Ceremony for COT collectors
ENThe acanthaster starfish, a coral eater, is called "crown of thorns" in English... or COT. And this Sunday, it's the COT collectors' day!
200 divers and 3,000 TOCs harvested
The crowns of thorns" harvest in Tioman, which I mentioned in the previous post, gives rise to a small ceremony, the next day, with lunch offered at the restaurant Nazri 1 from the end of the beach, to the more than 200 divers who participated in the operation.
An official makes a short speech in hesitant English at the microphone. In all, more than 3,000 bugs were collected. That's twice as many as last year.
I am not an expert in this field (and the environmental officer for the island even less so, as last year, the said official confused sea urchins and COTs, as one of the diving instructors mischievously told me), but in my humble opinion, this is a drop in the ocean (so to speak). As well intentioned as it may seem, this harvest, conducted only once a year, will surely not affect the local TOC population in the long term.
For my part, I think that it is mainly aimed at promoting the image of Tioman, for tourism development purposes, with financial objectives at stake, rather than really saving the reefs. The reefs would rather need to start by taking care of the waste treatment on the island (there's a lot of work to do!) and of the waste water discharge... But this, obviously, is more complicated and less fun to organize, as an operation.
Well, I confess, I'm being unkind. Each diver was given a small honorary diploma (it doesn't eat bread). I got mine...
🙃
From TOC to CROT ...
I've just read your last three articles, which are super interesting and entertaining. Here, it's less exotic, I'm only picking up mouse droppings! It's like being in a comic strip! I'm discovering that it's a very cunning and intelligent critter!
The rain, finally, after those hot days!
Alain is almost on vacation, as you know, we leave tomorrow morning, early if possible ...
Good end of stay, mil besos, Lydie.
Geneva... Here, it's very hot!!! But no mouse droppings!!! Only 2 days left!!! 2 little days!!!!!!!! I can't take it anymore, it's got to stop, even my teeth are cracking!!!! I'm going to the dentist on Friday morning (so I'll miss the rehearsal, NA!!!!) And on Friday evening, I've got 5 weeks all to myself, with nobody telling me to do it again, that it's no good, that my arms are too this or my right toe too that!!!!!!!
Lots of love.
Beware of earthquakes and tsunamis !!!!
Happy vacations to you both !!! Mimi the mouse will be happy. The house all to herself!
The rest of my adventures will be on the blog very soon. Since I spend my days on or under water, I don't have much time to spend in front of a computer... Bizzzzzzzz
Hello!
Just a note to tell you not to spend too much time feeding your blog, still enjoy these moments of relaxation !!!!!!
In addition, as of Tuesday I leave, so I will not be able to follow you anymore !!!!
Kisses!
COT hunter! Now that's a diploma to hang. Remind me never to become a COT. I don't know if you'll have time to continue your blog before you get back. Make the most of it before you go back to work. Tell us what happens next in person. Cheers and see you soon!
FW
Well, one last little comment before I take off! I won't have a blog but... Tomorrow, it's finally time for me to leave! I can't believe it!
As Funny World says, don't “waste” your time on the computer, enjoy this last week!!!!
Big big kisses!! See you soon!!!
🙂