Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Territory’s stony corals under threat from bacterial disease

Territory’s stony corals under threat from bacterial disease

Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Honourable Vincent Wheatley has issued a call for community and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to do their part to fight against the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD).
Honourable Vincent Wheatley in a statement during the Ninth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly explained that the bacterial disease is affecting stony corals in the Territory’s waters and if left unchecked can result in major impacts to about twenty-two (22) different kinds of corals, which are key structures that give reefs their complexity, provide protection from storms and is home to a variety of fish and invertebrate species.

Honourable Wheatley added that the bacterial disease found its way to the waters of the Virgin Islands from the Florida Reef Tract where it was first observed in 2014 and has spread throughout the Caribbean ever since.

The minister stated that the bacteria has now made its way to popular dive sites including Angel Reef, Ring Dove, the Indians and the Wreck of the Rhone, the only marine park in the Territory. The bacteria is not harmful to humans, but is an added stress factor for corals coupled with climate change, sedimentation loads from land reclamation and ocean acidification, which weakens their defense and makes coral reefs more susceptible to disease.

Treatments for the bacterial disease have shown results on small-scale applications, as much as two percent (2%) daily. A strike team has been proposed after the Environment and Climate Change Unit lost its vessel which was used to do most of the coral reef monitoring prior to the hurricanes of 2017.

The team is comprised of public officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration; the National Parks Trust and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to accomplish the task with the aid of NGO’s and volunteers.

Minister Wheatley also mentioned a potential citizen science system that could utilise such methods while NGOs and volunteers are out on their diving excursions.

He said, “The BVI has over 84,000 square kilometers of ocean space and approximately 78,000 acres of reef. This area is critical to our existence but the Government cannot do it alone. It needs to be a team effort where we all must work together in saving our reefs.”

Honorable Wheatley called on everyone to work together to save the ocean, the Territory and ourselves. “We all need to become more responsible about our natural environment as we have an obligation to do it for now and for generations to come,” he said.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration continues to effectively manage and administer the natural resources of the Territory in a manner that ensures long term sustainability.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
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
×