We are not saying that N and P pollution in natural waters is good, only that stable balanced systems are able to handle N and P fertilizers.
In the CB, they cannot control the light intensity, they cannot control CO2, nor control the seagrass biomass(they have been losing it for decades), no control over temperatures, they only have some control over N and P and apparantly not much there
They also have sedimentation problems which kills plants.
Our systems are quite different, we have total control for the most part.
Much easier and more practical to control pollution in CB than doing a blackout, CO2 adjustments etc.
Also, the distribution of plants in natural systems is patchy.
As pollutants are added, the sedimentation can cause shifts i the fertility, in the redox and other changes that will degrade the system for plants. Algae blooms present in other parts upstream where there are few plants can influence the plant beds via sedimentation and floc. Basically bury the plants and invertebrates.
Pollution is a huge issue, I think no one here would argue they should not stop this at once, but it's not applicable here. One thing they can do, this is true for the MS river and other large rivers, is make constructed wetlands adjacent to the rivers and bays to mop up the nutrients and to provide wildlife habitat, increase property VALUES, increase fisheries/production, mitigate pollution from poiunt sources and non point sources, better treatment at the point source, and also flood control by adding wetlands along the flows of rivers.
A small % of poor flood prone land could be used to reduce up to 40% of the MS river nutrient load.
When you have too much loading and no where for it to go, no control over sun, temps etc, you have limited choices, we have many choices as aquarists.
I think it's important to know the differences and be able to discuss horticulture and growing plants and keeping away the pest we do not like, and also the natural systems that humans tend to have a bad habit of degrading.
I believe that most aquarists are environmentally minded, I have a hard time of seeing how someone could not be I guess.
There's been a long debate in FL about PO4.
Most of the research I've seen seems to point elsewhere, not PO4.
I agree in principle, but the Science itself is another matter when looking at these larger systems without as much control as we have.
It's much easier to contro, a system in the lab like aquarist do and make some conclusions, than it is to say things about a large bay. There's a lot more variation and variables. We can easily manipulate and have plenty of replications, there's only one SF Bay, or only one CS bay.
So take care of it, reduce as much impact as possible and let natural processes do their thing. Unfortunately, reducing the impact means it will cost more money. Businesses do not like paying to clean things up(See the Coal ash spill BS in TN- clean coal? Haha, my big toe), Westinghouse pulled the same thing in Bloomington IN where I grew up. So they stick the taxpayer.
So it helps to have good unbias Science to support a method to do something to help, helps taxpayers, businesses, the public health etc. Good legistlation can prevent future issues with good leadership(often very hard to find). Business can make a decent profit with green methods however(they cry they cannot, it's easier cheaper to say this obviously, part of the marketing game).
I do not mind paying a bit of my taxes for Wetlands and land acquisition for flood control, for pollution reduction, science to study the best methods to solve the issues, I do mind giving businesses free meal tickets to keep doing it and bail outs, little watered down slaps on te wrist when they screw up everything for the rest of us. If they tank by making bad chocies, so beit, they deserved to and that's the way the market makes and evolves better methods, they where not good enough. GM took all those Electric cars off the market here in CA, mashed them, so did Ford, they could have made a killing now if they had pursued it. Let them rot. Several of my family worked for them, so no crying about the workers, most of the stuff is made in China or over seas anyhow.
There is a preverse cost associated with ecological resources that are not included in economics. Health, fisheries, larger carbon sequestration, land values. These are rarely factored in if ever.
Okay, off the environmental soap box, but it's important and the wetlands offer a lot to everyone and can be used for many useful good things. Ask the folks in New Orleans about it.
Regards,
Tom Barr