Big thinkers gather to combat coral bleaching

Coral bleaching effects marine life globally. Over the weekend the 36th US Coral Reef Task Force meeting wrapped-up in Guam.  Task force members gathered from Guam, CNMI, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Hawaii, Florida and twelve federal agencies to discuss ways to reduce coral bleaching.

The meeting coordinator of the 36th US Coral Reef Task Force and assistant professor at the University of Guam Dr. Austin Shelton provided Guam with advice on how to help. "Coral bleaching is one of the issues that our coral are facing and I think everybody on an individual level can work to decrease our carbon footprint because that's what's causing the coral bleaching. It's increased surface temperatures from climate change and if we can do a little bit all on our own, by turning off lights and air-conditioning when you don't use it and driving a more fuel efficient car," he explained.

During the rainy season, runoff is rapid and water erosion can be severe. Clearing lands and forest fires have left large portions of the watersheds completely bare, accelerating erosion and exposing coral reefs to sedimentation.

"One of the big issues that we have here on Guam is erosions of our water sheds and sedimentations on the coral reefs. And something simple that everyone can do is to plant a tree or to make sure that you have vegetation in your yards and to decrease that erosion. And the less sediment and soil you have that gets onto coral reefs the healthier they will be," Dr. Shelton continued.

These meetings covered topics about watersheds, Mariana Islands reef systems and coastal fisheries, climate change and protecting our islands and building a sustainable future. The task force also hopes to inspire newcomers to spread awareness into the community about reducing environmental stressors.

"The most important thing for all the participants, at least that came here for the first time to a US Coral Reef Task Force meeting, we'd hope that they would understand how important coral reefs are for everybody. They provide food for our people, they protect us from high wave actions and storms and they also pump millions of dollars into our economy each year," Shelton said.

To report sightings of coral bleaching, please visit eormarianas.org. For more information about the US Coral Reef Task Force, you can call Dr. Shelton at 686-2270.