Growing Fish

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Since the Komodo Island Bisophere is so fragile, Government Agencies in Indonesia and pro-environment organizations, like The Nature Conservancy, have teamed up to attempt instituting change.    The type and form of change necessary in an area as large as The Komodo Island Marine Park is one that must be multi-layered.  There are the socio-economic issues, political considrations and those that most directly affect the Park itself.
   For this project the main consideration is the marine environment and how it will be sustained for the future.  One of the main economic engines of the region has always been that of fishing.  This term is very general in that it includes species other than fish.  There are Mollusks,Coelenterates,Chordates and many, many more which I won't begin to list.  The point is, the indigenous population of the region has harvested these species for hundreds of years as a food source and commercial commodity and the techniques used to do so have had a severe impact on the environment.  Added to this is the influx of tourism and global climate change which, in and of themselves, can effect change very rapidly and you find an ecosystem that is truely threatened.
   This all leads to the point of writing this semi-journal which is that producing pro-environment documentaries is how I disseminate the information I gather on what is truly going on in an area like Komodo and do so in a way that will educate and entertain the widest possible audience.
   While in the Komodo region I will be working from the Liveaboard Dive vessel, Voyager, operated by Kararu Dive Voyages.  I will be in the company of a group of video shooters, all with differing purpose but one common interest, document this treasure!!!!  For me it is a formidable task and requires extensive pre-production plannig that includes everything from purchasing batteries to arranging permits allowing me to conduct interviews with officials.  A production of this nature carries a certain mystique and, in many cases, the possibility that an organization or even government may not look to kindly on the final product.  The intent, however, is strictly that of providing a complete picture that allows the viewer to formulate their own determination.  I will never say that I am 100% objective in my opinions but I do offer all involved the vehicle to express their point or view on the topic covered.
   And so it begins........
In the next entry I will introduce you to the players and their roles as I build the script for the adventure of a life time, stay tuned.................Rick Morris, alias "Envirodiver"