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Maybe it's NOT Global Warming Killing Coral Reefs
[The Guardian] A virulent and fast-moving coral disease that has swept through the Caribbean could be linked to waste or ballast water from ships, according to research.The deadly infection, known as stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), was first identified in Florida in 2014, and has since moved through the region, causing great concern among scientists. Wait. Global Climate Change started before 2014, right? Scientists have not yet been able to determine whether the disease is caused by a virus, a bacterium, a chemical or some other infectious agent, but the peer-reviewed study in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science supports the theory that ballast water from ships may be involved. Conducted in the Bahamas by scientists at the Perry Institute for Marine Science, it found that SCTLD was more prevalent in reefs that were closer to the Bahamas’ main commercial ports, in Nassau and Grand Bahama, suggesting a likely link between the disease and ships. I noticed a few years ago on a Bahamas trip that coral death was worse at the dock than a mile away. Just an anecdote, I know. In 2017, the spread of deadly pathogens by ships when they discharge ballast water prompted the International Maritime Organization to implement the Ballast Water Management Convention, which requires that ships discharge their ballast water – used to maintain the ship's stability – 200 nautical miles from shore in water at least 200 metres deep before entering port, to ensure they do not bring in harmful foreign pathogens. Suncreen, too. Just before COVID hit, we were directed to use "reef-safe" sunscreen. Real science is complicated. Related: Coral: 2021-06-06 Turkish President Vows to Save Sea from 'Sea Snot' Outbreak Coral: 2021-04-15 Doom Goblin Greta Thunberg's TV Show Is a Massive Ratings Flop Coral: 2020-07-15 China tests powerful missiles capable of sinking US warships Posted by: Bobby 2021-07-25 |
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