Cayman Islands Government Responds to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) Impacts

By Michael P. Carvalho, Esq. and Christopher J. Miller, B.S., M.S Eng.

November 6, 2023 – Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) is a deadly coral disease affecting over twenty-five species of hard coral resulting in rapid tissue mortality and death of entire colonies. The disease was first reported on Florida’s reefs in 2014 and has subsequently spread throughout multiple countries in the Caribbean, to include the Cayman Islands, due to its high transmissivity. SCTLD causes lesions to appear on hard corals following increasing bleaching events associated with dramatic increases in surface water temperatures caused by Climate Change. Infected corals rapidly lose live tissue and entire colonies can be wiped out in weeks to months (Precht et al 2016). The Cayman Islands government is particularly concerned about the spread of SCTLD from Grand Cayman where the disease is now widely established to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, where SCTLD has not yet gained a foothold.

Cause

The cause and method of SCTLD transmission are currently unknown but are the subject of intense research. Previously, researchers believed that SCTLD is a bacterial pathogen that grows rapidly and is transmitted by direct contact and ocean currents. (Aeby et al, 2019). More recent research suggests that a viral pathogen may be disrupting the coral-zooxanthellae symbiosis, a type of photosynthesis algae living in coral tissues. (Landsberg et al 0202; Work et al 2021). There is no known cure for SCTLD, which has a mortality rate of 60%-100% (Precht et al 2016), although studies are underway to determine whether topically applied antibiotics may be effective.

Affect

SCLTD negatively affects coral density and species diversity, reducing the overall health of coral reefs and resulting in significant degradation to coral reef ecosystems. The loss of coral reefs (already imperiled by rapidly warming ocean surface temperatures and physical damages from intense weather events) affects not only the health of the reef, but also the myriad of economic interests they support. Such interests include tourism, coastal protection, food, and recreation, among others impacts. In the Cayman Islands, tourism is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for approximately 70% of GDP. (Moody’s Analytics, www.economy.com/cayman-islands). With the main sources of income in the Cayman Islands consisting of financial services, tourism and real estate sales and development, the loss of once pristine coral reefs upon which much of the tourist economy is based, would be devastating to the economy.

Response

All hands-on deck. Local governments throughout the Caribbean are collaborating with regional and international partners to continue to study the causes and effects of SCTLD on coral reefs. The Cayman Islands Government Department of the Environment (DoE) is “…actively training volunteers on disease identification and how to use treatment options while expanding our citizen scientist reporting efforts to engage the public in helping us identify diseases coral.” DoE regularly collects samples for epidemiological research and applies topical treatment of Amoxicillin + Base2B on affected corals within defined study areas. (doe.ky/marine/sctld.).

The Cayman Islands government is also engaged in efforts to grow new coral using fragments harvested from healthy reefs and grown on “coral trees” suspended in the water column in nurseries. https://missionblue.org/2017/03/cayman-islands-coral-nursery-conservation-program/

DoE is actively engaging scuba divers and fishers who are being relied upon not only of their ability to identify and report diseased corals, but also to avoid transmission of SCLTD by disinfecting dive gear and bilge water, as pathogens may survive on for extended periods and can transmitted to other locations. Disinfection can be achieved through using a 1% bleach solution, ammonia-based disinfectants, or antibacterial dish soap. DoE requests that divers and snorkelers consider renting local dive gear, avoid visiting healthy sites after visiting diseased sites, disinfecting gear between sites, and disinfecting bilge water between Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands (Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac) at least one-half mile offshore and away from coral reefs.

For further information:

Tammi Warrender is the Lead Coordinator of the SCTLD Response Project.  She can be reached by email: Tammi.Warrender@gov.ky

Report SCLTD and submit photographs: SCTLD Report Caribbean.

Urgent issues should be reported to the SCTLD hotline at +1-345-926-0680.

_________________________________________________________________

Michael P. Carvalho, Esq. is an environmental attorney representing a wide range of clients in environmental and real estate matters nationally and internationally. He is a former environmental consultant and serves as President of Carvalho & Associates, P.C with offices in Boston and Atlanta. He can be reached at mpc@carvalholawfirm.com.

Christopher J. Miller is a former environmental consultant and currently serves as Director of Natural Resources of the Town of Brewster, Massachusetts.

