[Coral-List] THE AGGRESIVE INVADER SOFT CORAL "Unomia stolonifera" ARRIVED TO THE CUBAN ISLAND, NORTHERN CARIBBEAN !

[Douglas Fenner]

In the early stages of an invasion, such as in Cuba, removal might work at
least temporarily.  Once there is a lot of it, removal would become a huge
and probably impossible task, and it sounds like they commonly break up and
pieces drift off and probably start new ones.  This soft coral may turn out
to be even more damaging than lionfish.

On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 1:26 AM Ignacio Agudo via Coral-List <
coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:

> Dear collegues & friends,
> We regret inform that our concerns and predictions, expressed on several
> occasions through this vehicle, have finally come to fruition.  "Unomia
> stolonifera", aggressive exotic invasive soft coral installed on the coasts
> of Venezuela already are also present in the North region of Caribbean.
> In February of this year, 2023, a colony of the exotic soft coral "Unomia
> stolonifera" was detected in the "Bucaranao Cove", Cuba.
> The site is located 16 km East of the port and the "Havana" oil refinery.
> The hypothesis being used is that the species was transported from
> "Venezuela" on one of the many oil tankers (probably in ballast water) that
> transit this coast.
> As warned (and expected), the invasion of "Unomia" in Venezuela is
> affecting other areas of the Caribbean basin. The invasive species is very
> likely already found on other islands and Caribbean countries, without
> being detected until now.
> The presence of this highly invasive species in Cuba is a potential threat
> to neighboring islands, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida (USA) and the Bahamas.
> It is hoped that this report will serve as a "warning" for all countries in
> the region. It is very important and urgent that all possible preventive
> measures be taken to avoid the spread and possible expansive invasion of
> this aggressive exotic soft coral in other areas of the Caribbean.
>
> _@/"
> Original technical report/ communication (Spanish):
>
> https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373903282_Presencia_en_Cuba_de_la_especie_marina_invasora_Unomia_stolonifera_Gohar_1938_Octocorallia_Alcyonacea_Acciones_para_su_control_y_eliminacion#fullTextFileContent
>
>
> _@/"
> Additional (journalistic) recent information (Venezuela):
>
> https://800noticias.com/anzoategui-aparicion-de-coral-afecta-80-de-la-pesca?fbclid=IwAR1L2qOdobm65g-1krDfQiSNd-PLnK6PapU5dgz9uQSXjmt4THGRJyQKJwM
>
>
> Best regards,
> IGNACIO AGUDO
> Latin American Cnidarian Network Member Brazil
> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1391001107824116/posts/2772336899690523/
>
> --
> *A. Ignacio Agudo-Padrón*
> Geographer, Environmental Researcher Malacologist
> *CEO & Manager Editor **AM Platform*
> Project "Avulsos Malacológicos - AM"
> Southern Brazil  *_@/"*
> Caixa Postal (P.O. Box) 22008, AC Dias Velho,
> Jardim Atlântico, Florianópolis,
> CEP 88095971, Santa Catarina/ SC,
> Brasil
> E-mail: ignacioagudo at gmail.com
> Curriculum: http://lattes.cnpq.br/3951358740536805
> Website: http://noticias-malacologicas-am.webnode.pt/
> Facebook:
>
> https://www.facebook.com/pages/Avulsos-Malacol%C3%B3gicos-AM/293465304090756
>
> E-book:
>
> http://issuu.com/espacocientificolivre/docs/moluscosesaudepublicaemsantacatarina
> ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9073-9049
> ResearchGate - Contributions:
>
> https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aisur_Agudo-Padron/publications?sorting=newest
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