IMA warns of significant bleaching event threatening Tobago corals

Photo by Duane Kenny courtesy IMA

The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) revealed it is taking immediate action to address a significant coral bleaching event threatening Tobago’s coral reefs. The Institute said in a release it has received numerous reports through its SeaiTT mobile application from members of the public who have witnessed the bleaching incidents firsthand. Observations of bleaching at Mount Irvine, Arnos Vale, and Charlotteville in Tobago underscore the severity of the situation, the IMA said.

Coral bleaching occurs when corals expel the algae living within them due to environmental stressors, typically warmer waters. This process causes the corals to turn white, increasing their vulnerability. The current event stems from marine heatwaves driven by prolonged elevated sea temperatures, which pose a substantial risk to critical marine ecosystems and coral reefs around Tobago.

In August 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch issued a Bleaching Alert Level 2 for Trinidad and Tobago. This alert indicates ongoing coral bleaching and a high likelihood of widespread coral mortality. Sea temperatures have consistently surpassed 29 degrees Celsius, the critical threshold for coral health. The Bleaching Alert Level 2 will remain in effect until the end of October 2024.

Dr. Anjani Ganase, Coral Reef Ecologist at the IMA, said,  “Prolonged exposure to high temperatures causes stress to corals and other marine organisms. Last year’s heatwave led to mass bleaching and triggered a red tide and a fish kill along Tobago’s Atlantic coast. This year, the trajectory of the marine heatwave appears to be more severe and extensive. Annual exposure to marine heatwaves means that corals and other marine life do not have sufficient time to recover. With more coral bleaching, the likelihood of diseases such as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) increases, further threatening coral survival.” 

The IMA said it will continue to monitor and called for more community awareness highlighting the need for collective efforts to protect Tobago’s vital coral ecosystems.

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