Fragments of endangered coral rescued
(CNS): Researchers at the Department of Environment are hopeful that pieces of endangered pillar coral rescued from areas of reef infected with Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) in the North Sound can be saved. During the rescue mission last week in a heavily infected area by Rum Point, around ten pieces of this rare, threatened, and highly susceptible coral, which the DoE called “Fragments of Hope”, were removed in an effort to at least save some of the colony.
“Interestingly, the researchers were also able to see eggs inside the skeletal structure of several removed fragments,” the DoE posted on social media about the effort by their own researchers and Eco-Divers Reef Foundation to try to save at least some of the pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus).
“This indicated that although the colonies were weak and dying from fighting against a virulent disease, they were still able to produce eggs and prepare for the upcoming spawning event later in the month,” the DoE said.
The department has closed off dozens of dive sites across the North Sound in an effort to curb the spread of SCTLD after this mysterious but lethal coral threat was discovered locally this summer.
Researchers are now engaged in a variety of efforts to stop the spread while treating areas already struck by the disease.
Category: Marine Environment, Science & Nature
What’s the incubation period of coral covid? How do they know they’re not moving asymptomatic coral to healthy reef and spreading the disease?
I’m starting to see slugs in my neighbourhood. Are these new to Cayman, should I be reporting these to DoE? I have not seen them previously.
Slugs have always been here. They just don’t like dry weather. Although we do have a few two legged ones here too.
Leave shit alone!
They are fixing it. What’s your deal?
Nature is completely capable of fixing herself and the spread of this disease is inevitable, as it’s part of a natural cycle.
These are the same folks that were running around hunting for every lionfish that was reported because they thought they could stop the invasion.
They claim to love nature, but they cant accept the fact that it’s comprised of just as much death and destruction as it is of birth and life. I repeat, leave shit alone, stand back and watch nature thrive, dwindle and evolve- as it’s been doing for much longer than we can remember.
Destruction of mangroves and the land creation development going on at rum point with material barged in from the Brac may be causing this.
Or possibly there isn’t enough diving activity.