Scuba Divers Encouraged to Avoid East Flower Garden Bank after Mass Die-Off of Invertebrates
Courtesy FGBNMS/G.P. SchmahlA deadly white mat coats a sponge between star and brain coral at the East Flower Garden Banks.
A large-scale mortality event is taking place on the East Flower Garden Bank in the Gulf of Mexico, and scientists from NOAA can’t explain it.
NOAAThe Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
Divers visiting the typically healthy reef last week were surprised to find hazy water, a white substance coating corals and sponges and dead animals on the seafloor. They found an “unprecedented” amount of dying invertebrates at the site, according to NOAA, including sea urchins, clams, corals and sponges.
The area, which is part of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, is located in the northwest portion of the gulf, about 100 miles off the coast of Texas and Louisiana. Scientists from NOAA were monitoring an area just a few hundred yards away when they were alerted of the problem. They saw no signs of the mortality event at their monitoring site, and reefs at the West Flower Garden Bank, which is about 12 miles away, remain healthy.
To try and keep the problem isolated at the East Flower Garden Bank, NOAA is recommending that people avoid diving, fishing and boating in the area.
"At present, we are not aware of any specific risks to humans, but we are recommending this action as a precaution until more is known about the cause," said G.P. Schmahl, sanctuary superintendent, in a NOAA press release.
NOAA is looking into the root of the problem, investigating poor water quality, disease pathogens and chemical spills as potential instigators.
Here is a look at some of the images from the East Flower Garden Bank:
Courtesy FGBNMS/G.P. SchmahlA massive star coral impacted by a large-scale mortality event at the East Flower Garden Bank. These corals are hundreds and hundreds of years old, and can be lost in a matter of days.
Courtesy FGBNMS/G.P. SchmahlTissue sloughing off a recently dead brain coral succumbing to a large-scale mortality event at the East Flower Garden Bank.
Courtesy FGBNMS/G.P. SchmahlThe remains of a sea urchin recently dead from a large-scale mortality event at the East Flower Garden Banks laying atop dying star coral colonies – these are coated with a white mat of unknown material.
Courtesy FGBNMS/G.P. SchmahlCoats of white mats covering dying star corals during a large-scale mortality event at the East Flower Garden Bank.
Courtesy FGBNMS/G.P. SchmahlA white mat of unknown material coats a dying sponge at the East Flower Garden Bank during a large-scale mortality event.
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