Authors: Iker Irazabal, Reef Check Dominican Republic and Manuel Alejandro Rodriguez, Maguá Ecological Foundation, Sosúa, Dominican Republic.
This report documents the first known instance of the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) in the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The disease, which currently affects a number of territories in the Caribbean, appears to be spreading and is a cause of concern to the scientific community and area managers across the region. The disease was observed on 3rd March 2019 in and around the reef of Cayo Arena, near the town of Punta Rucia, Puerto Plata. The species infected, and the pattern of infection follows what has been previously reported for the disease.
Read full report here : First report of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease in the Dominican Republic