Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 4. Marine Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
14) Blue damselfish, Pomacentrus coelesris,
15) Racoon butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunuta,
16) Triggerfish, Rhinecanthus aculeatus,
17) Big-eye sea bream, Monotaxis grandoculis,
18) Balck-tailed snapper, Lutjanus fulvus,
19) Soft puffer, Arothron hispidus,
20) Convict tang, Acanthurus triostegus.
Finally, Grovhoug and Henderson (1978) provided detailed survey results (species lists,
number of fish observed, average fish size, habitat, and other parameters) for transects
completed.
In 2000, manta rays were observed in lagoon channel mouth (Stone et al 2001).
Randall and Randall (2001b) described a new damselfish (Pomacentridae), Dascyllus
auripinnis, based on specimens from 18 specimens from the Line Islands, 1 specimen from
the Abariringa (Canton) in the Phoenix Islands.
Randall and Randall (2001a) reviewed the Kuhliidae genus Kuhlia including specimens from
Abariringa (Canton), Orona (Hull), and Enderbury. Kuhlia petiti was only known from the
Phoenix Islands and the Marquesas Islands.
Randall and McCosker (2002) described a new species of sandperch, Parapercis lata, from
the Line and Phoenix Islands. Twelve specimens were from the Line Islands and one was
collected in 1968 in Abariringa (Canton) the Phoenix Islands.
In 2002, fish dive surveys were conducted in the Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003). In
addition, and ROV and Dropcam were used to record species of fish. Abariringa, Birnie,
Enderbury, Manra, Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki were surveyed.
Between 2000 and 2003, shark density had dropped significantly and were absent in many
sites in Rawaki (Phoenix), Manra, Abariringa (Kanton), and Orona (Obura and Stone 2003).
Randall et al (2003) described a new soldierfish, Myripristis earlei, from the Marquesas and
Phoenix Islands including specimens Abariringa (Canton), Enderbury, and Rawaki (Phoenix).
It was speculated that the Phoenix Islands population was probably the result of downcurrent
dispersal of larvae from the Marquesas.
In 2004, fish populations were extremely diverse and high on Abariringa (Kanton) (Planetary
Coral Reef Foundation 2004). The exception was the shark population which declined due to
shark finning efforts in 2001.
Planetary Coral Reef Foundation (2004) encountered schools of manta rays (up to 20) at the
mouth of the lagoon pass on Abariringa (Kanton).
In 2005, parrotfish were observed spawning at Abariringa (Kanton) (Stone 2004).
BIRNIE
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