Coral reefs face critical decline, scientists warn

A Barbadian marine scientist — a leading Caribbean ocean researcher — has warned that Barbados’ coral reefs could collapse to fewer than five per cent viability by 2030, urging young people to take urgent action to safeguard the island’s environmental future.

Dr Lorna V. Inniss, regional coordinator and head of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO’s Caribbean office (IOCARIBE), said the future of Barbados’ natural resources depends on the decisions made today.

She appeared at a pre-launch media briefing and student engagement session for the Vetlesen Caribbean Hurricane Ocean Glider science field experiment at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) in Husbands, St James, on Tuesday.

Dr Lorna V. Inniss, Regional Coordinator and Head of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO’s Caribbean office (IOCARIBE). (Photo Credit: Shamar Blunt/Barbados TODAY)

Addressing students, Dr Inniss said: “I urge you, this is your country, this is where you go to school and possibly where you will live,” she said. “You need to make sure that the things that happen here, the decisions that are taken here are the right decisions to ensure sustainability for your children and grandchildren.”

The one-time head of the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) pointed to the impact of poor coastal development and pollution, warning that these activities can destroy beaches and coral reefs that future generations depend on.

Dr Inniss also highlighted alarming projections about the state of coral reefs in the Caribbean.

“Right now, we are facing a situation where there’s the possibility that by 2030… there may be less than five per cent viable coral reefs,” she said. “That means that by the time your grandchildren come along, there may not be any living coral reefs.

“But it can be reversed if we do the right thing.”

The IOCARIBE head noted that regional and international institutions, including development banks, stand ready to support environmental projects through technical assistance and financing.

She also expressed concern about environmental changes already being observed around the island.

“For the first time in my life, I saw sargassum in Carlisle Bay this morning,” Dr Inniss said. “I’m so shocked, because it never came into Carlisle Bay before. What has changed? We need to understand that.”

The importance of ocean research in improving weather forecasting and understanding the wider marine environment was underscored by another Barbadian scientist, Dr David Farrell, CIMH principal.

An ocean glider launched last year spent three months at sea collecting valuable data for researchers, including partners from Rutgers University.

“Part of the programme here is to explore the oceans to support understanding of the oceans in the region and to support improved coupling of ocean-atmospheric processes, which will improve tropical storm forecasting,” Dr Farrell said.

He noted that accurate forecasting has become increasingly important as the region experiences more intense weather events, citing the impacts of Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Melissa in recent years.

Beyond storm tracking, the programme will also help scientists better understand seasonal ocean changes, fisheries, coastal processes and the role oceans play in regulating the regional and global climate.

“The oceans represent for me a big unknown,” Dr Farrell said. “We have a lot of ocean space but we know very little about the ocean space that’s part of our economic zone.”

He said the expanding ocean glider programme will help unlock critical information about how Caribbean waters function and influence both climate and livelihoods across the region.

(SB)