This thread has some important information about the various problems with the coral reef in the Caribbean. I am a little bit surprised that the scuba diving community is not more concerned and active in understanding and helping to reverse the decline of coral in the Caribbean. Anybody that dove in the Caribbean in the 70's has got to be saddened by the incredible losses of coral and ecosystem that depends on them. Similar declines are happening around the world but the Caribbean has suffered as much or more than anywhere else. Most studies indicate that the coral starting dying in the 1970's with the major culprit being White Band Disease (WBD) that killed a large percentage of the Staghorn and Elkhorn coral that are/were the main reef builders. Then in 1982, 98% of the sea urchins (Diadema) died due to a disease that started in the Panama Canal and killed nearly all the Diadema in a matter of weeks. Diadema were the primary algae eaters. So, tons of coral died and the algae-eater died, so algae grew unchecked resulting in a phase shift from coral to algae in many areas throughout the Caribbean. The algae continues to gain the upper hand as sewage and development run-off adds nutrients, and the other algea-eaters (herbivores like Parrotfish) are being over-fished. Add to that, increasing carbon in the atmosphere makes it more difficult for corals (and shellfish) to absorb the calcium carbonate they need to build and maintain their skeletons. Add to that, increased thermal stresses (climate change) that have caused widespread bleaching due to longer and hotter periods. Coral is also stressed from other diseases such as white pox, which has been proven to come from human sewage. Boat anchors and groundings and numerous hurricanes continue to pound the Caribbean coral. Not a pretty picture. However, there are some things that scuba divers can do to help. Marine Protected Areas have been shown to increase the biomass of herbivores and reduce algae. Mote Marine laboratory is leading the effort to breed and release sea urchins. The Coral Restoration Foundation has rescued fragments of Staghorn and Elkhorn and now has 50,000 corals growing in its nurseries, and they have used volunteer divers to plant 10,000 corals back to the reef in the Florida Keys. The CRF hopes to identify the most disease and heat resistant genotypes to help repopulate the reef with hardy thickets of spawning coral. It is also good news that sewage systems are being implemented but more sewage treatment is needed throughout the Caribbean and boats need to quit dumping sewage. Also, we all need to reduce our CO2 contributions and raise awareness about how increased acidification and heat-induced bleaching are harming the reefs. I think the scuba industry should be supporting efforts like the CRF and interested divers should check out their website (coralrestoration.org) and sign-up for a volunteer dive or make a contribution. I wonder how many divers already knew all the causes of the coral decline? Anyone else have ideas for how scuba divers can help save and repair the coral reef?
