 OF THE FREIGHTER WELLWOOD ON MOLASSES REEF, FLORIDA KEYS by M. Dennis Hanisak, Ph.D. Division of Marine Science, HARBOR BRANCH OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION |
The scientific literature contains numerous accounts of damage to coral reefs caused
by natural events (e.g., hurricanes, red tides, thermal stress) and man-made
disturbances (e.g., dredging, oil pollution, coastal development, sewage
pollution), but there are few accounts of damage caused by major ship
groundings.
(Right) The freighter WELLWOOD firmly aground on molasses reef, about 5 miles southeast of Key Largo. (Photo courtesy of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary) Recovery rates of coral reefs following damage may vary from one reef system to another and depend upon various factors including severity of damage, substrate conditions, environmental factors, and sources of larval recruits. In the case of major ship groundings, recovery is primarily through recolonization of the major biota such as corals, gorgonians, sponges and algae, rather than through regeneration. 
If the reef is not severely damaged, the community may recover in 5-10 years. In the case of major catastrophic damages, however, complete recovery may require decades or the reef may never recover to to its former state. Groundings of vessels are not uncommon in the Florida Keys, and the degree of damage depends on the size of the vessel and the prevailing sea conditions. In 1984, the 122-m (396 ft) Cypriot-registered freighter WELLWOOD, ran aground on Molasses Reef within the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary and remained aground for 12 days. (Left) The reef as it appears near the grounding site. (Photo by John Reed, HBOI) |
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