The problem with conservation is that the problems always seem too big for any one person to make a difference. I am always picking up garbage the I find in the ocean. It is my way of making a small difference. On a recent trip to Socorro, which is supposed to be a biosphere reserve with no fishing, we ran across first hand evidence of poaching. We found the gift that keeps on killing; an abandoned fishing net. It was much too small to be a commercial net, so it must have come from the military base, which is there to enforce the reserve. It is ironic that one of the requirements of diving in the reserve is to forego gloves and knives. Without tools it was really hard to dislodge the net! Fortunately we were able to get it off of the coral with a minimum of damage to the reef. My small good deed for the trip...
