To Coral Diseases Main Index

Introduction to Coral Stress, Summer of 1997

This summer's 'Coral Bleaching' was reported to be one of the most severe events of its kind in the Florida Keys. Along with the stress caused to the corals by this bleaching event (which is still on going as of 10/6/97) there are indications that disease, algal overgrowth and other unknown factors are adding additional stress to the corals which is in turn contributing to a major loss of living coral coverage on the reefs. This rapid demise in the quality of Floridas coral reefs near the Key West area should be of great concern for everyone. Over the last year we have experienced an increase in coral disease that is truly unbelievable.