Coral Reef Early Warning System Deployed in Soufriere

THE Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the University of Florida and the Government of St Lucia (Department of Fisheries) have formed an alliance to undertake a Caribbean Climate Change Adaptation Project.

According to Albert Jones, CCCCC Representative, “The project encompasses adaptation measures in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.”

The installation of a Coral Reef Early Warning System (CREWS) Network took place in the Soufriere Marine Reserve on Monday (May 14th) and it will provide information to Caribbean scientists and researchers to monitor reef health, sea temperature changes, winds (speed and gusts), barometric pressure and much needed data.

“The CREWS Network will include five new countries in the Eastern Caribbean — Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Grenada,” Jones further added.

The Department of Fisheries is thankful for the initiative.

Fisheries Extension Officer Rita Straughn says installation of the CREWS will help improve the monitoring of the various parameters that affect the coral reefs.”

Meanwhile, with an increase in climate change, the CREWS network will be even more beneficial to the island with the impending start of the annual Hurricane Season as of June 1st.