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The Coral Disease and Health Consortium (CDHC) is responding to a request for assistance by the Flower Garden Banks NMS (FGBNMS) to investigate a coral disease outbreak. Sanctuary scientists report a highly unusual disease outbreak affecting several coral species in an area approximately 50 meters in diameter. This is the first documented report of such a wide-spread occurrence of disease in the FGBNMS. The disease signs are consistent with white plague that is caused by a bacterial pathogen, but will require laboratory confirmation. The CDHC has assembled a rapid response team consisting of coral disease experts from NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries Program, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the National Centers for Coastal and Ocean Science (NCCOS) http://www.coastalsc...ence.noaa.gov/> ), along with other CDHC partners from EPA, USGS, Florida International University, Mote Marine Laboratory and George Mason University. This team will conduct a field investigation April 4-8 to determine the extent, cause and short-term impacts of the disease outbreak. For more information contact Cheryl.Woodley@noaa.gov.

Rick


The older I get, the better I played.