Folks taking a dive in our crystal clear waters, we
have a problem; our coral is suffering from bleaching.
And according to the NOAA (National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Organization) Caribbean Coral Reef Watch, it’s set to get worse in
August 2016 as reported in the article “Caribbean
reefs under bleaching alert”, published June 10, 2016 by Alina Doonath, LoopJamaica.
Dr. Gregor Hodgson (Reef Check) and Dr Mark Eakin of
the NOAA gave their account of the 3rd Global Coral Bleaching event
in 2015 as reported in the article “NOAA
declares third ever global coral bleaching event”, published October 8,
2015, NOAA.
This Global Coral Bleaching event is currently
affecting reefs worldwide and has already bleached and killed large areas of Coral
Reef in water of the coastal areas of the following countries:
1. American
Samoa
2. Australia
3. Christmas
Island, an atoll in Kiribati
4. Florida
5. Hawaii
6. Indian
Ocean
7. Jarvis
Island
8. Southern
and southeast Asia, coral triangle
9. Western
and central Pacific
So how did the NOAA determine that the 2016 Coral
Bleaching was going to be much worse?
NOAA
Caribbean Coral Reef Watch Bleaching Alert Level 1 - Coral Bleaching in Jamaica
NOAA's Coral Watch Program predicted that 2016 will
be much worse as noted in the article
“Coral
Bleaching Linked to Climate Change, Other Factors” published June 9, 2016
by Tim Profeta, National
Geographic.
Their warning was based on satellite data and
climate models and reports from several of its virtual stations in the
south-western portion of the basin. It was on this basis that they issued a
Bleaching Watch or Bleaching Warning was issued.
The NOAA Caribbean Coral Reef Watch is predicting a
bleaching Alert Level 1 within the Caribbean within the next nine to twelve
(12) weeks, specifically in:
1. Jamaica
2. Aruba
3. Central
Bahamas
4. Bonaire
5. North-east
and North-west Cuba
6. Curacao
So what is causing this increased level of Coral
bleaching? So how bad could it possibly be?
Coral
Bleaching in Jamaica - Parrotfish and Sea Urchins ban needed more than ever
The bleaching of coal is caused by Coral Reef dying
due to changes in the water acidity level as well as temperature cause by
Global Warming as pointed out by the NOAA Caribbean Coral Reef Watch.
However, human interference by eating Parrotfish and
Sea Urchins that help to maintain Coral Reefs is also a factor as explained in
my blog article
entitled “How
Parrotfish and Sea Urchins ban saves Coral Reef, Beaches and US$3 billion
Jamaican Tourism”.
If the water temperature rises as the NOAA predicts,
any accelerated bleaching effect could be naturally countered by the presence
of the Parrotfish and Sea Urchins. This as the Parrotfish and Sea Urchins help
to rebuild and maintain the reef as pointed out by the article “To
Save Coral Reefs, Start With Parrotfish”, published July 2, 2014 by Ayana
Elizabeth Johnson, National
Geographic.
Hence the reason why a ban on eating Parrotfish and
capturing Sea Urchins to make craft items is necessary as predicted in my blog article
entitled “How
a Parrotfish Ban with Lionfish replacement will save Coral Reefs”.
So, in order to help the Coral Reefs recover, the
Government of Jamaica and particularly NEPA and the Seabed Authority have to
issue a ban on the fishing of ParrotFish and Sea Urchins. Otherwise, our
Tourism sector will lose millions of dollars due to the loss of Coral Reefs and
eventually white sand beaches due to the worsening effects of Bleaching.
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