El Dia. August 6th, 2024
Bayahibe. -The death of the coral reefs continues to increase in an accelerated way in the Caribbean, endangering other marine species and the protection of the beaches and coasts. This was affirmed by Rita Sellares, marine biologist and director of the Dominican Foundation of Marine Studies (FUNDEMAR in Spanish), in the program Se Vale Preguntar with Amelia Deschamps.
“In just 2 years we have seen high mortality in our reefs. We had observed bleaching and some decay, but from 2020 to date we have lost almost 60% of coral coverage, not only in the Dominican Republic but also in the Caribbean.” stated the biologist.
Coral reefs are vital for the preservation of 25% of the world’s marine species, even affecting the food chain, Sellares explained. In addition, they guarantee the production of sand on the beaches and act as protective barriers against natural phenomena such as storms, hurricanes and tsunamis.