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In August, Michael Carvalho narrated a short film on Sawmill Brook in Manchester-by-the-Sea, a collaboration of work performed by members of the MBTS Stream Team, Salem Sound Coastwatch, Manchester-Essex Conservation Trust and our friends and partners.

Michael Carvalho is president of Carvalho & Associates, P.C. with offices in Boston, MA and Atlanta, GA. He specializes in environmental law, including litigation, regulatory and transactional matters. He can be reached at (678) 354-0066.

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WASHINGTON, DC – Top placing students from each EnvironMentors chapter travel to Washington, DC to compete for these college scholarships at the annual EnvironMentors National Fair. The 2015 Fair was held on Monday, June 1, 2015, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.  Environmental Attorney Michael Carvalho, past Chair of EnvironMentors Advisory Board and Member of the Board of the National Council on Science and Environment, was honored to serve as Emcee.

The EnvironMentors Emerging Leader Scholarship is the top scholarship awarded by EnvironMentors in the amount of $10,000. This scholarship is granted to an EnvironMentors student who is a graduating senior, has participated in EnvironMentors for at least two years, has been admitted to college, demonstrates a genuine commitment to the environment, and who, as a result of their participation in EnvironMentors and other related experiences, has decided to pursue and environmentally-related college degree program. 

The 2015 EnvironMentors Emerging Leader Scholarship was awarded to Erin Murphy, who will be attending the University of California and plans to pursue an environmentally-related college degree.  

 For more information about the EnvironMentors program, please visit www.ncseonline.org

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The Technical Guide for Assessing and Mitigating the Vapor Intrusion Pathway from Subsurface Vapor Sources to Indoor Air applies to all sites being evaluated under federal land cleanup statutes by EPA, other federal agencies, state and tribal governments and brownfield grantees. A companion document, the Technical Guide for Addressing Petroleum Vapor Intrusion at Leaking Underground Storage Tank Sites addresses any sites where vapor intrusion related to petroleum contamination from underground storage tanks is a potential concern. Both guides are applicable to residential and non-residential settings.

“These guides will promote national consistency in assessing and addressing the vapor intrusion human exposure pathway at contaminated sites to protect human health — particularly the most vulnerable,” says Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “States, tribes and localities, in particular, will find the guides to be critical resources for identifying and considering key factors related to vapor intrusion assessments, risk management decisions and mitigation actions.”

National awareness and concern about vapor intrusion has grown over the last several decades. At the same time, knowledge of and experience with assessment and mitigation of vapor intrusion has substantially increased, leading to heightened understanding of and improved approaches for evaluating and managing vapor intrusion. Relying upon this enhanced knowledge and more extensive experience, the guides present EPA’s current recommendations for identifying, evaluating and managing vapor intrusion while providing flexible technical approaches to accommodate site-specific conditions and circumstances.

At sites where vapor intrusion poses a potential or actual hazard to occupants’ health or safety, exposures usually can be prevented or reduced through relatively simple actions such as changing building pressure and ventilation. In most cases, costs associated with addressing vapor intrusion can be very manageable, resulting in long-term benefits including improved public health and less costly response actions. These benefits are especially likely when actions are undertaken early.

Vapor intrusion refers to the migration of hazardous vapors from contaminated subsurface sources such as groundwater through soil into overlying building and structures. Exposure to these vapors by building occupants can potentially pose both acute and chronic health risks. Vapor intrusion is a potential concern at any building—existing or planned—located near soil or groundwater contaminated with vapor-forming toxic chemicals.

To access the documents and for more information on vapor intrusion go to: Vapor Instrusion

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To register for the conference please go to:

2015 Energy and Climate Change Conference

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To register for the conference please go to:

2015 Energy and Climate Change Conference

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The EnvironMentors program served a record number of students over the past twelve months with many inspirational stories of individuals in each of its 12 Chapters. EnvironMentors has received several additional smaller awards that further strengthen our work.

Founded in 1992 as an environment-based mentoring program, EnvironMentors envisions young adult leaders from all cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds becoming active stewards of their communities and the environment. By creating a bridge that encourages underserved youth to explore environmental education in college we open potential pathways for them to move toward successful environmental careers.

EnvironMentors is uniquely positioned to increase the number of under-represented students in environmental and related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields nationwide and help build a diverse, skilled workforce for the new green economy. Students, who would typically not have the exposure or opportunities to access environmental and related degrees and careers, gain invaluable mentoring, scientific research skills and support in college preparation. Equally important, students become more informed and active stewards of their local communities and the environment through EnvironMentors.

