other forms of physical development posing risks to biodiversity are seabed dredging for shipping channels and drilling for oil.
MANAGE THE RISKS
We need to have accurate scientific information about these communities so that conservationists and developers may work together to manage the risks to the environment and avoid verbal confrontation based on emotion rather than scientific facts. This will not always be easy. For instance, 40 years ago scientists at the University of the West Indies (UWI) undertook a survey of biodiversity in the deep sea around Jamaica. That survey determined that the Walton Channel is an area of great species richness. If seismic data shows that the Walton Channel is a potential source of oil, no one could seriously suggest that conservation of this rich diversity should take precedence over oil exploration. It is rich in species diversity but not in economic potential. Future research and technological development may alter that prediction, and meanwhile we must be satisfied with the knowledge that we know what is at risk should oil exploration ever be approved.
RICH DIVERSITY
We have an obligation to document this rich diversity and take appropriate measures to protect it for the benefit of future generations of Jamaicans. This in turn demands that in those instances in which we use marine resources for
economic benefit, that this is done in a sustainable manner. None of this is easy and for success it requires not only suitablelegislation which is enforced but also the
cooperation of everyone who uses the marine environment whether it is in pursuit of their livelihood or for purely
recreational purposes. It also requires that adequate financial resources are obtained to
support the scientific work needed for documentation
and conservation planning.
In conclusion, we have
noted that there is a rich
diversity of plants and animals in Jamaica's ocean space. These biological resources
provide economic benefit in several different ways: as a source of food, as a possible reservoir of hitherto undis-
covered compounds of
medical importance and in the case of reefs and mangrove forests as a first line of protection against coastal erosion. Additionally, the white sands of our beaches, so important to the viability of the tourist industry, are produced by plants living on the reefs.
