The health of the coral reef system around the US Virgin Islands is in poor shape due to various factors including sedimentation from rain runoff, overtourism, and coral bleaching. A researcher from the UVI Center for Environmental Studies observed that the reefs around St. Croix currently look "terrible" with dead, white coral covered in algae. Fish and Wildlife officials attribute part of the coral bleaching at Buck Island to "over-loving" the reefs through excessive tourism.

1. USVI 163rdYEAR 75¢SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4-5, 2007,NO. 029
'Over-loving' one of list ofproblems affecting c()ral reefs
AVIS STAFF ,
.r • ST. CROIX...:!.The health of one
of b'UT rnoet precious natural
resources - the coral reef sys-
tem that rings our islands .• is in
poor shape due to a wide variety
of factors. but according to the
Vl Department of Planning and
Natural Resources Divisionof Fish
and Wildlife along with theUVl
Center for Marine Studies. there'.
arc sleps that individuals and
businesses can take to protect
our fragile coasts and reefs.
Marsha Taylor. a researcher for
the UVI Center for Envtronmcntul
Stu dlc s Marine Advisory. Iii
involved with coral and sediment
monrtonng, whJch analyzes coral
bleaching along with how local
sedimentation. or dirt. pours into
the oceans from raln water runoff
that damages the reef system by
. affecting the water quality.
Taylor expressed concern about
the reefs around St. Croix. saying
that the current state of the reef
system is alarming.
"Instead of brown or multi-col-
ored. the coral is all white. The
reefs are depressing. they look
terrible - dead coral with algae."
she said. .
While researching for the Vl
Marine Advisory. Taylor found
REEFS, PAGE 2
•
-i
. . . Kristin Duncan
According to Fish and Wildlife officials part of the cause of coral bleaching around Buck Island is due to "over-loving" the National Park with the many guests
that visit. .