WILLEMSTAD - The contagious coral disease known as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) has been observed in Curaçao. The Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature (GMN) reports that a team of international coral disease experts affiliated with Carmabi discovered the disease in early April. Divers, diving schools, and boat owners are urged to take measures to prevent further spread.
"The 'white plague disease' was first observed in Florida in 2014, causing significant coral die-offs within a short period," said GMN. Since 2014, this new deadly coral disease has spread from Florida (2014) to other locations. According to the ministry, the deadly coral disease then spread through Jamaica (2017), Mexico, Belize, St. Maarten (2018), St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (2019), Puerto Rico, and St. Eustatius (2019). In some Caribbean locations, SCTLD has caused coral quantities to decline by half.
Caribbean reefs, according to GMN, are in a very poor state, and Curaçao's coral reefs also face a significant number of issues such as pollution, climate change, and a reduced occurrence of ecologically important species like parrotfish. "The average coral cover in the Caribbean region is now 14.3%, representing a decrease of approximately 80% since the early 1970s. This decline has also occurred in Curaçao, albeit to a lesser extent compared to the rest of the Caribbean region," the ministry reports.
Two previous diseases in the early 1980s are partly responsible for the significant decline in coral coverage in Curaçao and the rest of the Caribbean region.
The government warns that further degradation of our coral reef should be expected due to SCTLD. The white plague has a devastating effect on slow-growing and reef-building corals, including the pillar, star, and brain corals that are common in Curaçao. SCTLD causes tissue loss in 34+ out of approximately 65 species of reef-building corals found in the Caribbean region. "The likelihood of affected corals dying within a few weeks to months is 66% to 100%, resulting in a loss of coral density and a decline in other organisms dependent on coral, such as reef fish," says GMN.
The only effective treatment known so far is the local application of antibiotics on SCTLD lesions. The ministry states that based on information from Carmabi, they have developed an action plan. The government is currently in the process of ordering the necessary supplies to produce antibiotics in Curaçao for combating SCTLD. Once these materials are available in Curaçao, the diving sector and other diving volunteers will be called upon to lend a helping hand in controlling the spread of the disease and treating affected corals. The process of ordering the supplies has already been initiated.
The government urges divers to properly regulate their buoyancy and never touch corals, which is also prohibited by law. This applies to anchoring boats as well. Anchoring is only permitted on sandy areas, and boat owners are requested to be extra careful not to damage corals during anchoring. Fishers may consider releasing caught parrotfish (gutus) as these fish are crucial for the recovery and growth of corals affected by SCTLD that survive the disease.
Dive schools should consider diving in areas with no or very few corals when providing services to customers who do not yet possess the required diving skills. This is to prevent unintended but common damage caused by touches from novice divers.
There is evidence that the disease spreads through direct contact and via ocean currents. Disinfecting dive gear and closing locations where SCTLD has occurred could minimize the spread through direct contact.
Earlier this year, dive schools in Curaçao raised concerns about the decline in coral coverage on the island.