Strike Teams
Currently strike teams are in place for all three US Virgin Islands. They consist of highly trained divers who are implementing the latest interventions shown to be effective against this disease. This includes the application of antibiotic paste developed specifically for corals by Ocean Alchemists.
Our Teams:
Ceiba Strategies (STT, STX)
CORE (STJ)
National Park Service (STJ, STX)
SeaVentures (STT, STX)
USVI Strike Team leaders receive training on disease response in the Florida Keys. Photo courtesy of L. Henderson
Strike Team Interventions
CORE Foundation Strike Team members prepare to dive and treat infected corals in Cane Bay, St. Croix. Image courtesy of Joe Snyder
CORE Foundation Strike Team Leader Mike Funk uses an underwater scooter to reach and treat infected corals long distances from shore. Image courtesy of Blake Gardner
CORE Foundation Strike Team Leader Leslie Henderson prepares to treat a coral with amoxicillin using the specialized Coral Cure Base2b compound by Ocean Alchemists. Image courtesy of Joe Snyder
Disease Response Coordinator Joe Townsend and Strike Team Volunteer Kyle Jerris (a recent graduate of the UVI Masters of Marine and Environmental Sciences Program) splash into Crown Bay Marina in search of coral disease
CORE Foundation Strike Team divers complete treatment of a large tagged mountainous star coral in Cane Bay, St. Croix. Image courtesy of Joe Snyder
UVI Center for Marine and Environmental Studies Technician Sonora Meiling records important information about corals on a disease-infected reef
CORE Foundation Strike Team member Nicholas Durgadeen treats a lobed star coral infected with SCTLD. Image courtesy of Leslie Marie Henderson
Joe Townsend assess a reef for disease-infected colonies
In preparation to treat corals, Coral Cure Base2b is mixed with powdered amoxicillin and placed in syringes or caulking tubes to apply on infected corals. Image courtesy of Leslie Marie Henderson
CORE Foundation Strike Team members finish treating infected corals in Cane Bay, St. Croix. Image courtesy of Joe Snyder
Kitty Edwards, the education and outreach coordinator at the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources Coastal Zone Management Division, surveying a reef to verify if coral disease is present or not
UVI Center for Marine and Environmental Studies Technician Kathryn Cobleigh and UVI Masters of Marine and Environmental Sciences Student Brad Arrington remove diseased corals from the reef
Joe Townsend spotlights a diseased corals to get an accurate photo of what is happening on the reef
Kitty Edwards surveys a reef in search of diseased corals
Joe Townsend dives down to photograph a large bleached brain coral
NOAA USVI Coastal Zone and Coral Management Liaison Leslie Henderson observes no disease on SCTLD in St. Croix
CORE Foundation Strike Team member Shamoy Bideau after another successful dive treating infected corals! Image courtesy of Joe Snyder
Strike Team Contacts
St. Thomas
Jason Quetel
fieldops@corevi.org
St. John
Frank Cummings
president@corevi.org
St. Croix
Erin Bowman
erin.bowman@dpnr.vi.gov
