The Fisheries Department within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry & Labour, has confirmed instances of coral bleaching in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
This was disclosed by Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar during his address on World Food Day. Minister Caesar was at the time discussing the harsh impacts that recent extreme heat has had on the agriculture sector in SVG.
The Agriculture Minister noted that this increase in water temperatures, which is brought on by global warming, will eventually lead to an increase in the price of fish on the local market.
Minister Caesar said that significant bleaching of the coral reefs will lead to a breakdown of the ecosystem, in the form of the migration of fish, which he says could see fishermen have to travel further distances to catch these fish, using more fuel in the process.