Currently, EnvironMentors has expanded to include thirteen chapters at: Alabama State University, Alabama A&M University, Arkansas State University, Colorado State University, Heritage University, Kean University, Kentucky State University, Louisiana State University, North Carolina State University, University of California, Davis, University of the District of Columbia, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and West Virginia University.

For more information about the EnvironMentors program, please visit www.ncseonline.org

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A popular spot for students at nearby Endicott College, the beach failed to meet stringent new federal government standards for water quality, a report from the National Resource Defense Council found. Of 18 water samples taken there in 2013, at least 44 percent exceeded daily bacterial maximum, the report said.

“That’s kind of nasty,” said Carol Perkins, 23, of Peabody. “I swim on that beach a lot.”

Nationwide, NRDC collected the results of water samples from nearly 3,500 beaches in 2013.

But only 35 of those beaches made the “superstar” level, including popular Singing Beach in Manchester, while Gloucester’s Good Harbor Beach and Rockport’s Long Beach also received high grades.

Unlike previous reports, the Washington D.C.-based environmental group used tough, new standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to assess the level of beach contamination. The benchmarks use lower levels of acceptable water pollution from human and animal waste to gauge the potential health impact on beachgoers.

State ranks 14th

Overall, Massachusetts ranked 14 out of 30 states for beach water quality. The state had 10 percent of its samples exceed daily bacterial maximum, a 4 percent increase from 2012, the report said.

Beach water pollution can cause a range of illnesses in swimmers including skin rashes, pinkeye, ear, nose and throat problems, dysentery, respiratory ailments and other serious health problems, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which monitors water quality in the state.

For senior citizens, small children and people with weak immune systems, the results can be fatal, according to state health officials. The incidence of infections has been increasing over the past several decades, and with coastal populations growing, the numbers are expected to climb.

“Sewage and contaminated runoff in the water should never ruin a family beach trip,” said NRDC senior attorney Jon Devine.“But no matter where you live, urban slobber and other pollution can seriously compromise the water quality at your favorite beach and make your family sick.”

North Shore beaches from Salisbury to Lynn got mixed reviews in the report.

In Marblehead, at least three beaches frequently had bacteria contamination last year — Gas House, Stramski and Grace Oliver’s. But other beaches in town, including Devereux and three beaches at the YMCA’s Children’s Island camp, didn’t exceed any of the 21 water quality tests taken last year.

Rockport, Gloucester scores

Meanwhile, Rockport’s Long Beach and Gloucester’s Good Harbor Beach both rated as among the cleanest in the state and nation, with zero instances of contamination.

Rockport officials attributed the town’s pristine beach water to pollution-control efforts.

“Over the years, we’ve been requiring homeowners to replace aging septic systems, which has really improved the water quality,” said Leslie Whelan, Rockport’s health agent, who monitors water quality at the town’s beaches. “We’re definitely proud that our beaches are among the cleanest in the state.”

Beyond Good Harbor, however, Gloucester’s Wingaersheek Beach showed high bacteria counts in 6 percent of 16 samples taken, while Pavilion Beach showed bacteria counts above the safe limits in 17 percent of its samples.

The state health department uses less stringent federal standards to assess water quality.

The report’s authors said the findings aren’t meant as an indictment of state or local environmental regulators nor failure “to protect public health when beach water quality is poor.”

Clean Water Act

The report comes as state and national environmental groups push for tough new regulations aimed at extending federal Clean Water Act protections for inland streams and wetlands to minimize polluted runoff that contributes to poor beach water quality and promotes algae blooms. The EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have proposed new rules, which are being reviewed by regulators.

“To get clean water on the beach, we have to protect our natural resources from headwaters to the ocean,” said Christopher Kilian, a senior attorney with the New England chapter of the Conservation Law Foundation. “If you ignore the upstream water, you’re going to have pollution, because that water ultimately flows into the seas.”

This article was written by Christian M. Wade who covers the Massachusetts Statehouse. He can be reached at cwade@cnhi.com Follow him on Twitter: @cmwade1969.

For more information, check out this interactive map:http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/ma.asp.

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For further information, please email Attorney Michael Carvalho, Esq. He can be reached at (678) 354-0066 or by e-mail.

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