Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000
Location Fish Corals
Milne Bay 1039 362
Kimbe Bay 837 347
Madang 804 --
Bootless Bay 730 284
Kamiali 577 --
Numbers of species of fish and corals known from sites around Papua New Guinea.
STATUS OF REEF FISHERIES
PNG
Reef fisheries in PNG are largely subsistence and artisinal. They provide a large proportion of
the animal protein for coastal communities, however, data on the quantity and composition
of the catch from these domestic fisheries are limited to one or two locations. The
recorded export from reef fisheries is relatively low in comparison to some other Pacific
countries, but has doubled to over 2,000 metric tonnes in the past few years, indicating
increasing activity in this sector. Sea cucumbers are the largest component of the export
catch, with over 680mt exported in 1998, followed by shark meat, molluscs and
crustaceans. Reef fish are a relatively small component of fisheries exports but the volume
has tripled in recent years to over 90mt in 1998. A number of live reef fish enterprises have
started in PNG, but have failed because they did not take into account the complex social
ramifications of their operations, or were found to be breaking fisheries regulations. There is
currently a moratorium on the issuing of new licenses and fisheries authorities are
developing management plans. The major concern about the live reef fish trade is how
overfishing and destructive fishing techniques, such as the use of cyanide and targeting
spawning aggregations, can be controlled.
EASTERN AUSTRALIA
Trawl Fishery
This is the largest fishery in the GBR targeting prawns (6,500mt worth US$60 million),
scallops (200mt worth $18 million), Moreton Bay bugs (slipper lobsters, 500mt worth $5 million)
and lesser quantities of blue swimmer crabs and squid. There are zoning restrictions on
trawling in the GBR Marine Park and a variety of other management measures. Trawling is
destructive in terms of by-catch and of the physical impacts of trawling gear on the
seabed. Recent research indicates that a single pass of a trawl net can remove 5-25% of
bottom living organisms. By-catch reduction devices (BRDs) and turtle exclusion devices
(TEDs) are mandatory in some areas. Effort is fairly widespread and only a few areas are
fished intensively. There has been a history of illegal trawling in inappropriate zones, but
penalties and enforcement efforts have been increased recently.
Coral Reef Finfish Fishery
This covers coral reef fish species throughout their range in Queensland waters, although
the fish are found predominantly within the GBR Marine Park. The fishery is second only to
the trawl fishery for both the economic value and potential impact on Marine Park
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