Posts in category: Recent news

To download the report, Vermeij MJA (2012) Curacao State of the reef 2012 Carmabi (c)2012

Papiamentu follows english below

The coral reefs of Curaçao represent one of the best reef systems left in the Caribbean at present. However, this does not mean that these reef systems are doing well.  On the contrary: increased coastal development has resulted in pollution of near shore waters through the release of (untreated) sewage, nutrients and chemicals and overfishing represent some of the factors that have contributed to a near 20% decrease in the abundance of corals on the island in the last 25 years. Fish communities have been impacted similarly through uncontrolled fishing practices and Curacao presently holds an intermediate rank among Caribbean nations in terms of fish abundance. Coral reef systems provide the foundation for the island’s tourism and fishing industry and protect near shore developments against storms. Furthermore, healthy reefs prevent the rise of disease-causing bacteria in near shore waters preventing people, locals and visitors alike, from becoming ill. At the current rate of decline, coral reefs will have virtually disappeared around Curacao around the year 2060. Presently, it is estimated that Curaçaoan reefs bring in at least $1.6 million per kilometer per year through revenue from tourism, fishing and coastal protection alone. The decline of reefs will thus come with severe economic consequences for a recently formed country that finds itself still in a position to avert such catastrophe.

This report summarizes some of the information currently available to illustrate a potentially dark future for Curaçaoan reefs. Hopefully this report helps to illustrate some of the factors contributing to this decline so directed management strategies can be designed and put in place in order to maintain a unique aspect of Curaçao that makes it stand out in the region: its coral reefs.

The report can be downloaded by Vermeij MJA (2012) Curacao State of the reef 2012 Carmabi (c)2012

E refnan di koral di Kòrsou ta representá un di e mihó sistemanan di ref aún eksistente den Karibe. Sinembargo, esaki no ta nifiká ku ta bayendo bon ku e sistemanan di ref aki. Al kontrario: e kresementu den desaroyo di nos kostanan a bin ta resultá den sobrepeska i polushon di awanan kantu di kosta dor di bashamentu di awa di riol (no tratá), nutriente- i kímikonan. Esakinan ta algun di e faktornan ku a kontribuí na un bahada di kasi 20% den abundansia di koralnan rondó di nos isla den e delaster 25 añanan. Komunidadnan di piská a ser impaktá di forma similar dor di formanan di peska deskontrolá. Aktualmente, Kòrsou ta poseé un rango intermedio entre nashonnan karibense pa loke ta trata abundansia di piská. Sistemanan di refnan di koral ta proveé un fundeshi pa e indústrianan di turismo i peska riba nos isla i na mes momentu ta sòru pa protekshon di edifisionan i otro desaroyonan kantu di kosta kontra tormenta i/o orkan. Mas aleu, refnan salú ta prevení kresementu di bakterianan ku por kousa malesa den awanan kantu di kosta, loke en torno ta prevení hendenan, turistánan i hendenan lokal, ku ta uza nos laman di bira malu. Teniendo na kuenta e velosidat aktual di disminushon, e refnan di koral lo por disaparesé virtualmente rònt Kòrsou pa aña 2060. Aktualmente a ser balotá ku refnan di Kòrsou ta generá por lo menos 1.6 miyon dollar merikano pa kilometer pa aña djis kontando entradanan di turismo, peska i protekshon di kosta so. Disminushon di refnan ta trese pues konsekuenshanan ekonómiko severo pa e país resientemente formá aki ku ahinda ta den e posishon pa evitá un katástrofe di tal índole.

E reportahe aki ta resumí algun di e informashonnan aktualmente disponibel pa ilustrá e futuro potenshalmente skur di e refnan di Kòrsou. Ohalá e raportahe aki yuda ilustrá algun di e faktornan ku ta kontribuí na e disminushon aki di moda ku strategianan di maneho dirigí por ser diseñá i implementá pa di e forma aki mantené un aspekto úniko di Kòrsou ku ta laga e isla sobresalí den region: su refnan di koral.

Recently a large number of fish species has been observed carrying signs of what could be a disease. Two types have been observed and herbivorous fish seem most affected. The first “disease” was historically observed on surgeonfish (A. bahianus), but is now also occuring on several species of grunts and hamlets. Indiviuals affected are covered by dark, round patches, usually dark grey/ black in color, that can occur all over their body. Examples of this “disease” are shown  in the first two pictures below. In addition to this “dark spot disease”, many other species (including foremost various parrotfish species, but also cowfish, goatfish) have been observed covered by white specks that occur on the fins of these species, but also on their bodies. Pictures of this “white dot disease” are shown in pictures 3 to 6 below, where the last picture shows a redband parrotfish (S. aurofrenatum) where these dots have multiple colors ranging from white to brown to black. In some locations, none of these “diseases” is observed, but in others nearly 30% of the fish are seen carrying signs of either “disease”. This to teh best of my knowledge has not been observed earlier on Curacao.

