The Bahamas is one of several countries currently experiencing rapid coral bleaching amid what scientists say is an unprecedented high heat index. 

According to the UK Guardian, United States (US) government scientists have confirmed that coral reefs in Panama, Colombia, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Mexico, and six countries in the Caribbean, including The Bahamas and Cuba, are suffering significant bleaching, alongside corals in Florida that began turning white almost a month ago.

A video, provided by Dr. Craig Dahlgren of the Perry Institute of Marine Science (PIMS), which has recently made its rounds on social media, shows coral bleaching off the west end of New Providence over the past few weeks. Water temperature was measured at 31°C, which equates to 87.8°F.

Coral bleaching occurs when corals are stressed by changes in the environment such as light, temperature and nutrients. This causes them to expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, which causes them to turn completely white.

However, according to Bahamas National Trust (BNT) Executive Director Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle, bleaching does not mean death.

"As we all know and have witnessed firsthand, there has been a high heat index reported over the past few weeks," said Anderson-Rolle.

"These changes in temperature have been predicted as a result of climate change and its associated impacts that threaten the health of our coral reef systems.

"These bleaching events do not mean the corals are dead, it means they are stressed and are more susceptible to diseases. [But] if the high temperatures and other local threats persist, it can cause mass mortality."

The BNT executive director also cited Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) as a major cause for concern for The Bahamas, calling it "the COVID for corals".

"It should be noted that many areas across The Bahamas, including marine-protected areas (MPA), have been impacted by Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, and we hope that mass bleaching events, coupled with SCTLD in these key areas, do not result in mass mortality," she said.

"The BNT and Perry Institute for Marine Science are close partners and we will continue to coordinate efforts to monitor and restore critical coral reefs across the country, especially in MPAs managed by BNT and the Department of Marine Resources."

Anderson-Rolle said coral reefs can recover from bleaching, if local threats are managed.

"When corals are bleaching, it's important to ensure that recreational activities are controlled, for example, that divers aren't touching the reefs, and that nearby development projects have all protective measures in place to avoid runoff impacting offshore reefs," she said.

"Heavy fishing on those reefs can also have a negative impact as it can remove key fish species that contribute to the health of a reef system."

In March, marine conservation in The Bahamas experienced a "crushing blow" when SCTLD reached Sandy Cay Reef, a renowned dive and scuba spot within Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park on Abaco, wreaking havoc on its famously diverse array of corals, including the colossal pillar and mountainous star colonies that have flourished there for centuries.

Sandy Cay Reef is renowned for having the highest living coral cover of any reef surveyed in The Bahamas, as revealed by PIMS' 2020 Coral Reef Report Card.

Coral reefs are home to more than a quarter of the world's marine species, despite taking up about 0.1 percent of the ocean floor, and are considered one of the most susceptible ecosystems to global heating.

The post As temperatures rise, some reefs in The Bahamas hit with coral bleaching appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

The post As temperatures rise, some reefs in The Bahamas hit with coral bleaching appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

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