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CARIBBEAN COASTAL DATA CENTRE CORAL DISEASE SURVEY |
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Coral reefs are fragile ecosystems and are of critical importance to the marine environment and the economies of most countries of the Wider Caribbean. Diseases of corals and other organisms are having significant negative impacts on the structure and appearance of coral reefs, and it is not know to what extent human activities are responsible for the reported increase in such diseases. Recent scientific reviews list as many as six confirmed coral diseases in the Caribbean region alone; but many researchers estimate the numbers to be as high as fifteen. The incidences of coral diseases and bleaching are strongly believed to be increasing, but with the absence of baseline data, it is difficult to demonstrate that the observed increase is real and not just a reflection of increase research activity. Through funding from UNEP, initial surveys were conducted throughout the Caribbean, involving various countries from the CARICOMP Network; Barbados, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico (Mona Island) and Trinidad and Tobago. The disease surveys were carried out using one of two protocols outlined in the CARICOMP Manual. These surveys were conducted so as to assess the occurrence (incidences at the population levels) and local/geographic distribution of coral and octocoral diseases across the wider Caribbean region. The data generated from these surveys were summarised and documented in a comprehensive report edited by Ernesto Weil . Since the initial surveys, several of these countries have continued to periodically access the incidences of disease. The results have also been summarised and presented here in a report format. To view these reports you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader©. Click below to download.
Disease Survey Report for:
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