Question Sea urchin die off

[scubadada]

Have any of you noticed the Caribbean sea urchin die off and algae overgrowth in Cozumel?

 

[DandyDon]

The urchins started mass deaths in the 1980s, maybe connected to the Panama canal, but the cause is not known: Scientists Discover Cause of Sea Urchin Die-offs in the Caribbean: a Protozoan Parasite - Florida Sea Grant

 

[scubadada]

The urchins started mass deaths in the 1980s, maybe connected to the Panama canal, but the cause is not known: Scientists Discover Cause of Sea Urchin Die-offs in the Caribbean: a Protozoan Parasite - Florida Sea Grant

Yes, as you know, the recent die off is a new and separate event with a known etiology.

 

[rmorgan]

Deleted

 

[JFS]

I've been noticing large increases of algae growth in specific areas. If it continues, 5 years will be overgrown. Too much runoff and nutrients in the water.

 

[tridacna]

Unfortunately Statia (Sint Eustatius) is suffering from this very issue in the worst possible way. Many sites are covered with algae to the point that corals are totally encased in algae. It’s like diving over an algae encrusted landscape.

Oftentimes visibility is affected very badly too. At some locations it’s almost impossible to even see clearly in the water. The floating algae obscures your vision and clings to your mask. I saw only two spiny urchins in one week.

I hope that this is not the future of diving in the Caribbean. SCTLD is bad-this is worse. It affects ALL flora/fauna underwater.

 

[lionfish-eater]

Unfortunately Statia (Sint Eustatius) is suffering from this very issue in the worst possible way. Many sites are covered with algae to the point that corals are totally encased in algae. It’s like diving over an algae encrusted landscape.

Oftentimes visibility is affected very badly too. At some locations it’s almost impossible to even see clearly in the water. The floating algae obscures your vision and clings to your mask. I saw only two spiny urchins in one week.

I hope that this is not the future of diving in the Caribbean. SCTLD is bad-this is worse. It affects ALL flora/fauna underwater.

Really sad to hear that
I really enjoyed the diving there.
Shallow sites and low to no current might be part of the reason for the algae growth

Here is a video from about 12 years ago for comparison of vis

 

[Chavodel8en]

We have the opposite problem in California. Due to sea star wasting away, the sea urchins are uncontrolled.

In some areas, the urchins eat all the kelp, leaving nothing but a moonscape of gray rock, covered with starving sea urchins.

 

[RyanT]

Here's another article.

Serial Killer?

stri.si.edu

 

[cozcharlie]

FYI: I am almost certain I have been seeing more sea urchins lately than a year ago. The die-off was definitely real and quite massive (sea urchin skeletons everywhere last year ), but I believe there may be at least the beginning of a rebound (fingers crossed ).