Curaçao is changing

Jay's usual passion for the ocean is contagious. He shares tales of stunning coral reefs, rare fish sightings, and deep-sea adventures. However, today there's a noticeable change in his demeanor. He appears uneasy, his usual smile replaced by a look of concern. 

One of his students, Emma, notices. “Hey Jay, you seem to have something on your mind. Is anything wrong?”

Jay sighs, gazing out over the bay. “Yeah, something's been weighing on my mind. It's about the future of our oceans and the impact of climate change. Today, I noticed signs of coral bleaching again, fewer fish than usual, and an increase in invasive species like the lionfish.”  

The group listens attentively as Jay elaborates. “The seawater temperature is rising, which has significant implications for marine life. On top of that, the water is becoming more acidic because of carbon dioxide absorption. We call this ocean acidification.”  

Emma furrows her brow. “Hmm, that doesn't sound good. But what does it actually mean for the ocean and marine life?”  

“Acidification affects all marine life that depends on calcium, like coral, shellfish, and sea urchins,” Jay says.

“Coral reefs, which are home to many marine animals and protect our coast, are at great risk. You've probably noticed they aren't as colorful as they used to be and look weaker.”

Emma points to a brown patch in the water. “And that brown seaweed washing up there? Does that have anything to do with it too?” 

“Yes, that's sargassum, a type of seaweed that thrives in warmer, more acidic conditions,” Jay replies, pouring water over his head and rinsing his eyes.

“It can entangle fish, smother coral, and cause health problems for humans if it washes ashore.” 

Another student asks: “Do you think this is also why we've been catching fewer fresh fish lately?”  

Buchi, a fisherman working on his boat nearby and an acquaintance of Jay's, chimes in. “Definitely! Fishing is taking a big hit. We're catching fewer fish, smaller fish, or sometimes no fish at all. And with higher fuel costs, it’s getting more expensive because we often have to sail farther to find them. We're doing our best, but it's getting harder every day.”  

“We divers notice that too!”  Emma adds.

“It seems like there's almost nothing left to see underwater, or we have to dive deeper to find the fish. Tourism is also suffering because of the damage to coral reefs and global warming, making Curaçao less attractive. And without healthy coral reefs, our coastline becomes more vulnerable to storm surges and erosion.”  

“Just what we need,” Buchi says with a defeated look. “Only now do I realize the impact we've caused. It seemed far away when we heard about it in school, but we're all experiencing it now. Hopefully, there's a solution to this after all.”  

Jay smiles faintly. “There is no easy solution at the moment. All we can do is try to adapt and live more consciously. Not everything is bad news, though. We can still protect our coastline by planting mangrove forests. This will help with the protection that the healthy coral reefs provide. But shall we get back into the water now? Let's enjoy all the beauty we can still admire.”  

Emma and the rest of the students agree. “Yes, let's do that. We should continue to appreciate the beauty that's still here and do our best to protect it.”  

“And speaking of protecting,” Jay says with a grin, “who's hungry for some lionfish with funchi? Maybe we can catch a few.”

“That would be great after all this not-so-good news,” Buchi says a bit mockingly. “Here, take this gear to hunt them. That way, you can help protect the corals and enjoy a good meal today.”