The Perry Institute for Marine Scientific discipline (PIMS) recently released the latest edition of its Coral Reef Report Carte du jour, which grades Bahamas coral reef ecosystem health and assesses ongoing threats, while outlining successful measures needed to opposite the pass up of coral reefs.

Bahamas coral reef
A Bahamian coral reef (Paradigm past Hayley-Jo Carr)

Our coral reefs are disappearing

About 50 percent of the world'southward coral reefs are already lost or are severely damaged. Many studies over the terminal five to ten years indicate that all reefs could be lost by 2050. Coral reefs are some of the most biologically rich and economically valuable ecosystems on Earth. They provide nutrient, jobs, income, and protection from atmospheric condition to billions of people worldwide. Nevertheless, coral reefs and the animals that call them home are in danger of extinction if we practise not take immediate action to protect them. An increasing array of impacts pose a threat, including pollution, invasive species, diseases, bleaching, and global climatic change. The rapid decline and loss of these valuable, ancient, and circuitous ecosystems have meaning social, economic, and environmental consequences effectually the world.

stony coral tissue loss
Stony coral tissue loss disease is a major threat to coral reefs and has at present been discovered in the Commonwealth of the bahamas. (Image past Hayley-Jo Carr)

The Perry Institute for Marine Science

The Perry Plant for Marine Scientific discipline (PIMS)'due south inquiry focuses on fishery management, coral condition, conservation and restoration of littoral ecosystems, and conservation of threatened marine species. PIMS is a program-based institution conducting research throughout the Bahamas and other parts of the Caribbean in partnership with governments, international NGOs and local organizations.

It recently released the 2020 edition of its Bahamas Coral Report Card based on studies and enquiry from the last five years. The written report carte also draws comparisons with its previous iteration from 2016, allowing a wider analysis over the last 10 years. The research includes several areas of work combined with 250 Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Cess (AGRRA) surveys conducted at more than 200 sites effectually the Commonwealth of the bahamas. AGRRA surveys assistance us understand reef condition past examining multiple indicators of the benthic-coral-fish relationship.

Bahamas Coral Report Card data
The Bahamas Coral Report Carte du jour data was gathered using Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) protocols. Prototype past Alex Frans.

An overall reef wellness index ranging from poor to skillful, for a diversity of islands throughout the Commonwealth of the bahamas was created later focusing on key elements within a coral reef. Within the report card you can see in-depth information and trends on the post-obit for each surveyed site:

  • Coral Cover
  • Benthic Index
  • Coral Status
  • Partial Bloodshed of Corals
  • Coral Disease
  • Coral Recruitment
  • Large Parrotfish Index
  • Diadema Urchin Density
  • Grouper Index
Map of sites assessed
Map showing the sites evaluated over the final five years in the Bahamas.

After establishing a reef wellness index for each location, the study card graded most equally in "fair status." The report noted the rest as "impaired." The survey then examined specific threats in each area and how they played a function in a site's overall condition. The leading threats to coral reefs in the Commonwealth of the bahamas are hurricanes, coral-bleaching events, coastal development, stony coral tissue loss disease, and unregulated line-fishing practices. The report so further advises on what deportment we can take to help protect coral reefs in addition to what countries should do to make a positive modify for the future.

hurricane damaged reef
Hurricanes crusade widespread damage to coral reefs in the Bahamas. This prototype shows a reef broken in one-half after Hurricane Dorian in 2019 (Image by Will Greene)

The study is a sobering snapshot of the state of coral reefs not just in the Bahamas, but worldwide. However, it is non all doom and gloom. The report card as well highlights practices that are having a positive influence on coral reefs.

Coral restoration

Several intervention techniques in the Bahamas are currently helping restore coral populations, save critically endangered species, such as staghorn and elkhorn coral, and increment genetic diversity. The Reef Rescue Network aims to calibration upward coral restoration efforts throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean area, primarily by growing corals in nurseries and out-planting them onto reefs. We are start to see success from these efforts. The written report card shows that the simply documented increases in the amount of staghorn and elkhorn coral was from sites where restoration efforts have been ongoing for the last x years. This is an encouraging sign and evidence that coral restoration can help the globe's coral reefs recover.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

The healthiest reefs in the Commonwealth of the bahamas were in the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), as well as very remote locations. The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is the oldest and best-enforced MPA in the Commonwealth of the bahamas. It has been protected since 1959, and entirely no-take since 1986. Many studies take shown that populations of fish, conch, crawfish and corals are healthier here than other parts of the Commonwealth of the bahamas. Nosotros need MPAs now more than always. Well managed MPAs can vastly meliorate reef ecosystem health and potentially even reverse downward trends in marine biodiversity.

Bahamas coral reef
Lx percent of sites in 'good' health were in a Marine Protected Surface area. (Prototype by Shane Gross)

Coral restoration

elkhorn coral
Nursery-reared out[-planted corals are starting to accept a positive impact on coral reef cover in the Bahamas

Several intervention techniques in the Commonwealth of the bahamas are currently helping restore coral populations, save critically endangered species, such as staghorn and elkhorn coral, and increment genetic variety. The Reef Rescue Network aims to scale up coral restoration efforts throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean, primarily past growing corals in nurseries and out-planting them onto reefs. We are outset to see success from these efforts, with the study carte showing that the only documented increases in the corporeality of staghorn and elkhorn coral was from sites where restoration efforts take been ongoing for the last 10 years. This is an encouraging sign and evidence that coral restoration can help the world's coral reefs recover.

Click here to download the full Commonwealth of the bahamas Coral Reef Report Carte du jour.

Bahamas Coral Reef report Card
Bahamas Coral Reef Report Carte du jour (Image courtesy of Perry Institute for Marine Science)

All photos courtesy of the Perry Institute for Marine Scientific discipline.