Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

Status of Coral Reefs of Australasia
Ningaloo Reef
The Ningaloo Marine Park extends from 22 o S, southwards for about 230km as a long fringing
reef, separated from the shore by a sandy lagoon up to 3km wide. Land impacts are
minimal as the adjacent land is arid. Coral and fish communities are diverse and abundant
and fishing is only permitted in some parts of the Marine Park. The reef front receives the full
force of swells from the Indian Ocean so corals tend to be compact, although cover may
reach 40%. Coral cover behind the reef crest and in channels varies from 5-40% with an
increase in coral cover to the south. Outbreaks of a coral-eating snail (Drupella) killed much
of the coral in some areas in the 1970s and 1990s, and other areas have been damaged by
low oxygen conditions when coral spawn decomposes. Now, new corals are recruiting
and restoration of coral cover is progressing, but many areas are still dominated by dead
coral and rubble. A broad-scale monitoring program has recently been established.
Abrolhos Islands
The islands and reefs are the southern limit (28 o S) of reef development in Western Australia.
These reefs have extensive areas of both kelp and corals, and support an important and
well-managed rock lobster industry. The use of lobster traps is banned in areas with fragile
corals, and there is no indication of any detrimental effects on the coral and fish
communities. These reefs are in good to excellent condition and plans have been prepared
for declaring the area as a marine protected area.
BIODIVERSITY
PNG
The reefs are part of the Western Pacific region of maximum marine biodiversity, where
there is exceptional biodiversity on the coral reefs. Rapid ecological assessments of the
coral reefs recently in Kimbe Bay, West New Britain Province; Lak Region, New Ireland
Province; and Milne Bay, Mile Bay Province confirm this high biodiversity. Checklists for
specific taxa have also been prepared for several other locations, including Bootless Bay on
the south coast and Madang and Kamiali on the north coast. The diversity of reef fishes and
corals at these locations ranks among the highest in the world. Furthermore, the number of
species recorded on single dives is often among the highest recorded during such surveys
anywhere in the Pacific. There is a low rate of endemism among fish, and probably other
marine organisms. Milne Bay province has the majority of endemic species of fish, including
several species known only from a single location. Biodiversity assessments on coral reefs in
PNG have mostly concentrated on fish and corals. Consequently, the diversity of most other
marine organisms is poorly documented. Comprehensive biodiversity assessments for vast
areas of the reefs are entirely lacking.
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