Re: Stop the Breakwater Project for Negril
The type of beach erosion that negril experiences is the same process that occurs here in sw florida. It's referred to as longshore drift, a natural phenomenon that moves sand (beach) down the coast by the action of waves and the tides.
Where breakwaters will catch sand, quite a bit upshore, there will be little effect past the breakwater.
Beach renourishment has been done here in sw florida for decades, they anchor large barges off shore and pump/spray sand up onto the shoreline resulting in instant beach. It is an expensive process that will be very effective for several years, or until a big storm comes along and washes the sand back down the coast.
The real problem is that a healthy reef system is composed of living/growing coral, negrils reef system is far from healthy (due to pollution, overuse, physical destruction, etc.). Also the local fishermen keep everything they catch (no matter how ticky-ticky/little the fish are) including Parrotfish whose job it is to eat coral and poop new sand. Often the "snapper" you are being served in Negril is infact Parrotfish.
There is no simple or cheap solution to the problems of too many people in a small area.
Re: Stop the Breakwater Project for Negril
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kim&betty
The type of beach erosion that negril experiences is the same process that occurs here in sw florida. It's referred to as longshore drift, a natural phenomenon that moves sand (beach) down the coast by the action of waves and the tides.
Where breakwaters will catch sand, quite a bit upshore, there will be little effect past the breakwater.
Beach renourishment has been done here in sw florida for decades, they anchor large barges off shore and pump/spray sand up onto the shoreline resulting in instant beach. It is an expensive process that will be very effective for several years, or until a big storm comes along and washes the sand back down the coast.
The real problem is that a healthy reef system is composed of living/growing coral, negrils reef system is far from healthy (due to pollution, overuse, physical destruction, etc.). Also the local fishermen keep everything they catch (no matter how ticky-ticky/little the fish are) including Parrotfish whose job it is to eat coral and poop new sand. Often the "snapper" you are being served in Negril is infact Parrotfish.
There is no simple or cheap solution to the problems of too many people in a small area.
Have to agree with you Kim and Betty-small area can only sustain so much.... but I dont the breakwater is the way to go ...:(
Re: Stop the Breakwater Project for Negril
Re: Stop the Breakwater Project for Negril
