Antibiotic use for coral disease lacks long-term ecological impact assessment
Original framing: “Safety of antibiotic treatment for stony coral tissue loss disease confirmed” — Phys.org
In contrast to the biomedical framing of coral disease, many Indigenous Oceanic cultures view coral health as a reflection of human behavior and environmental ethics. Their holistic worldview integrates marine conservation with spiritual and social practices, offering a different paradigm for sustainable reef management.
The current focus on antibiotic treatments for stony coral tissue loss disease reflects a technocratic approach to marine conservation that prioritizes short-term fixes over systemic transformation.
This framing, produced by academic and governmental bodies, serves to legitimize pharmaceutical interventions while obscuring the role of climate change, pollution, and extractive industries in coral degradation. Indigenous knowledge and community-based conservation offer alternative models that emphasize ecological balance and long-term resilience. By integrating these perspectives with scientific research and policy reform, we can move toward a more holistic and equitable approach to marine conservation that addresses root causes rather than symptoms.