Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 4. Marine Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
No sea crown of thorns starfish were observed during the 2000 survey of McKean (Stone et
al 2001).
Two sea cucumbers, Holthuria leucospilota, were observed in the 2000 survey of McKean
(Stone et al 2001).
NIKUMARORO (GARDNER)
No sea cucumbers or crown of thorns starfish were observed during the 2000 survey of
Nikumaroro (Stone et al 2001).
In 2002, surveys of selected invertebrate diversity and abundance were conducted in the
Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003). Abariringa, Birnie, Enderbury, Manra,
Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki were surveyed. Echinoderms were low in species richness
(for all classes).
Four crown-of-thorns were observed during the 2002 surveys, three from Nikumaroro (Obura
and Stone 2003).
Kerr and Wragg (2006) reported observing one crown of thorns starfish on Nikumaroro at
“Amelia’s lost causeway”.
ORONA (HULL)
In 2000, no sea cucumbers were observed during dive surveys on Orona (Stone et al 2001).
In addition, no crown of thorns starfish were observed.
In 2001, few beche-de-mer were present during dive surveys (Tioti et al 2001). The only
species observed was the lolly fish, Holothuria atra, and surf redfish, Actinopyga mauritiana.
Dive tows and searches to more than 100 ft were not successful in finding additional bechede-mer
resources.
In 2002, surveys of selected invertebrate diversity and abundance were conducted in the
Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003). Abariringa, Birnie, Enderbury, Manra,
Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki were surveyed. Echinoderms were low in species richness
(for all classes).
Obura and Stone (2003) report high densities of sea cucumbers, Holothuria atra and H.
edulis in Orona’s lagoon.
RAWAKI
In 2002, surveys of selected invertebrate diversity and abundance were conducted in the
Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003). Abariringa, Birnie, Enderbury, Manra,
Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki were surveyed. Echinoderms were low in species richness
(for all classes).
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