Newly discovered coral reef near Curaçao offers hope for underwater life
WILLEMSTAD - Researchers from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) have made a significant discovery in the deeper waters near Curaçao. An extensive and pristine coral reef, notable for its health and size, has been found at a greater depth than the usual coral reefs around the island, according to ANP.
This discovery was made during an expedition that originally lasted three weeks, but the details of the find were kept secret for a long time. The reason for this was the fear that publicizing the discovery would lead to damage from human activities. Only after careful analysis of the collected video footage did the researchers decide to make their findings public.
Lennart de Nooijer, one of the NIOZ researchers, emphasizes the unique nature of this discovery. Unlike the shallower reefs that are often affected by pollution and climate change, this deeper reef appears much less vulnerable to such threats. De Nooijer explains that deeper coral reefs have a different composition and less biodiversity, but they do not have to be any less colorful. This newly discovered reef, located at a depth of more than 100 meters, shows no signs of the bleaching that affects many shallower reefs.
Although the exact size of the reef is not yet known, it is already clear that it stretches for kilometers. De Nooijer and his team expect there is much more to be discovered. Although the current research program has concluded, De Nooijer does not rule out future research, possibly including the placement of monitoring instruments.
Colleague researcher Furu Mienis emphasizes the importance of protecting these deep-sea areas while they remain intact. This would make future restoration efforts unnecessary and help maintain a healthy coral ecosystem.
This discovery is significant not only for the scientific community but also for global efforts to protect and preserve coral reef biodiversity.