Thanks for your response, David. It seems to me that even if there are micro-organisms that are performing some sort of restorative function (e.g., fertilizing the interstices of the coral slabs so that mangroves or other plants can provide a better barrier), the micro-organisms would be reproducing so copiously that trampling would hardly alter the process.

Well, the guy had a gun in his belt so I wasn't going to argue too much.

David Kirsh

-----Original Message-----
>From: David Campbell <[log in to unmask]>

>
>There are microorganisms everywhere on earth and well into it.  Probably
>some are harmed by almost every step one takes.
>
>On the other hand, there might be something unusual that had been found at
>that site.  However, it sounds suspiciously as though someone was afraid
>that letting people walk on a dead reef area would lead to trampling of live
>reef, or perhaps that someone didn't think the average fisheries personnel
>could tell the difference between live and dead reef for enforcement
>purposes.
>


"When the President does it, that means that it is not illegal." - Richard Milhous Nixon

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