Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Boaters urged to not empty holding tanks near corals

Boaters urged to not empty holding tanks near corals

Local and tourist boaters in the Virgin Islands (VI) have been urged to not empty their holding tanks within 1000 metres of the VI’s shores, over concerns about the aggressive Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD).

Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) made the call at yesterday’s Wednesday, March 10, 2021, Sixth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly held at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom.

“Mr Speaker, I would implore all boater tourists and locals alike not to empty their holding tanks within 1000 meters from the shoreline as SCLTD is caused by unidentified bacteria,” Mr Wheatley said.

“The reefs are home to sea life, they offer protection to coastlines during hurricanes and high waves. They are a source of sand for beaches, they are home to many of the fish that locals eat and they are important elements of our tourism product,” Hon Wheatley said.

Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) made the calls at yesterday’s Wednesday, March 10, 2021, Sixth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly.


Several organisations collaborating to address disease


He noted that the National Parks Trust, the Ministry of Natural Resources Labor and Immigration, Unite BVI, Governor's Office and local dive operators have teamed up to address the coral disease.

“Aggressive treatment of SCTLD for some areas has allowed the slow or partial recovery of some affected species. Unfortunately, some species are more susceptible than others. As a result, some corals have died,” Hon Wheatley lamented.

Hon Wheatley said that in addition to the aggressive treatment of the disease, which will continue until the end of March 2021, an educational campaign has been developed and released to sensitise persons about the disease.

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) first appears as white patches over the coral, attacking their living tissue, leaving behind, its white remains. These patches represents that the coral polyp has died.

‘Big Momma’, at more than 330 years old was the largest known colony of Mountainous Star coral (Orbicella faveolata) in Southeast Florida. It died in a matter of three to four months after contracting Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD).


SCTLD


SCTLD was first discovered in the Virgin Islands on May 17, 2020, Hon Wheatley had disclosed during the Ninth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola, on Thursday, June 11, 2020.

“Reports revealed that the disease spread faster within the US Virgin Islands than it did in the Florida region, wiping out over 19 square miles of reef after it was first discovered on Flat Cay St Thomas, September 2019 and the density of the damage has grown significantly.

Hon Wheatley had also said that SCTLD is bacterial but it is not harmful to humans; however, human activities such as scuba diving and the exchange of ballast waters from infected areas to unaffected areas can contribute to its spread if proper caution isn’t adhered to.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
×