Dive operator Ocean Frontiers has launched fundraising efforts to help combat the spread of stony coral tissue loss disease at 55 dive sites in East End.
The company, in partnership with the Cayman Islands Department of Environment and Reef Renewal Foundation International, is fighting the deadly disease that is threatening local reefs.
Co-owner Steve Broadbelt said Ocean Frontiers has formal approvals and a permit from the DoE to treat the disease on infected corals in East End.
SCTLD, which has been found to infect more than 20 species of hard corals, was first reported in Grand Cayman in June 2020. It was originally found in Florida in 2014 and has spread to many Caribbean locations.
Antibiotic treatments have proven to be effective in halting the spread of SCTLD on corals.
Broadbelt said Ocean Frontier’s goal is to survey and treat every infected coral its divers can find over a 16-week programme.
“When you donate we are able to respond to reef threats such as coral disease and keep producing and maintaining corals in our innovative nurseries. We strive to make your gift work as hard as we do treating coral disease (SCTLD), cleaning trees, out-planting corals, and monitoring our reefs,” he said in an appeal for donors.
The first fundraising target is US$80,000, which Broadbelt said would fund the initial phase and primary response to SCTLD infections.
“We are very fortunate to have secured a Matching Donor for up to US$40,000. This means that for every dollar your are able to donate, our Matching Donor will double that amount and help boost our fundraising drive to reach the target goal,” he said.
The donations will help cover the costs of boat use and diesel fuel, fieldwork labour, dive tanks and nitrox, materials, and ongoing treatments.
“Treating SCTLD is costly with a labour-intensive process and the high cost of antibiotic treatment materials. The cost of treating one coral head is approximately US$100 and each coral head may need multiple treatments,” Broadbelt said.
He said that over the last few months, Ocean Frontiers has conducted 225 SCTLD treatments or survey dives, with each diver spending up to 4,185 minutes of bottom time and the entire team spending 743 hours to date on this project.
On Wednesday, 3 Nov., from 7-8pm (Central Time) Ocean Frontiers will host a virtual presentation on SCTLD. Those interested can log in to learn about the challenges the reefs are facing from this disease, and to find how their donations can help fight it. The video call link is: https://meet.google.com/zfq-ezct-mfi.
The link will also be posted on Ocean Frontiers Facebook page.
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