Photography provided by Brilliant Studios

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease is a new threat to the reefs of the TCI. It is thought to be a bacterial disease that affects over 20 species of corals, mostly the large boulder-type, slow growing, reef building corals (think brain corals and similar species). It was first observed in Florida in 2014 and appeared in the TCI in 2019. It is a fast spreading, highly lethal disease if left unattended (up to 80% mortality in some of the species). But we are using the techniques developed over the past few years by researchers in Florida to tackle the disease in the TCI with the help of the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources. But the intervention process is on a coral head by coral head basis, not a reef wide intervention, so it is time consuming and labor intensive - in other words, costly. But if we do nothing, large brain corals and pillar corals (as well as other boulder corals) will likely cease to exist on the TCI reefs which would be devastating. If you would like to help us in our fight against this disease, please donate.