Jamaica’s coral reefs are dying fast! This sobering video shows how
For many persons living in Jamaica, to fish is to live.
The sea surrounding Jamaica has changed drastically in recent decades due in part to generations of over-fishing.
As a result of this, the amount of fishes swimming in our waters has dwindled significantly.
Fishermen now have to work much harder to yield the results they once could.
Green algae now covers vast areas of Jamaica’s waters that were once vibrant coral.
This is frightening as live coral does not allow algae to settle on it.
A surge in parrotfish consumption on the island is also compounding the problem as they eat green algae. Parrotfish are now caught by the thousands on a daily basis to be sold in Jamaica.
Healthy reefs provide food and shelter for a host of sea creatures.
The short film below by Living Oceans Foundation shows in a vivid and simple way how Jamaica’s reefs have declined over the years and also highlights a few ways to help the reefs recover:
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It is sad because our fishing laws are slack and fisher men do almost anything to make a catch there should be a law against catching young fishes also where are the marine parks in Jamaica soon we also will be importing fish from some where else and what will these fishermen do then.
IT is sad because our fishing laws are slack and fisher men do almost anything to make a catch, there should be a law against catching young fishes also where are the marine parks in Jamaica soon we also will be importing fish from somewhere else and what will these fishermen do then.
i am glad someone took the initiative to help with our dying coral reefs and i hope the fishermen do their part in maintaining this don’t want to see anything bad happen to our beautiful island lets do our part by not consuming any parrot fish for a while so it can be built back please make a pledge my friends it will be beneficial in the long run THANKS
ban parrot fish catching for a period and invest in the re population of this breed the coral reefs are even more important than the survival of our people through our bellies and pockets we are going to commit suicide by not curving our diets and genocide on the side of the fishermen who refuse to minimize/stop this practice.
So wait, we are looking to kill our Goat Island fish sanctuaries and this is our current state?
It is heartening to know that the Jamaica government has agreed to set up the fish sanctuary in Pedro Keys as the first step in helping Jamaica’s reefs to recover. I have dived off Ocho Rios and Negril and have been saddened to see the awful shape of the reefs. (I found the water crystal clear, however.) I have seen numerous abandoned fish pots and fish hooks snagged in the damaged coral. Except for a 6-foot moray eel I saw off Ochi, the fish are few and tiny. In comparison, I have seen thousands of fish and healthy coral while… Read more »
IT is sad because our fishing laws are slack and fisher men do almost anything to make a catch, there should be a law against catching young fishes also where are the marine parks in Jamaica soon we also will be importing fish from somewhere else and what will these fishermen do then.
IT is sad because our fishing laws are slack and fisher men do almost anything to make a catch, there should be a law against catching young fishes also where are the marine parks in Jamaica soon we also will be importing fish from somewhere else and what will these fishermen do then.