Mining is not major cause of coral reef destruction at Mactan

To ONEOCEAN.ORG:

t is an honor to be quoted in a news article on your website ("Mactan reefs destroyed by coral mining industry?"). However, by its title, the article implies that coral mining is THE major problem. By no means, it is not.

The Freeman article from whence your article came was based on my paper titled LUTEA (Lapu-Lapu Underwater Tourism and Environmental Authority). LUTEA is intended as a vehicle for proper coral reef rehabilitation and maintenance. Basically, it is strict management of all the reefs that belong to Lapu-Lapu City, with proper regulation of the diving industry.

Discussion regarding coral reef destruction was only one part of the article. And it states: "The bottom-line goal of LUTEA is to rehabilitate and preserve the coral reef. This requires no less than total regulation of scuba diving activities and reef management. The causes of coral reef destruction are all identified, and they are:

1. Cyanide (Kos-kos) fishing for food
2. Cyanide (Kos-kos) method of tropical fish catching for the aquarium industry
3. Dynamite (blast) fishing
4. Coral gathering and harvesting for the decor industry
5. Coral harvesting for sea and shore construction industry
6. Coral contact by scuba divers
7. Anchor drops
8. Intertidal zone fishing and invertebrate gathering (Panginhas), and
9. Industrial, recreational and household pollution."

Sincerely,

Alfonso Y. Amores, MD, FACS
Cosmetic Surgery Center of Asia
Lapu-Lapu City, Metro Cebu, Phil

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