Any insight as to what is going on here is greatly welcomed. Suggestions and ideas can be send to Mark Vermeij ( carmabilog@gmail.com )

Examples of “dark spot disease”:

Examples of “white dot disease”:

Although Bonaire’s coral reefs remain among the healthiest and most resilient in the Caribbean, a new  IUCN report based on the IUCN Resilience Assessment of Coral Reefs highlights some of the threats that exist to Bonaire’s coral reefs, and which could have serious implications for resilience to future climate change and other threats. The report identified recommendations for addressing the current threats, as well as high and low resilience sites. Carmabi helped with the study which can be found by clicking here.

The threats and recommendations identified include:

Coastal development and artificial beaches.Recommendation: All coastal construction on Bonaire should be strictly regulated and follow the construction guidelines. The guidelines should become law in order to be enforced appropriately.

Leaching from septic tanks. Recommendation: It is strongly recommended that Bonaire invest in appropriate sewage treatment facilities to improve water quality and increase the resilience of its valuable coral reefs. It is also recommended that a water quality monitoring program be set up and sustained.

Increasing damselfish populations. Recommendation: It is recommended that the fishing of predatory fish species on Bonaire’s coral reefs be controlled and managed to a sustainable level to prevent population explosions of prey fish capable of modifying the reef habitat.

Trididemnum and Lobophora. Recommendation: It is recommended that the populations of Trididemnum and Lobophora are closely monitored and the factors contributing to the unnatural abundance of these coral-overgrowing organisms should be studied and then eliminated.

There have also been some updates on the coral ID pages. Carmabi compiled a series of pictures that show combinations of corals that are often mistaken  for one another. Because terminology to describe each species is often  subjective (i.e. has larger polyps or smaller ridges) having both  species in one picture might help to get a better idea of how such  closely related/ similar looking “species” can be distinguished from one  another. Corals are now divided in four main groups (Montastraea, Agaricidae, Brain-looking corals and the Rest). All  identifications are based on commonly used species names here on  Curacao. This overview is a work in progress (and I welcome suggestions on how to shape this picture collection into a more user-friendly format), but I thought it would be useful to throw it out as it is.

The following links take you directly to each  group:

For Montastraea:  click here
For Agaricidae:  click here
For  “Brain”corals:  click here
For  “The Rest”:  click here

Temperatures continue to look bad for the Caribbean in 2010. At this point, our Degree Heating Week product is as bad as, or worse than, this time in 2005. Our Seasonal Bleaching  Outlook indicates there continues to be a risk of thermal stress in 2010 at levels similar to 2005. The good news is that areas north of the Greater Antilles and in the Gulf of Mexico do  not seem to be at as high a risk. Temperatures in the Caribbean have been above normal since January. Bleaching reports have now come in from Texas in the north to Panama in the west, to Tobago in the southeast.

My biggest concern right now is in the Lesser Antilles and especially in the Aruba-Curacao-Bonaire-Los Roques region where we are seeing the highest temperatures ever and this is likely to continue for another month. The ABCs were spared major thermal stress in 2005 but don’t look so lucky this year.

A webinar on this topic was recorded and can be accessed in the “events” tab at http://www.reefresilience.org/
The full outlook can be found at http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/bleachingoutlook/index.html and will be updated to October shortly.

An article on this also made the cover of the New York Times on Sept. 21:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/science/earth/21coral.html?_r=1&hp

Please make sure this information gets distributed widely.  We need people to be aware that they should continue to be alert for bleaching in the Caribbean for another month. Please let us know what you are seeing out there.

Source: NOAA (Dr. Mark Eakin)

Some impressions from Curacao’s reefs near the eastern tip of the island (Oostpunt). The “whitish” colonies are the ones that are “bleached”

We invite you to join us in exploring coral reefs – some of the most productive and biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. Follow us as we travel to untouched parts of the globe to conduct scientific research aimed at protecting these special places. Read our blog to hear about our adventures in the field.  Browse photos and video from our expeditions and take a step into an underwater world.  Check out our lively book, Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas for the big picture of how coral reefs work, including the decisive role of microbes in reef health and decline.

For more information, click here to visit the website of coralreef systems.

On the evening of May 30th a fish was caught by local fishermen at a depth of approximately 100 meters. At present no one has any idea what species this fish might be. A picture is shown below and all who know what species this fish is are invited to send an email to m.vermeij@carmabi.org with the supposed species name so the information can be shared with the local fishing community.

Thanks in advance.

Update June 3rd 2010: After sending the picture to the Coral-List server (an international internet based information network for coral reef research), it seems that most people seem to agree that this fish is Verilus sordidus. More information on this rare fish species can be found by clicking this link.