March 3, 2025

How mariners can help slow the spread of coral disease

In Florida and the Caribbean, corals are under attack by a devastating disease known as stony coral tissue loss disease, or SCTLD. This disease is highly destructive and can wipe out entire colonies of corals in a matter of weeks from the first appearance of disease signs. Many different coral species are susceptible to SCTLD, including important reef-building species and some that are federally listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act.