Scarborough, Tobago – October 3, 2024 – The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) is urgently responding to a severe coral bleaching event affecting Tobago’s reefs. Reports from the public through the SeaiTT mobile app highlight bleaching at Mount Irvine, Arnos Vale, and Charlotteville, signaling a critical situation.
Coral bleaching, caused by prolonged marine heat waves, occurs when warmer waters stress corals, causing them to expel the algae they depend on, leaving them white and vulnerable. NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch has placed Trinidad and Tobago under Bleaching Alert Level 2 until October 2024, with sea temperatures exceeding 29°C.
Coral Reef Ecologist Dr. Anjani Ganase warns that prolonged heat exposure can trigger mass bleaching, fish kills, and disease outbreaks, jeopardizing the survival of Tobago’s marine ecosystems. This urgent response by the IMA and the public’s reports via the SeaiTT app highlight a collaborative effort to monitor and mitigate the impact of this severe environmental crisis in Tobago.
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