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Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

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PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN<br />

<strong>Chapter</strong> III. Background, 4. Marine Resources<br />

Draft 1 March 2007<br />

In 2002, fish dive surveys were conducted in the Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003). In<br />

addition, and ROV and Dropcam were used to record species of fish. Abariringa, Birnie,<br />

Enderbury, Manra, Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki were surveyed.<br />

Reef shark density was similar between 2000 and 2003 in Enderbury, Nikumaroro, and<br />

Birnie (Obura and Stone 2003).<br />

In 2004, the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation (2004) noted several encounters with manta<br />

rays while conducting dive surveys on Nikumaroro.<br />

In 2006, Kerr and Wragg (2006) conducted large indicator fish abundance; abundance of key<br />

fish families, and coral health rapid assessment surveys on Manra, Rawaki, Enderbury,<br />

Birnie, McKean, Orona, and Nikumaroro.<br />

ORONA (HULL)<br />

In 1887, Ellis observed and consumed large fat ava in the lagoon of Orona (Hull) (Ellis<br />

1937). The shore was about 91.4 m (100 yards) from the lagoon. Ellis (1937) speculated that<br />

fish must have gotten into the lagoon through an overflow of the lagoon.<br />

Fowler (1940) reported on the fishes obtained by the Wilkes Expedition, 1838 to 1842 that<br />

visited the Phoenix Islands. Fishes collected included: Oxyporhamphus argenteus,<br />

Exocoetidae, from the stomach of a gannet, Sula sp. in the Phoenix Islands; Chaetodon<br />

auriga, Chaetodontidae, from Orona (Hull); Teuthis achilles, Teuthididae, from Orona (Hull),<br />

Teuthis triostegus, Teuthididae, from Orona (Hull); Anampses caeruleo-punctatus, Labridae,<br />

from Orona (Hull).<br />

Schultz (1943) documented fish species collected during the 1939 survey expedition of the<br />

Phoenix Islands by the U.S.S. Bushnell. Fish collections were done at Abariringa (Canton),<br />

McKean, Enderbury, and Orona (Hull).<br />

Hubbs (1944) reviewed the blennioid fishes of the genus Brotula including specimens of B.<br />

mulleri that were collection on Orona (Hull) by Leonard P. Schultz in 1939. Counts and<br />

measurements of the Orona (Hull) specimen were presented in Hubbs (1944).<br />

Halstead and Bunker (1954) collected fish species from Abariringa (Canton), Enderbury,<br />

Orona (Hull) and Manra (Sydney) by hook and line, beach seind, spear, throw net, dip net,<br />

and rotenone poisoning. Grovhoug and Henderson (1978) noted that although informative,<br />

information collected by Halstead and Bunker (1954) on fish species was not quantitative.<br />

Randall (1956) reported that Acanthurus rackliffei was known from three specimens from<br />

Orona (Hull). Specimens of A. glaucopareius and A. achilles from Orona (Hull) and<br />

Enderbury appeared to have similar stomach contents. In addition, no distinct breeding<br />

season could be ascertained based on gonad samples from these two Acanthurus species.<br />

Randall (1956) suggested that A. rackliffei may be a hybrid between A. glaucopareius and A.<br />

achilles.<br />

44

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