Oceans need quiet to help protect reefs
(CNS): A study by scientists at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) on Little Cayman has highlighted the need for quiet in the sea to help reefs and the marine life around them cope with the growing threat to their survival from climate change, disease, acidification and overfishing. The Quiet Oceans Study results found that fish populations increase in density and biomass when there is less human activity in the water, but it is particularly helpful for herbivorous fish, which are crucial to coral reef health. The scientists warn that as tourism returns, much more consideration needs to be given to managing future human activity in the sea.
The research shows that the best way to manage marine ecosystems is to reduce local stressors, including noise pollution, which interferes with natural fish behaviour. Boats, other watercraft and divers all have an impact, as noise affects the physiology, reproduction and response to predation for marine life.
During the lockdown in the Cayman Islands in response to the pandemic, which began in March last year, CCMI researchers had a rare opportunity to measure the impacts of “Quiet Oceans” on resident fish populations in Grand Cayman.
Dr Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley, CCMI’s Director of Research, began the study in July 2020, once the local lockdown rules were lifted to allow scuba diving. The research covered four previously popular dive and snorkel sites on the west of Grand Cayman, where the researchers conducted fish surveys every two months.
They expected an increase in fish density but an unexpected result has been the delayed response in biomass, where the increase was only seen after 15 months, and the relatively stronger response of herbivores. Parrotfish, chubs and surgeonfish, all important herbivores, have increased in density with reduced human activity. Herbivorous fish are key species for reef recovery because of their role as ‘algae managers’, keeping it under control so corals can persevere.
The researchers said this was even more important now with the stony coral tissue loss disease outbreak on Grand Cayman, as these fish will be crucial to the recovery process.
“We are at a critical point in time, when nationally and internationally our leaders and conservation managers are looking at how to effectively manage the marine ecosystem sustainably,” Goodbody-Gringley said.
“This study indicates that that near shore reef ecosystems can rebound from human impact when given the opportunity to rest. A return to ’business as usual’ after Covid-19 will reverse this recovery – more consideration to coral reef resilience must be built into our policies, seeking to promote long-term stability and increased coral cover.”
She said the marine park areas are a good example of what can be done and while Cayman’s recent expansion of marine protection is good conservation practice it may not be enough.
“As tourism ramps back up, it is an ideal opportunity to look at how the natural environment, especially our ’blue assets’, can be better managed alongside economic activity,” Goodbody-Gringley added.
The marine expert has been asked to present her research findings at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations on 8 December 2021.
See here for more information about CCMI or email info@reefresearch.org
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Category: Marine Environment, Science & Nature
Well, they used Covid last year to not allow people to go fishing for months, I knew this crap was coming next banning people from using the sea, as it stands right now, most of the coastline you can’t even handline finishing from because of these tyrannical climate change fascist.
The self perceived oppressed desperately searching for an oppressor, – take a note from 3:21 crab claw and get a little sunshine on you
Don’t worry soon PACT will permit so many over the water bungalows that the fish will be replaced by sewage anyway.
Too many people for these small Islands, that are the facts. Thats what are destroying the land and the sea around these Cayman islands. And they still want more people here.
Yeah. Let’s get rid of all expats and go back to a simpler way of life.
You need your endocannabinoid system at a homeostasis.
Ban cruise ships. Make a 5 year moratorium on taking any marine life from around the island in coastal waters. See marine life come back and flourish. See eco tourism which is sustainable also come here and flourish. Simple.
Have you taken your tablets today!?
don’t always assume go to the medicine shelf, – the OP has clearly suggested it may be Vitamin D deficiency 🌞
A fisherman recommend that there be an annual license for all, except Caymanians, to fish and a daily quota. There significant depletion of fish and sea life.
We need all the living creatures in the ocean to keep it alive, just as we need the animals on the land.
I recommend some English lessons for this fisherman.
My friend, at least where I live, my own relatives are the hardest takers of sea life. Three of them sell fish, and conch, and lobster, and whelks. I am happy that they observe the limits, seasons and such.
Here’s my point: The above are the good guys, and they take all they can they are afforded by law. It is their livelihood. They are all very good at it.
There are tons of others that don’t care about the laws, and it is my opinion that Caymanians are the worst offenders, insofar as fishing out places.
I think we need new laws limiting what can be taken, and I think most of all that we need enforcement of existing Marine laws. We don’t have nearly enough Marine Enforcement Officers, particularly on the Brac.
I know. Not a popular opinion. We have a sovereign right to the creatures of the sea. Our current level of taking is possibly not sustainable.
I agree.
Fine by me, I have the stamp in both my passports.
I used to reef-fish in a spot every few days that was vibrant until cattle boat snorkel excursions started showing up.
All as a result of the cruise ship industry which spoils our islands above and below the water in so many ways. The cruise ships charge a lot of money for these tours but keep almost all of it themselves, leading the tour operators to have to pack people on and give them a poor quality cramped experience in order to make any profit.
A bad outcome for everyone except the cruise ship lines.
Maybe not “all”, but I certainly agree with you that we should not have cruise ships again. Not even in port.
Remarkable work by CCMI and for having Dr Goodbody-Gringley’s project recognised by the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation. We can only hope that discoveries like this are able to be instilled into the minds of everyone but in particular those who choose to remain ignorant and apathetic to the consequences of our actions on our ‘home’ earth. It is perhaps our most important responsibility, – thank you CCMI
This is I believe a link to project mentioned
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lcJpQNzjggs
Someone is buying up a lot of land and and want to control all the seeds.
when will we admit that the dive industry is killing our reefs year by year?
Not as quickly as our developers are destroying land and shoreline.
And coastal development and others inland where geologic conditions create good connections to coastal waters pose a serious risk from septic effluent if not connected to mains sewer.
Nice article. Just in time for the CPA to green light the above-water hotel. Caymanians don’t give a toss about their environment if they can make some fast money from it.
Not far stereotype of all “Caymanians”.
*fair
You paint with a broad brush. I think most of us — or at least those I talk with — more than ‘give a toss’; it is our home, and our lives.
As I said earlier, I have relatives who fish heavily. They are always legal, but I wish we could go back to an earlier time where we fished for our families and not for hotels.
No, I’m not against tourism. I have no problem with visitors; some of them have chosen to come back and stay and became great contributors to our wee islands.
I want us to default to the local residents, and not defer to the visitors, or those who court their money.
I’m going to hazard a guess that parking a quarter of a million tonne cruise ship next to the reef isn’t good for it? I’m shocked.
dive industry does more damage to reefs than any number of cruise ships….its a fact.
if you want healthy reefs….ban the dive industry.
BS
kind of makes sense:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10204115/Beautiful-Thai-cove-famous-DiCaprio-film-reopen-three-year-conservation-project.html