Coral disease in Turks and Caicos
With our support one of our key allies have been tackling a highly lethal coral disease.
We've been working to support marine conservation in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) for nearly two decades, building strong links with our local environmental partners.
Tackling coral disease
With our financial support, one of our key allies, the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund (TCRF), have been tackling a highly lethal coral disease: Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD).
SCTLD affects over 20 species of reef-building corals and was first discovered in the TCI in 2019. Once a coral colony is infected, without diagnosis and treatment the entire colony is expected to die within days.
This is a big concern as these reefs, incredibly rich with marine life, help support local fishing livelihoods as well as a vital tourism industry.
Turks and Caicos islanders getting involved in treating SCTLD
Credit: Alizee Zimmermann
At the first test site in TCI, two weeks after the treatment was applied, 92% of the treated colonies had no progression of disease, the other 8% required a re-treatment. At the two-month post-treatment visit, the success rate was 100%. All the untreated colonies were dead.
The TCRF have recently gained government approval to expand the treatment effort across the archipelago. This will enable various reef sites across the islands to be treated against this disease. They are also spearheading efforts to develop alternative treatments methods, with trialling underway.
Follow the progress of the treatment and of the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund by visiting their website.
Brain coral having been treated for SCTLD
Credit: David Gallardo