Cozumel Reefs & Covid 19 – magical recovery?

Like all coral reefs of the world, the magical coral reefs of Cozumel have deteriorated over the last 20 years. Yet, over the last 15 months of Covid 19, the reefs seem to have made a magical recovery. Coral diseases are gone, algae growth covering the sponges and corals disappearing, and the fish are coming back, both in the shallows and on the deeper reefs. Eagle rays, sharks, larger creatures are abundant and fish swim gracefully, unafraid and at peace. The difference – COVID – and perhaps more importantly for 15 months, no cruise ships. And yet, in May 2021, the island is preparing to welcome the cruise ships back in larger number than before, despite the great uproar from the islanders, despite that yet another cruise ship dock will destroy the coral reefs that have just begun to recover and thrive. Short term economic gain will kill the beauty that brings people to these island long term. We must look to the future, and create win-win ways to protect our planet, save our oceans and save ourselves, before it is too late. Once the coral reefs and all their creatures are gone, what then? We understand that leaving trees or planting trees really helps the carbon equation, but nothing matters more than maintaining the integrity of ocean systems. “We have not just opportunity, we have the responsibility to get it right. It is beginning to be acknowledged around the world that protecting nature and the ocean is a good value. A business person knows that you don’t consume all your capital. We’ve treated the ocean as capital that we’ve consumed, but once you pull back and see how the planet works, you start to make more practical decisions” (Sylvia Earle) ______________________________