Surprises

This is my fifth visit to Navassa. I came for the first time in 2000 and was amazed at the clear water, large fish, and healthy corals. My susequent visits, at approximately 2 year intervals, have all held (mostly unpleasant) surprises. Because Navassa is so remote and our observations are so intermittent, a lot can happen that we are not able to observe directly. However, in 2004, we encountered a coral disease outbreak and greatly expanded fishing effort while in 2006, a coral mass-bleaching event was underway. On the good side, the threatened elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) population at Navassa was surprisingly robust and healthy in 2006 and the water was still spectacularly clear. I am nervous what surprises await us this trip. Hopefully at least some are good ones.

Margaret Miller