Anyone who has dived for a few years has noticed that the reef at their favorite locations seem to be degrading. Although typically the resorts will deny this, saying it is just increased familiarity, it is unfortunately true. We typically dive in the same location yearly, and we have photographs of the same coral formation … Read more
We experienced a very interesting incident a few weeks back during our survey of Cenderawasih National Park. We were there to explore sites for a new dive guide to the Bird’s Head Seascape, which will include Cenderawasih, Raja Ampat and Triton Bay. Fifteen thousand-square kilometer Cenderawasih is Indonesia’s largest marine park and, for the moment, … Read more
I heard from a few people who thought that my blog about illegal fishing Komodo National Park was depressing. I agree. If we can’t protect marine life in one of the world’s most iconic parks, is there any hope? Burt and I have been thinking about this problem for a long time, especially for the two … Read more
I GUESS WE SHOULD JUST SUSPEND the international bidding process for the 2010 Darwin Games and award it by acclaim to the tiny Komodo Islands in Indonesia. Unless you are blessed with the dubious mental process of a mud turtle on a frosty fall morning, most of us can quickly intuit that dealing with a … Read more
…nearly two decades of conservation work were being challenged by fishermen who had cast nets on two of Komodo’s most prolific reefs. Where were the authorities, where were the patrol boats that were supposed to stop illegal fishing within park boundaries? No one seemed to know.
