Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 4. Marine Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
In 2006, Kerr and Wragg (2006) conducted large indicator fish abundance; abundance of key
fish families, and coral health rapid assessment surveys on Manra, Rawaki, Enderbury,
Birnie, McKean, Orona, and Nikumaroro.
MANRA (SYDNEY)
Manra (Sydney) had one large lagoon that was not connected to the sea (Arundel 1890; see
also Wiens 1962). There were no fish as the salinity was too high.
Fish and mollusks were abundant in the lagoon until it became too salty (Bryan 1941 and
1942).
Halstead and Bunker (1954) collected fish species from Abariringa (Canton), Enderbury,
Orona (Hull) and Manra (Sydney) by hook and line, beach seind, spear, throw net, dip net,
and rotenone poisoning. Grovhoug and Henderson (1978) noted that although informative,
information collected by Halstead and Bunker (1954) on fish species was not quantitative.
According to Luke (1962), one of the reasons for having to resettle inhabitants of Manra
(Sydney) was because the lagoon on Manra (Sydney) was too salty for fish.
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).
In 2006, Kerr and Wragg (2006) conducted large indicator fish abundance; abundance of key
fish families, and coral health rapid assessment surveys on Manra, Rawaki, Enderbury,
Birnie, McKean, Orona, and Nikumaroro.
MCKEAN
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).
Timeon (2001) reported that there were no fish in McKean’s lagoon.
In 2006, Kerr and Wragg (2006) conducted large indicator fish abundance; abundance of key
fish families, and coral health rapid assessment surveys on Manra, Rawaki, Enderbury,
Birnie, McKean, Orona, and Nikumaroro.
NIKUMARORO (GARDNER)
In 2000, one manta ray was observed (Stone et al 2001).
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