STONY CORAL
TISSUE LOSS DISEASE
IN THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD)
is a lethal coral disease that rapidly kills coral tissue
leaving behind a bright white skeleton.
First observed in the USVI in January 2019, coral researchers have identified the coral disease outbreak on the reefs of southwestern St. Thomas, USVI. Scientists believe this is likely the same or a similar disease as one which struck the Florida Keys beginning in 2014. SCTLD has already caused major loss of vital coral reef habitat throughout the Florida Keys.
The disease has now progressed throughout the entire USVI and is present on every reef.
Photo progression by Sonora Meiling.
Video by Dr. Marilyn Brandt
The video above was taken at Flat Cay, St. Thomas in January, 2019 when the disease was first observed in the Territory. The wide variety of corals that can be found on US Virgin Islands reefs is apparent in the video. The white patches on the corals indicate recently dead areas caused by Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). This disease has caused a loss of more than half of the living coral at this location since the time the video was taken.
SCTLD has caused major loss of vital coral reef habitat throughout the Florida coral reef tract.
The new affliction is remarkably distinct from other diseases; it spreads across a colony rapidly and even larger coral colonies can lose major portions of living tissue, leaving behind large stark white skeletons. The disease is of no threat to humans, but scientists are gravely concerned about what the findings may mean for the remaining valuable reefs in the US Virgin Islands.
In collaboration with researchers at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), scientists across the Caribbean have begun work to understand the spread and impact of SCTLD in the Territory.
USVI in Action
The Virgin Islands Coral Disease Advisory Committee
Recognizing the urgency and need for rapid and coordinated response to the emergence of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease in the USVI, The Virgin Islands Coral Reef Advisory Group (VICRAG) made the management of this disease outbreak a top priority, making use of any immediately available resources to document the extent and severity of the coral disease. In order to successfully facilitate this rapid response, the Virgin Islands Coral Disease Advisory Committee (VI-CDAC) was created as a committee within VICRAG.
VI-CDAC has 4 overarching goals
Rapid reporting and response to any ongoing and future disease outbreaks in the territory
Regular communications across the USVI territory and with neighboring islands regarding coral disease
Coordination and communication with experts and other groups managing severe coral disease in Florida and the Caribbean
Implementation of a formal Coral Disease Outbreak Response Plan
VI-CDAC participants include representatives from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), the National Park Service (NPS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), the Caribbean Oceanic Restoration and Education (CORE) foundation, the British Virgin Islands Association of Reef Keepers, and the private sector.