In an impact assessment, the Västra Götaland County Administrative Board has proposed a total ban on diving in six different areas within the Swedish Marine National Park Kosterhavet and the Väderöarna Natura 2000 area.
The aim is to protect the few remaining eye corals that can be found at depths of between 80 and 120 metres. However, the proposal has stirred up deep emotions.
The diving bans include shallow areas where there are no eye corals at all, as well as some of the national park’s most popular spots for sport and free diving.
As far as Deep Sea Reporter is aware, there can only be one diving team that has managed to reach the legendary eye coral reefs at a depth of 100 metres. And they are willing to freely share their films and knowledge with researchers. Is a diving ban really justified, or will it be counterproductive?
This is in a national park where bottom trawling is allowed in the same environments where several other endangered species live. Don’t we need more eyes, not fewer, in our oceans?
This is a personal report by our diving reporter Tobias Dahlin.
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