Lab Spawned Coral Shows Success as Tipping Point Looms
Despite almost 40 years of marine park protection and management, Cayman's reefs continue to decline due to increasing bleaching events, disease, and ocean acidification, largely caused by rapidly warming oceans.
The Department of Environment's Coral Conservation team has achieved notable success with lab-spawned coral, which could help save Cayman reefs from the approaching tipping point and eventual extinction, alongside traditional conservation work.
Local reefs, like many around the world, are dying. In 1997, when the DoE began conducting annual coral reef health assessments, coral cover across the islands averaged around 25%. However, this cover has declined dramatically, with results from last year's research showing reef cover around Grand Cayman now averages just 6%.
Author's summary: Coral reefs in Cayman Islands are declining despite conservation efforts.