Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 4. Marine Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
In 2000, no lobsters were observed during surveys of McKean (Stone et al 2001).
NIKUMARORO (GARDNER)
No lobsters 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. Small shrimp and crabs were numerous.
ORONA (HULL)
In 2000, no lobsters were observed during dive surveys at Orona (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. Small shrimp and crabs were numerous.
RAWAKI (PHOENIX)
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. Small shrimp and crabs were numerous.
H. FISHES
Fowler (1940) reported on the fishes obtained by the Wilkes Expedition, 1838 to 1842 that
visited the Phoenix Islands. Fishes collected included: Oxyporhamphus argenteus,
Exocoetidae, from the stomach of a gannet, Sula sp. in the Phoenix Islands; Chaetodon
auriga, Chaetodontidae, from Orona (Hull); Teuthis achilles, Teuthididae, from Orona (Hull),
Teuthis triostegus, Teuthididae, from Orona (Hull); Anampses caeruleo-punctatus, Labridae,
from Orona (Hull).
Schultz (1943) documented fish species collected during the 1939 survey expedition of the
Phoenix Islands by the U.S.S. Bushnell. Fish collections were done at Abariringa (Canton),
McKean, Enderbury, and Orona (Hull). According to Grovhoug and Henderson (1978),
Schultz (1943) identified 208 species of fish from 45 families for the Phoenix Islands.
However, the Schultz (1943) study did not provide quantitative distributional data on fish
species (Grovhoug and Henderson 1978).
Schultz and Woods (1948) reported that for the subspecies of surgeonfish (Acanthuridae),
Acanthurus triostegus triostegus, one-third of the specimens from the Phoenix Islands had an
extra spot, or bar, or an elongated spot. About one-third also had one more pectoral fin ray
than the average A. triostegus specimen from elsewhere.
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