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A few weeks ago, we showed you an in depth report on stony coral disease and the fight to save Belize's reef. The Belize Audubon Society has discovered the disease in the Lighthouse Reef Atoll and is now working to try and contain it. They have been applying to the corals with symptoms of the disease. Here is a snippet of their trip to the atoll.
Dominique Lizama, Conservation Program Director, BAS
"The lethal stony coral tissue loss disease was detected at the northern most tip of the lighthouse reef atoll in September 2020. Because we have two very important marine protected areas within the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Halfmoon Caye and Blue Hole Natural Monument that are important for protection of the natural resources, important for our tourism stakeholders and finally for our northern fishing communities that rely on the natural resources for their livelihoods. We thought it important seek funding from MarFund and partnering with the Protected Areas Conservation Trust to do a one year project, focusing on addressing the onset of Stoney Coral Tissue Loss disease within the Lighthouse Reef Atoll."
Reinaldo Call, Assistant Marine Research & Monitoring Officer, BAS
"The treatment we use is a mixture of chloride and amoxicillin, it's the same treatment that is approved by the Fisheries Department and the coral reef monitoring network. The chlorides and amoxicillin is mixed well then placed into syringes, we treat corals that are more than 30% depending on the time we have, the availability of the mixture, the treatment has been quite effective."
Vielka Manzanilla, Student Copper Bank Village
"Stony Coral Tissue Loss disease is present in our waters but what is causing this disease is not known as yet. As the name says, it is mainly affecting the stony corals. I have learned that this disease can affect either a portion of the coral or the entire coral if not treated on time."
R. Terrence Avila, Tour Guide, Island Expeditions
"When I saw it initially, after two years of not seeing some of the sites that I frequent week after week and I see how many of these corals died out, it's amazing, it's just heartbreaking to think about, these beautiful corals and then they're all covered with algae, that's something that, it touched my heart. I want to learn how to apply this treatment and I want to know that if I share it with the guest, it's not only going to be a regular snorkel tour, but they could be part of a solution to this Stoney Coral Tissue Loss disease."
