Researchers find recovering coral reef

A team of renowned researchers is making a rare and valuable find off the coast of Antigua: a "recovering" coral reef.

Since an epidemic of "white-band" disease attacked the region's unique, tree-like elkhorn coral, "most of the coral reefs in the Caribbean are in pretty bad shape," Professor John W. McManus, director of the University of Miami's National Centre for Caribbean Coral Reef Research (NCORE) said.

But Antigua's North Sound, currently under study by Dr. McManus and his team, boasts an "immense" surface area with good signs of recovery.

Tomorrow morning at a public forum at the Sticky Wicket Dr. McManus will present "integrated coastal management" approaches used around the world to help fish and coral recover.

The Sound's vital signs are "promising," he maintains. "Massive thickets of elkhorn coral are growing up to 14 feet long, with lots of holes and therefore the ability to support very large volumes of fish.

"Most of the predatory fish are there, along with herbivorous fish that eat algae, and we"re finding a good mix of juvenile fish, which is a sign that this population will recover."

Still, the North Sound has a way to go, Dr. McManus insists. For example, researchers counted two groupers in a five-kilometre area. While that is a positive finding, as many diseased reefs have no groupers at all, the professor pointed out that there should have been "thousands."

Rebuilding the fish community is a vital but complex task, Dr. McManus states. "You can"t just say "you"re fishing too much, you can"t fish there." You have to work with people to come up with a plan."

Dr. McManus, whose work is supported by the Stanford Group in Antigua, is pleased the government is addressing these issues, and he will exchange thoughts with appropriate officials once the study and recommendations are completed.

Promoting reef recovery is "clearly in everybody's best interest," Dr. McManus insists.

"People like to go to places with beautiful reefs, and this will be a great place for diving, so the tourism industry will benefit. And the quality of life of the fishermen who work within the system will go up, as they will have more and larger fish."

Source: www.antiguasun.com