Coral bleaching has been confirmed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) by the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar revealed this during his World Food Day speech. Caesar was at the time explaining the devastating effects of the recent excessive heat on the agriculture sector in SVG.
When corals are stressed by changes in factors such as temperature, light, or nutrition, they eject the symbiotic algae dwelling in their tissues, causing them to turn entirely white.
The minister stated that considerable bleaching of coral reefs will result in a breakdown of the ecosystem in the form of fish migration, which he claims will force fishermen to go longer distances to catch these fish, consuming more fuel in the process.
Caesar predicted that the local fish market will soon see a price hike as a result of the rise in water temperatures caused by global warming.
Coral Bleaching. Have you ever wondered how a coral becomes bleached?
Healthy Coral: Coral and algae depend on each other to survive. Corals have a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae that live in their tissues. These algae are the coral’s primary food source and give them their color. Stressed Coral: If stressed, algae leaves the coral. When the symbiotic relationship becomes stressed due to increased ocean temperature or pollution, the algae leave the coral’s tissue. Bleached Coral: Coral is left bleached and vulnerable. Without the algae, the coral loses its major source of food, turns white or very pale, and is more susceptible to disease.
What Causes Bleaching? Change in ocean temperature Increased ocean temperatures caused by climate change are the leading cause of coral bleaching. Runoff and pollution Storm-generated precipitation can rapidly dilute ocean water, and runoff can carry pollutants that can bleach near-shore corals. Overexposure to sunlight When temperatures are high, high solar irradiance contributes to bleaching in shallow-water corals. Extreme low tides Exposure to the air during extreme low tides can cause bleaching in shallow corals.
