Climate change and its effects on marine life

Coastal development that has led to sediment runoff onto reefs, loss of mangrove forests that served as nurseries for reed creatures, agricultural run-off of fertilisers and pesticides, sewage pollution, and marine debris have had a strong negative impact on Jamaica's underwater life.

Human-accelerated climate change has led to warmer sea-surface temperatures, resulting in coral bleaching and diseases," Rick MacPherson lamented, adding that divers, too, contribute their share of threats to reef systems.

"Touching, standing on, or kicking delicate corals can induce infections that can lead to coral death. Anchors dropped from dive boats can decimate 200-300-year-old coral colonies," he said.

poor supervision

On the other hand, poor supervision and the control of visitors (particularly from cruise lines) lead to careless and unnecessary damage of coral. "Even fish-feeding by tourists has an impact. Feeding fish can divert grazing fish from otherwise removing harmful algae growth. It also makes fish overly aggressive and has resulted in many painful bites from fish looking for a hand out," said MacPherson.

He said measures can be taken to bring the country's ocean floor to even half of what it was 20 years ago, although recovery may not occur quickly. "But things are not so far gone that improvement is impossible. But it will take work and it will take a commitment from Jamaican people and Government. There is no question that Jamaica needs more marine-protected areas and it needs active management and enforcement," he said.

greater fishing yields

Studies, MacPherson said, has shown that by limiting when and where fishing is done, there can actually be greater fishing yields in other areas of the reef. Jamaica, he stressed, "needs a better zoning of itsmarine resources, needs to get serious about 'no take and no use' areas to protect and replenish the reefs, and regulations and laws need to be taken seriously. That means that marine-park managers and wardens cannot be afraid to penalise those businesses, individuals, tourists, etc., who violate regulations".