Press Release: One in three coral species in Curaçao threatened with extinction

WILLEMSTAD – During the United Nations Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, the new Red List of Threatened Species was unveiled. The previous list was last presented in 2008. Over recent years, information on all 892 reef-building coral species worldwide has been re-evaluated to determine whether their survival status has improved or worsened. This evaluation was conducted by a global group of coral experts, including researchers from CARMABI. All 66 coral species found in the Caribbean are also present around Curaçao, and of these, 19 are now so critically endangered that they are at risk of extinction throughout the Caribbean region.

The decline of coral reefs worldwide is no secret, driven by climate change, overfishing, pollution, and coral diseases. While Curaçao has been somewhat of an exception, with relatively healthy reefs still present in some areas, even these have suffered significantly. Last year alone, approximately 28% of Curaçao’s coral reefs died within a single year due to outbreaks of new coral diseases, such as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, and rising sea temperatures. When sea temperatures exceed 30°C, corals expel the algae that live within their tissues, causing coral bleaching. Over time, this leads to starvation, as these algae provide essential nutrients to their coral hosts.

While reef decline is often more severe on other islands, the situation in Curaçao remains critical. Hundreds of scientific studies documenting changes in Caribbean coral reef communities over time were analyzed to estimate the rates of decline or recovery among coral species. The findings of this study were recently published in the scientific journal PLoS ONE. Of the 66 coral species found in Curaçao, 19 are now classified as "critically endangered" on the new Red List of Threatened Species compiled by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Two species are listed as "endangered," and five are considered "vulnerable." These categories are used only for species facing extinction risks. For 10 species, it is expected that they will be classified as "vulnerable" or worse in the next revision. For 30 species, there is currently no cause for concern or insufficient data to assess their status. Globally, 44% of the 892 known reef-building coral species are now threatened with extinction.

"The health of coral reef communities in the Caribbean is clearly deteriorating," said Mark Vermeij, Head of Research at CARMABI and contributor to the Red List evaluation. "Large coral species that were once abundant are rapidly declining in many areas, while other species are increasing. Coral growth, regardless of species, is mainly occurring in locations with clean water and healthy fish populations. Curaçao’s relatively healthy reefs give us an international responsibility to ensure certain coral species do not go extinct in the Caribbean. While small countries like ours have limited influence on the root causes of climate change, improving water quality and maintaining populations of algae-eating fish can make reefs more resilient to its effects."

Dr. Bert Hoeksema, a professor affiliated with the University of Groningen and Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands, also participated in the study. "This is concerning news, but there are silver linings. During my visits to Curaçao, I have often been told that government policies prohibit construction in areas where critically endangered coral species are present. While this list has grown significantly, it’s encouraging to see that the Curaçao government is willing to take action to protect threatened species on the Red List. This is uncommon in other regions."

During the UN Climate Conference in Baku, there was widespread alarm over the doubling of coral species globally threatened with extinction. Participants expressed hope that governments, in collaboration with scientists and key stakeholders, such as major conservation organizations, will address the global decline of coral reefs with urgency. The potential economic consequences—including reduced fisheries and tourism revenue, which heavily rely on healthy coral reef ecosystems—were highlighted as a critical concern.

Links:

• Link to the PLoS ONE article mentioned in this press release.
• Link to the IUCN press release on the revised Red List.
• Link to photos of coral species in Curaçao threatened with extinction.