Billionaire Conservationist's Yacht Damages Coral Reef

National Geographic ^ | Fri Jan 29 17:11:45 EST 2016 | Brian Clark Howard

[presidio9]

Billionaire Paul Allen has given millions of dollars to conservation causes over the years, including ones that support ocean exploration and preservation. But earlier this month, his 300-foot yacht Tatoosh allegedly caused significant damage to a protected coral reef in the Cayman Islands.

The anchor and chain of the vessel allegedly damaged 14,000 square feet of reef on January 14, according to Cayman Islands' Department of Environment. The incident occurred in a protected area of Grand Cayman called the West Bay replenishment zone, which is near popular scuba diving sites.

The M/V Tatoosh was "moored in a position explicitly directed by the local Port Authority," Paul Allen's Seattle-based company, Vulcan, says in a statement on its website. However, the winds reportedly shifted, moving the boat toward the reef.

"When its crew was alerted by a diver that her anchor chain may have impacted coral in the area, the crew promptly, and on their own accord, relocated their position to ensure the reef was protected," Vulcan says (company spokespeople have declined to speak with us beyond the statement).

Allen was not on board the 300-foot yacht (his second biggest), which has five decks and is staffed by a crew of 30. (It is reportedly the 49th largest yacht in the world.) Vulcan says the company is working with local authorities to determine what happened and to help restore the damage.

The incident was relatively unusual, since Grand Cayman is a popular boating destination and clear guidelines usually keep people from damaging the reef, says Carrie Manfrino, a coral ecologist who founded the Central Caribbean Marine Institute, which operates a field station in the Cayman Islands.

"We've come a long way from the day when anchors could just be thrown in

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[ch.man]

Just another way for Grand Cayman to make some money. Fair game. All island nations do that at one time or another. Nothing to see here. It can happen and has happened to small yachts as well.

Did anybody sue the Chinese when they built their “Islands” in the West Philippine Sea? Nope..... And the damage there is really very significant.

[presidio9]

Just another way for Grand Cayman to make some money. Fair game. All island nations do that at one time or another. Nothing to see here. It can happen and has happened to small yachts as well.

My issue is certainly not with the Caymans offering tax breaks to attract business. I'm a conservative.

My issue is with liberal hypocrites like Allen preaching income inequality and higher taxes and then jumping on every tax break they can find.