SEWAGE SLUSH IN CORAL REEFS

CORAL REEFS IN TOBAGO:

In Trinidad and Tobago, resides some of

the world’s most beautiful and largest

brain corals in the world, located in our

very own Speyside Coral Reef, and

Buccoo Reef in Tobago. Coral reefs

play a very important role in Tobago’s

economy, generating money through the

tourism industry and saving money by

protecting its coastlines from the impact

of waves and erosion. Therefore, it is

very important to conserve and preserve

our reefs from various threats such as

the improper disposal of untreated

sewage into the sea.

EFFECTS OF SEWAGE ON

CORAL REEFS

Algal Growth- the abundance of nutrients found in

sewage generates algal bloom which can smother

corals causing them to be stressed and die.

Picture of algal bloom in coral reefs. Retrieved from "Coral Reef By Zoe Kehs" 2016

Increased levels of Bacteria– Bacteria limits the

availability of dissolved oxygen in the water for corals,

which can cause them to become stressed and die.

Increased Heavy Metals Levels- heavy metals found in

sewage waste, such as mercury and lead can cause an

increase in coral bleaching and death.

Picture of a bleached coral located in Speyside Reef, Tobago. Retrieved from Downs 2016

Increased Pathogen Levels- According to Wear and

Thurber 2016, pathogens found in untreated sewage

waste can infect corals found in the Caribbean with

diseases such as white pox disease.

Increased Fresh Water Levels- fresh water is a

primary component of sewage waste, which directly

causes corals to be bleached.

Graph showing one of the effects of improper sewage disposal, i.e the number of

different species of algae against coral cover percentage(%). Retrieved from D. et al. 2016

WAYS TO REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF SEWAGE

WASTE ON CORAL REEFS

1) “Re-routing waste outfalls that drain into the Bon Accord

lagoon,” is a viable solution to reduce the impact of sewage on

coral reefs according to, "Tobago: A Sustainable Future For

Buccoo Reef | World Resources Institute" 2016,

2) The production of a wastewater treatment plant in southwest

Tobago would lessen the effects of sewage on the Buccoo Reef.

3) Implement and upkeep laws with stricter punishment and higher

fines for persons who run pipes with their untreated sewage into

the ocean.

Picture of Tobago’s coral reef. Retrieved from “Trinidad And Tobago"

REFERENCES: -"Coral Reef By Zoe Kehs". 2016. Thinglink.Com.

https://www.thinglink.com/

scene/713447085059342336.

-D., Jos, Linda M., Julio A., Victor F., Hector Reyes-

Bonilla, and Amlcar L. 2016. "Conservation And Sus-

tainability Of Mexican Caribbean Coral Reefs And The

Threats Of A Human-Induced Phase-Shift".

-Downs, Marty. 2016. "When Life Depends On Corals,

What Marks The Most Promising Reef?". Cool Green

Science. http://blog.nature.org/science/2014/01/15/

quick-study-when-life-depends-on-corals-what-marks-

the-most-promising-reef/.

-"Tobago: A Sustainable Future For Buccoo Reef |

World Resources Institute". 2016. Wri.Org. http://

www.wri.org/tobago-sustainable-future-buccoo-reef.

-"Trinidad And Tobago". 2016. Climateandreefs. http://

climateandreefs.org/trinidad-and-tobago/.

-Wear, Stephanie L. and Rebecca Vega Thurber. 2016.

"Sewage Pollution: Mitigation Is Key For Coral Reef

Stewardship".

-"What’S Going On With Our Country’S Sewage Sys-

tem?". 2016. OSH Matters. https://

oshmatters.wordpress.com/2015/10/06/sewage-

hazards/.

Picture showing improper disposal of

sewage. Retrieved from, "What’S Going On With Our

Country’S Sewage System?" 2016

BRITTANY GANPATH,

Department of Life Sciences,

The University of the West Indies,

St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago