An invasive species that grows rapidly is negatively impacting native species in the Caribbean region. Reportedly, the species is already affecting corals in Puerto Rico.
Diario Libre reports on findings of La Tortuga Foundation on the illegal introduction of the soft coral Unomia stolonifera in the Mochima National Park (PNM) in Venezuela between 2000 and 2005. This coral, originally from Indonesia, has triggered an aggressive colonization process, affecting the coastal reefs, beaches and seagrass beds of the region.
Currently, more than 50% of the national park is invaded by this species, covering approximately 90 kilometers of coastline and 3,000,000 square meters of seabed.
In 2022, research from the Unomia project confirmed the presence of soft coral on the western coast of Venezuela, posing an imminent risk of invasion to other areas of the Caribbean...
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