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Sunday, April 18, 2010
Why did the chicken cross the Great Barrier Reef?
Seriously: why did the 189-meter Chinese bulk carrier MV Mimosa cross
the Great Barrier Marine National Park (Green) Zone near Cowboys Reef, Chicken Reef and Lynch's Reef? (See Great Keppel Island Australia)
Ships over 50 meter are not allowed to enter protected areas on the Reef under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975. So why does a 189 meter vessel ignores these rules?
And why is the fine only $70.000 for each of the 3 crew members when they were destroying an ecosystem that is as important for the sea as fresh air is for you and me?
I remember many years ago during my last Great Barrier Reef vacation diving in Chicken Reef: I especially remember the humongous clams, some are almost as big as me. But it's not about 1 clam...
It's about huge coral trees that you can't see when sailing or snorkeling over the Great Barrier Reef. But just imagine what happens when a to big illegal vessel hits this coral tree? Exactly: it will be completely destroyed, taking with it all the diversity of marine life that was surrounding it.
It's like cutting the rain forest: in the last 10 years the temperature in my apartment in Malaysia has gone up by 4 degrees... It's not about one clam, it's not about 1 tree... but there is only 1 earth and it's changing for the worst in less than 10 years. The poor condition of the Malaysian coral reefs are really heartbreaking: lots of them just look like a gray coral graveyard.
Can fines of $70.000 really protect future scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef? The only way to protect our planet and enjoy its most beautiful reefs, beaches and other travel destinations is by changing our lifestyle to be more sustainable and less invasive.
Why can you get the death penalty for killing members of your community, but only pay $70.000 for killing members of the Great Barrier Reef?
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