Paradise Screwed: Spiegel Grove and the Florida KeysPowered by CDNN - CYBER DIVER News Network
by Dr. ALISTAIR BILLINGS| Too many dive boats, too many sport fishers, too many people have turned the Florida Keys into an ecological disaster. |
It's hard to believe that only 50 years ago, an hour's drive from Miami airport and a 20 minute boat ride across crystalline aquamarine waters could take divers, sport fishers and boaters to an unspoiled underwater paradise.But there it was - the world of the Florida Keys - a curving line of shining islets stretching from Biscayne Bay for over 150 miles to the southwest. As it had remained for thousands of years, the undersea treasure that was the Florida Keys of the 50s - even the early 70s - was flanked by vast tracts of unblemished corals washed by shallow turquoise seas. The unspoiled habitats were occupied by an abundance and diversity of marine life that equaled - if not surpassed - just about anything else the tropical western Atlantic had to offer. But that was then, and this is now. Sure, the water still looks pretty on the sand flats - on a good day anyway. And there are still more than a few fish to be seen. But the condition of the reefs? The quality of coastal waters here? That's another story entirely. See, in the Keys, you can mess with people's health. You can mess with the ocean environment. You can do just about anything you want to marine wildlife. But don't even THINK about messing with dive operator profits. |
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You might not know that until you arrive though, especially if you plan vacations around Chamber of Commerce come-ons. "When it comes to diving and snorkeling, the Florida Keys unlock an underwater paradise…crystal clear waters with visibility up to 120 feet…coral reefs teeming with life…Visibility averages 60 to 80 feet with good days topping 120 plus feet." Wowie! What's wrong with that? Nothing - if you believe it. If you had no way of knowing that the pictures in that brochure they sent you were actually taken in 1972. What you - Joe Tourist Diver - are NOT supposed to see are those nasty little government and news reports that document the real Florida Keys circa 2002. Like, "Water quality tests at Keys beaches revealed unacceptable levels of fecal coliform bacteria in public swimming areas." (Keys news report) Or, "We have documented a loss of corals in the Florida Keys. The loss rate at the studied locations averaged 4% per year, and was up to 10% per year in some places." (James W. Porter, Ph. D.) Or, "Other studies have detected human viruses and fecal bacteria in many residential canal systems of the Keys which are indicative of contamination of those water bodies by human feces." (Dr. Bill Kruczynski, Florida Keys Program Scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Or (from a 6-28-2000 health advisory) "Canals and near-shore waters in Key Largo, Lower Matecumbe Key and Marathon contain viruses that cause polio and viral meningitis. Swimming or fishing in some Keys canals could be hazardous to health. Even wading or eating raw or improperly cooked fish from infectious areas carries considerable health risks." "Holy moly", you say. "Where's all that crap coming from?" | Why spend taxpayer funds on sewage systems when you can buy the 'Spiegel Grove'? |
According to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-funded expert, " All the detected viruses are transmissible by human feces and are believed to have migrated into Keys canals and near-shore waters in raw sewage from leaking cesspools and septic tanks."Ok - so the problem has been identified. That's a good start. So, what are they doing about it down there? Everyone knows they have to fix this right NOW, don't they? Nope. Not everyone, Joe. Not if it means cutting down a bit on those big diver dollars that have come to mean so much, to so few. Been to a Key Largo Chamber of Commerce meeting lately? They go something like this: "Sure, we could put all the money we can get our hands on to begin cleaning up all this stinkin' sewage. Course, not as many divers will come down here until it's fixed, and that could take some time." "Hmm…you're right. Hey - I've got it! We can just move the diving further offshore - out past those damn fecal form things, floating poop and dead reefs - we can put fake reefs wherever we want, just by sinking old ships! "Yeah!. And we'll charge every diver an extra ten bucks to pay for sinking 'em, and then make each pay another $75 for a one-hour lecture and a Wreck Diving merit badge!" "Sure, it'll cost a few bucks up front - but what about that big bag of cash earmarked for improvements in water quality that's just sitting around in the County coffers - that should be plenty - just tell the County we'll pay 'em back when we collect enough ten dollar diver fees!" "Sure, it's in a National Marine Sanctuary. But that's what it REALLY means down here - Sanctuary for dive tours. Anyway, I know The Management. They don't want any trouble with us - they'll go along." And they did go along - all of them did. Tired of healthy coral reefs and the same old fish? Go to the Florida Keys and dive Duane, Bibb, Spiegel Grove PLUS JESUS all for just $299!!! |
The Monroe County Commission just approved immediate diversion of $300,000 slated for water clean-up to instead prepare the "Spiegel Grove" - a 500' mothballed government ship that will be sunk this summer off Key Largo in FKNMS waters. The County swears the shell game is just a temporary ledger shift - but we've heard that before.The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary just OK'd the sinking of this massive unnatural object in Sanctuary waters, even as the Program reaffirmed its role as vaunted guardians of the "ecological integrity" of the Keys marine environment. No matter that "scientists are concerned that artificial reefs may harm fish stocks if they merely concentrate available biomass rather than increase its production on a regional basis". (Dr. Gary Grossman, 1997) No matter that the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council (a citizen body made up of a variety of stakeholder interests) passed a resolution in December of 2001 asking Billy Causey to express to the Monroe County Commission their disapproval of the Commission's vote to fund creation of the Spiegel Grove artificial reef using wastewater funds targeted for Lower Keys. Causey had apparently given the green light to dive operators of Key Largo way back when they first approached him with the idea. He is quoted in 1998 :"Though some fish scientists say artificial reefs can hurt the real thing by competing with them, the Sanctuary is willing to give these (Spiegel Grove and another large ship a try." And that, folks, is the end game of Paradise Screwed - Keys style. See, in the Keys, you can mess with people's health. You can mess with the ocean environment. You can do just about anything you want to marine wildlife. But in the Keys, don't even THINK about messing with dive operator profits. That's going too far in a land that boasts "more dive shops per square mile than anywhere else in the world". No matter that the Keys have lost 80-90% of their living coral since 1970, and that once-lush living reefs have been reduced to tumbled piles of algal and sponge covered rocks. No matter that once-clear coastal waters - the lifeblood of the entire ecosystem - are today frequently unsafe for people to swim in, let alone for fish to live in. No matter at all, if you'll just open your hearts and believe in the enlightening words of Keys dive operator and Chamber of Commerce leader Steven Frink: "The Florida Keys have long set the world standard of marine conservation and ecological concern". Thanks for that, Steve - it mean's a lot, coming from the man leading the charge to put sunken ships ahead of Keys water quality. No wonder Jimmy Buffett moved to New York City. He just wanted a cleaner environment. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum | 
