Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease is a highly lethal coral disease affecting 22 species of reef building corals and was first diagnosed in the TCI in 2019. There is a treatment (amoxicillin in a special ointment base) that is effective approximately 90% of the time in stopping disease progression, but it must be applied on a coral head by coral head basis so it is time consuming and expensive. This project will allow us to continue are treatment efforts and will help to save the reefs of the TCI.
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease is highly lethal and a signifcant new threat to the health of the reefs of the Turks & Caicos Islands. Without intervention, many of the major reef building corals will die and die quickly resulting in a degradation of the reef system of the islands. Degradation of the reefs will ultimately result in decreased fish populations, decreased coastal protection and greater beach erosion.
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease can be treated with amoxicillin in a specially designed ointment base. Treating large coral colonies with only a little infection can protect large amounts of healthy coral which then can help to repopulate the reefs through spawning. The treatment being used is approximately 90% effective in stopping disease progression in treated colonies.
Without taking this action, the reefs of the TCI will be severely damaged and will take decades or more to recover. Acting now to treat areas that are in the early stages of infection can help preserve coral diversity on the TCI reefs and help protect the reefs that are so important to the economy of the islands.
