Pirate tour boat crushed coral colonies
Researchers inspect the damage done when the Jolly Roger ran aground (Photo by Cody Panton) – click to enlarge
(CNS): A number of small coral colonies were damaged when The Jolly Roger, a pirate-themed tour boat, ran aground in the George Town Harbour last week. Following a survey by marine researchers, the Department of Environment said that two colonies of starlet coral (Siderastrea sidera) and four colonies of brain coral (Diploria strigosa), as well as a small group of yellow porites (Porites Astreoides) were seriously damaged.
In a press release about the incident, officials said the pirate ship had struck the hardpan area just north of the port after coming loose from its moorings in the rough weather. Although the location was largely hard-packed sea bed, there were coral colonies in the area which were crashed.
The DoE is continuing its investigation. In the meantime the department is urging boat owners to take the necessary precautions to inspect and secure their vessels during periods of inclement weather in order to avoid any future incidents of potential injury to individuals, damage to property or destruction of marine life.
Category: Marine Environment, Science & Nature
Not good.
However, bear in mind, a MINIMUM of 15 ACRES of coral and reef will be destroyed during the dredging and blasting necessary to construct the +$200,000,000.00 cruise port.
Fact.
– Whodatis
*Sign the petition for a REFERENDUM on the port.
Exchanging barbs on CNS and running our gums won’t do a damn thing.
Shame on the government for wanting to tear up the little remaining coral we have left. Who voted these moron in?
Did you even read the article ? Where did it say that the government was tearing up coral ?
To build the dock?
O doubt another good talking to there . When will people be charged? Etcetc
Or are you waiting for a guinnie pig to do it first
Hahahaha, blame this on wave runners now.
I blame obnoxious noise and asnine bro mentality behavior on wave runners, not this. Got it?
keep this up we will not have anything left at all. What is wrong with these jokers?!
The amazing thing here is that the DOE have actually discvored some living coral near the harbour. Most of the damage to the coral in this area, adjacent to the actual mooring locations where everything is pulverised by the gigantic anchors, results from all the silt in permanent suspension as a result of all the anchor and propellor activity from the cruise ships.
Did you see the depth of water in the picture? Do you often see the silt from when the cruise ships turn on their engines int eh deep water flowing against the current and coming in to shore? – Clearly this ship drifted in shallow to run aground, not “adjacent to the actual mooring [cruise ship anchoring] locations”.
The current if any, follows the wind. Try diving/ snorkelling over Eden Rock after a Norwester.
Meaningless point since the OP implied there was no coral NEAR the harbour as it had been all killed by “all the silt in permanent suspension”. Some silt or sand getting stirred up in a Nor’wester is unremarkable and, by its nature, occasional, i.e., not ‘permanent’.
In a normal place they should have liability insurance which should pay for the damage…lets see what happens here.
Ok…who you gonna pay? A stingray or a moray? Money means nothing to, nor in nature itself. Remember this dear friend dude bro.
You all ain’t seen anything yet!
Do tell
To 3:37 .the dock