Jamaica’s Marine Life at Risk: Scientists urge action to protect Sea Urchins amid decline

Jamaica: Several stakeholders in Jamaica reported during a recent press conference that not enough is being done to protect the sea urchins and marine life. It is reported that local scientists also believe that the nation could be devastated in the near future upon failure to act against it.

The development was announced by Travis Graham, executive director of GoldenEye Foundation in St Mary during World Oceans Day Ceremony. He reported that when a disease outbreak killed 80% of sea urchin in Jamaican’s territory in 1980, there was an overgrowth of algae in several Caribbean coral reefs.

After several decades of this destruction, in April 2022, the National Environment and Planning Agency of Jamaica confirmed reports of a die-off of something known as long-spined sea urchins in the coastal waters of Jamaica.

This species is one of the most significant grazers on the Caribbean coral reef, which also removes algae as well as maintains open spaces for coral growth.

According to Jamaica Gleaner, several other locations were impacted by the die-off including the US Virgin Islands, St Eustatius, Saba, St Vincent, Dominica, Antigua as well as Saint Lucia.

It is to be noted that the scientists at the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary have collected healthy long spined sea urchins and began an urchin nursery where they are working to restore the species on reefs around the country.

Graham also mentioned that for him, its code red and about 80% of sea urchins, not just in Jamaica but across the Caribbean, Mexico and Florida Keys have died off. He stated that sea urchins are critically significant to the reef health in Jamaica.

He continued to say that people don’t understand how important species like these are and the die-off has gone and people have stopped doing research but it happened in the 80s and will significantly affect reef health across the region.

Travis Graham continued to say that in Oracabessa Bay, the team has been playing its part in safeguarding the corals by creating a land based lab with tanks. All these measure are being set up in order to safeguard the urchins which will ultimately help in eradicating the algae.

He also urged the governments of the Caribbean region to really put some focus on the research to see what really is causing the impact on the sea urchins population as no one is really sure at this point.