Considering Commercial Vessels as Potential Vectors of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease
Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is a troubling new disease that is spreading rapidly across the greater Caribbean region, but the etiological agent(s) and the mechanisms(s) of spread are both unknown. First detected off the coast of Miami, Florida, major ocean currents alone do not explain t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.709764/full |
| _version_ | 1819063666205523968 |
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| author | Nicholas A. Rosenau Sarah Gignoux-Wolfsohn Richard A. Everett A. Whitman Miller Mark S. Minton Gregory M. Ruiz |
| author_facet | Nicholas A. Rosenau Sarah Gignoux-Wolfsohn Richard A. Everett A. Whitman Miller Mark S. Minton Gregory M. Ruiz |
| author_sort | Nicholas A. Rosenau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is a troubling new disease that is spreading rapidly across the greater Caribbean region, but the etiological agent(s) and the mechanisms(s) of spread are both unknown. First detected off the coast of Miami, Florida, major ocean currents alone do not explain the pattern of spread, with outbreaks occurring across geographically disjunct and distant locations. This has raised concerns by researchers and resource managers that commercial vessels may contribute as vectors to spread of the disease. Despite existing regulatory and management strategies intended to limit coastal marine invasion risks, the efficacy of these measures is still unresolved for ship-borne microorganisms, and disease transport via ballast water and hull biofouling are under examination given the high ship traffic in the region. Here, to help inform the discussion of ships as possible vectors of SCTLD, we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge about ships and their potential to transfer organisms in the greater Caribbean, focusing in particular on ballast water, and outline a set of recommendations for future research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T15:18:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc4ed7ed0bd2481a8844733a06f33500 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T15:18:18Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc4ed7ed0bd2481a8844733a06f335002022-12-21T18:59:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452021-09-01810.3389/fmars.2021.709764709764Considering Commercial Vessels as Potential Vectors of Stony Coral Tissue Loss DiseaseNicholas A. Rosenau0Sarah Gignoux-Wolfsohn1Richard A. Everett2A. Whitman Miller3Mark S. Minton4Gregory M. Ruiz5Ocean and Coastal Management Branch, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, United StatesSmithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, United StatesUnited States Coast Guard, Office of Operating and Environmental Standards, Washington, DC, United StatesSmithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, United StatesSmithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, United StatesSmithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, United StatesStony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is a troubling new disease that is spreading rapidly across the greater Caribbean region, but the etiological agent(s) and the mechanisms(s) of spread are both unknown. First detected off the coast of Miami, Florida, major ocean currents alone do not explain the pattern of spread, with outbreaks occurring across geographically disjunct and distant locations. This has raised concerns by researchers and resource managers that commercial vessels may contribute as vectors to spread of the disease. Despite existing regulatory and management strategies intended to limit coastal marine invasion risks, the efficacy of these measures is still unresolved for ship-borne microorganisms, and disease transport via ballast water and hull biofouling are under examination given the high ship traffic in the region. Here, to help inform the discussion of ships as possible vectors of SCTLD, we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge about ships and their potential to transfer organisms in the greater Caribbean, focusing in particular on ballast water, and outline a set of recommendations for future research.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.709764/fullballast watervessel discharge regulationsstony coral tissue loss diseaseCaribbeanvector of stony coral tissue loss diseasebiofouling |
| spellingShingle | Nicholas A. Rosenau Sarah Gignoux-Wolfsohn Richard A. Everett A. Whitman Miller Mark S. Minton Gregory M. Ruiz Considering Commercial Vessels as Potential Vectors of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Frontiers in Marine Science ballast water vessel discharge regulations stony coral tissue loss disease Caribbean vector of stony coral tissue loss disease biofouling |
| title | Considering Commercial Vessels as Potential Vectors of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease |
| title_full | Considering Commercial Vessels as Potential Vectors of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease |
| title_fullStr | Considering Commercial Vessels as Potential Vectors of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Considering Commercial Vessels as Potential Vectors of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease |
| title_short | Considering Commercial Vessels as Potential Vectors of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease |
| title_sort | considering commercial vessels as potential vectors of stony coral tissue loss disease |
| topic | ballast water vessel discharge regulations stony coral tissue loss disease Caribbean vector of stony coral tissue loss disease biofouling |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.709764/full |
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