Volcano destroyed the reefs of Tonga
2023.01.15 13:03
Volcano destroyed the reefs of Tonga
By Ray Johnson
Budrigannews.com – The island nation of Tonga is still dealing with the damage to its coastal waters one year after a massive underwater volcano eruption in the South Pacific.
When Hunga-Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai erupted, it sent a shockwave all over the world, produced a plume of water and ash that rose higher than any other ever recorded, and caused tsunami waves to ricochet across the region before crashing into the archipelago southeast of Fiji.
Numerous fish perished or migrated elsewhere as a result of the destruction of coral reefs.
According to World Bank data from 2019, Tongans are struggling as a result, with over 80% of Tongan families relying on subsistence reef fishing. The Tongan government declared that it would seek $240 million for recovery, which would include enhancing food security. Eight million dollars were provided by the World Bank right away.
Poasi Ngaluafe, the head of the science division in the Ministry of Fisheries of Tonga, stated, “In terms of recovery plan… we are awaiting funds to cover expenditures associated with small-scale fisheries along coastal communities.”
SILENT REEFS
The exclusive economic zone that covers nearly 700,000 square kilometers (270,271 square miles) of water encompasses the vast majority of Tongan territory. Even though commercial fishing only makes up 2.3% of the country’s economy, Tongans rely heavily on subsistence fishing for their daily sustenance.
In a November report, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations estimated that the eruption cost the country’s fisheries and aquaculture sector approximately $7.4 million. This is a significant amount for Tonga’s economy, which is approximately $500 million. Damaged fishing vessels were largely to blame for the losses, with nearly half of those losses occurring in the small-scale fisheries sector. However, some commercial vessels were also damaged.
It is difficult to estimate the eruption’s impact on fish harvests because the Tongan government does not closely monitor subsistence fishing.
However, according to scientists, in addition to the likely depletion of some fish stocks, other alarming indicators suggest that fisheries recovery may take a long time.
Youthful corals are neglecting to develop in the waterfront waters around the emission site, and numerous regions once home to solid and plentiful reefs are currently fruitless, as per the public authority’s August study.
Many reefs may have been covered in volcanic ash, denying fish their feeding grounds and spawning grounds. No marine life had survived near the volcano, according to the survey.
During this time, the tsunami that swelled the waters surrounding the archipelago crushed large boulder corals, resulting in fields of coral rubble. Even though some reefs continued to exist, the foraging sounds of fish and shrimp snapping, crackling, and popping, which were indicators of a healthy environment, had vanished.
According to the survey report, “the reefs in Tonga were silent.”
Tongans have relied on agriculture as a lifeline in the face of empty waters and damaged boats. “Food production has resumed with little impacts,” said Siosiua Halavatu, a soil scientist speaking on behalf of the Tongan government, despite concerns that the volcanic ash that covered 99 percent of the country would make soils too toxic to grow crops.
The ash that had fallen was not harmful to humans, according to soil tests. Additionally, fruit trees burned by falling ash and yam and sweet potato plants perished during the eruption; however, once the ash was washed away, they began to recover.
According to Halavatu’s statement to Reuters, “We have supported recovery works through land preparation, planting backyard gardening, roots crops in the farms, and export crops like watermelon and squash.”
However, long-term monitoring will be essential, he stated, and Tonga intends to upgrade their soil testing laboratory and create a national soil strategy to assist farmers.
SKY WATER
Scientists are currently evaluating the eruption’s effects on the atmosphere as well. While land-based volcanoes primarily release ash and sulfur dioxide, underwater volcanoes release significantly more water.
The white-grayish plume of Tonga’s eruption was no exception, injecting 146 million tonnes of water into the atmosphere and traveling 57 kilometers (35.4 miles).
Water vapor can remain in the atmosphere for up to ten years, storing heat on Earth’s surface and accelerating global warming. Additionally, more water vapor in the atmosphere can contribute to the depletion of ozone, which protects the planet from UV radiation.
Paul Newman, chief scientist for earth sciences at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, stated, “That one volcano increased the total amount of global water in the stratosphere by 10%.” That has only just begun to have an effect on us.
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