Sea urchins are dying across the Caribbean at a pace scientists say could rival a mass die-off that last occurred in 1983, alarming many who warn the trend could further decimate already frail coral reefs in the region
Dive shops first began reporting the deaths in February, perplexing scientists and worrying government officials who are receiving a growing number of reports about dying sea urchins from islands including Antigua, St Lucia, Dominica, Jamaica, St Vincent and the US Virgin Islands as well as Cozumel in Mexico
“It’s very concerning, particularly because it’s happening so quickly,” said Patricia Kramer, a marine biologist and program director of the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment, a scientific collaboration to improve reef conditions in the region
At first, the mortality event was linked only to Black Sea urchins, which are recognizable by their extremely long, skinny spines But two other species have since been affected, including the rock boring sea urchin and the West Indian sea egg
The deaths worry Kramer and other scientists including Dana, Atlantic-Caribbean team lead for the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s coral reef conservation program: “Losing our sea urchins would be really devastating”
The deaths are of concern because sea urchins are herbivores known for being efficient grazers that remove macro algae from coral reefs and clear space for baby sea corals to attach themselves, the two scientists said
“They’re kind of the unsung heroes of the reefs because they do so many good things,” Kramer said
While macro algae are an important source of food and shelter for some fish, too many of them can degrade coral reefs that are under stress by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures and a disease known as stony coral tissue loss
Overfishing across the Caribbean already had led to a greater abundance of macro algae, which was kept in check by sea urchins that are now dying, said Shaman Connell, an officer with St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Fisheries Service who oversees research
“It’s very urgent that we find a solution,” he said
The Florida-based Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute and the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment recently created a network to investigate the deaths, analyze tissue samples and find solutions
Kramer noted that very few Black Sea urchin populations recovered from the 1983 event that began in the Atlantic Ocean near the Panama Canal and spread northward and then eastward over the next 13 months
During that time, only the Black Sea urchin was affected, with 90% or more of the population dying, though at a much slower rate than the current event, she said
“Just when we’re getting to the point where they’re recovering, they’re dying,” Kramer said
The US Virgin Island of St Thomas was the first to report the newest round of deaths in February, although it’s unclear whether that’s where the event started
In mid-March, the Dutch Caribbean island of reported similar deaths, noting that 50% of the sea urchin population in its harbor was dead a week later Officials in said they have around 200 sea urchins in a nursery and are gathering information about the new mortality event, adding that they are treating some with antibiotics that might cure them or prevent them from getting sick
Meanwhile, Monique Calderon, a biologist with the government of St Lucia, said scientists on the eastern Caribbean island are considering launching their own survey to get more details about where the sea urchins are dying and why
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