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By: MRT Desk

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An Ecological Catastrophe: Exotic Coral Suffocates Reefs in Venezuela and Threatens the Caribbean

A soft coral from the Indo-Pacific has invaded the Caribbean coast of Venezuela causing an ecological catastrophe that marine biologists consider one of the deadliest marine invasions worldwide. The coral, known as Unomia stolonifera, has illegally been introduced for commercial purposes in the Mochima National Park.

An Unprecedented Case in the World

Unomia stolonifera is a great colonizer that suffocates and destroys reefs, making them disappear. Its extraordinary ability to thrive in aquariums at a high price range has made it attractive for commercial use. Scientists first identified it in 2007 when it was an unknown species in the Caribbean. By 2014, its first report was published after classifying it as a Xenia-type soft coral. In 2021, its definitive identification was achieved as Unomia stolonifera.

The Unomia Project, a scientific research initiative financed by private funds, has proposed mitigation mechanisms, including a machine developed by engineers that awaits Venezuelan government permits. Fishermen and tour operators concerned about the spread of Unomia stolonifera have resorted to manual removal, but its magnitude makes eradication impossible.

Disruption of the Food Chain

Fish populations are drastically decreasing due to the death of reefs, and the lack of a food chain is creating social, food security, and economic problems for fishermen in eastern Venezuela. The Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC) and the Ministry of Ecosocialism have conducted studies, but bureaucracy and ministerial changes have hindered the work. The situation has reached Venezuela’s bordering countries, with exotic soft corals documented in Colombian and Brazilian waters, threatening the rest of the Caribbean.

This invasive coral is an urgent problem that requires the intervention of the state to recover some areas and control its spread. It is an ecological and environmental problem that could have severe repercussions if left unchecked, threatening Caribbean marine life, reef systems, and livelihoods.

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