Ocean Sciences 2008

Written by Administrator

Last week the Buccoo Reef Trust (BRT) attended Ocean Sciences 2008 in Orlando Florida. There, the BRT/IWCAM Scientific Diver, Richard Parkinson, presented a research paper on 'Preliminary Findings from a new long-term Coral Reef Monitoring Programme in Tobago, West Indies'. The paper describes a reef monitoring program initiated by the Buccoo Reef Trust on the island of Tobago as part of a regional initiative aimed at improving the management of watersheds and coastal areas of Caribbean islands. The study involved a reef monitoring programme using 13 fixed stations at a depth of 10 metres, with each comprising three permanent 20 metre transects. The stations are located on the main coral reefs around Tobago and are designed to provide long-term data on the condition of the reefs over time. Data collection started in January 2007 using sediment traps, water quality testing and underwater video, which was analyzed using NCRI CPCe software. Preliminary results indicate differences in the condition of the reefs around Tobago, with reefs adjacent to the island's main town showing significantly elevated levels of macroalgae. Results also reveal an island-wide incidence of yellow blotch disease, which has spread substantially since the coral bleaching event of 2005.