New disease killing GoM coral

A new disease that’s killing over 90% of some coral species has made its first incursion into the seascapes covering the Gulf of Mexico’s largest and most-treasured coral sanctuary. Scientists working in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary about 100 miles off the coasts of Louisiana/Texas have spotted corals with the tell-tale white lesions associated with stony coral tissue loss disease. Although not officially diagnosed, sanctuary ecologist Michelle Johnston raced to get the word out that coral experts she’s consulted are “90% sure” the New Orleans-sized sanctuary is infected. Flower Garden Banks includes the northernmost coral reefs in the continental U.S. and one of the few places in the GoM that’s off limits to commercial fishing and oil and gas exploration. Its plentiful but fragile corals are a haven for a wide range of marine life: Manta rays, dolphins, endangered sea turtles, a variety of fish like grouper and snapper. The disease’s appearance comes at a high point for Flower Garden Banks, which grown from 56 to 160 square miles in the last year. This year marks 30 years since the sanctuary was founded in 1992. While Flower Garden Banks’ infected areas were limited to small patches, hundreds of coral colonies have begun to lose their color and is showing signs of tissue disintegration. The disease was first found in Florida. (Source: NOLA.com 09/25/22) Gulf of Mexico’s largest coral sanctuary faces an extreme threat that’s mystifying scientists | Environment | nola.com