Last week, the Saipan Tribune published an article about a threat to Guam’s coral reefs.That threat is a new United States Naval Base- it will result in lots more people on a small island, construction of facilities, and increased boating traffic. The construction includes dredging large amounts of sand and coral. An increased military presence is important to our national security, and it will provide jobs to many residents of Guam. However, this construction may be devastating to local coral reefs. This is a complicated issue and I don’t know what the solution is. At least we don’t have to worry about Guam tipping over as a result, a disturbing theory proposed by Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) earlier this year (seriously, watch the video).

The Navy is looking into “mitigating steps” that they can take to offset the damage to Guam’s reefs, but I don’t really know what those could be with an organism as slow-growing as coral.

~WhySharksMatter