Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000 STATUS OF CORAL REEFS Narrow fringing reefs border most high island shorelines and are frequently separated from the shore by a shallow channel. Much wider barrier reefs are separated from the shore by deep lagoons up to 70m deep in Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia. Many Samoan reefs grow on recent lava flows with virtually no lagoons. The Great Sea Reef of Fiji is one of the largest reefs in the South Pacific (370km long), and the Great Astrolabe Reef, also in Fiji, has been proposed as a World Heritage Site. Double barrier reefs (two reefs in parallel formation) are rare and occur only in the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, the latter has a reef area of 40,000km 2 . Atolls, formed on drowned sea mounts and volcanoes, occur in Tuvalu, at a few sites in Solomon Islands, Fiji (northern Lau Group), and New Caledonia. Low-lying coral islands (cays) form on the rim of the reef, and rarely rise more than 3m above sea level. Most atoll lagoons are moderate in size, unlike some elsewhere in the Pacific (e.g. Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands is over 100km in diameter). Patch reefs occur in most countries in the lagoons behind barrier reefs, but are rare in Samoa. Submerged or drowned reefs occur in the open ocean, some as shallow as 20–30m depth, which can be a challenge to navigation. The majority of reefs in the southwest Pacific region are in good condition; however, there are increasing pressures from anthropogenic impacts with some reefs being severely degraded. Most people in this region are strongly dependent on coral reefs for food resources, cash income from reef fisheries, coastal protection, sand and rock for building of roads, housing, as well as healthy reefs to support growing tourism industry. The sustainable development of marine and coastal resources is one of the most critical issues for the Pacific Islands for the following reasons and formed the core findings of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) South Pacific Environment Outlook on developments in coastal areas of the Pacific Islands over the last 100 years. The report also noted that few data exist on historical pressures on coastal environments in the Pacific Islands, but the pressure on these resources is now considered as a serious issue: • marine resources are the major source of protein for most Pacific islanders; • most Pacific islanders live in the coastal zone; • parts of the Pacific have the highest marine biodiversity in the world; • the development of marine resources represents critical opportunities for substantial economic advancement for many Pacific Islands, especially in atoll states like Tuvalu; and • commercial fishing is one of the fastest growing industries in many Pacific Island countries. The following summarises the current state of coral reefs for each country in this region, but even today there is still a reliance on anecdotal information as there is still an urgent need for more quantitative data across temporal and geographic scales. Fiji • reefs around urban centres are significantly degraded through eutrophication, pollution, crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), coastal development and siltation; 162
Status of Coral Reefs in the Southwest Pacific • most commercial species are depleted and some species are extinct; • mass coral bleaching severely affected many reefs in February to April 2000; • destructive fishing, mining, forestry, agriculture, and poor tourism developments are impacting reefs in some areas; • periodic severe cyclones cause extensive reef damage in localised areas; • a lack of coordinated monitoring prevents adequate assessment being made on the status of the reefs; • a lack of Marine Protected Areas is hindering conservation efforts; • biodiversity studies have only occurred on Viti Levu, particularly near Suva, and many reefs remain unstudied; and • reef degradation is exacerbated by coastal development, mangrove destruction and other anthropogenic impacts. Nauru • reefs are over-fished with some target species being depleted or extinct (e.g. giant clams - Tridacna maxima); • no Marine Protected Areas have been established; • no reef monitoring exists and there is no expertise at present; • the status of reef biodiversity is poorly documented (except for fishes); • blasting of reef channels has caused some damage; and • ciguatera fish poisoning is a moderate problem. New Caledonia • the state of coral reefs is not generally quantified and not well known; • the majority of reefs are in good condition, except some fringing reefs around Noumea and on the east coast of Grande Terre, where nickel mining runoff is prevalent; • 23-28% of mangroves have been lost around Noumea since the 1960s; • 200ha of other coastal habitats (including seagrass beds) have been lost through coastal development; • biodiversity is not well documented except for some animal groups e.g. corals, sponges, echinoderms; and • MPAs and conservation areas have been established since 1971, with effective enforcement since 1991, and more are being developed. Samoa • most reefs are degraded by over-fishing and land-based activities; • there has been severe damage from cyclones (most recent in the early 1990s); • some species are extinct (e.g. the giant clam Hippopus hippopus); and • marine biodiversity is poorly documented. Solomon Islands • rapid population growth is putting pressure on reef resources; • biodiversity is poorly documented, and most reefs have not been investigated; • industrial pollution is significant in Honiara and causing extensive reef damage; • widespread logging is having a major impact on catchment areas and reefs, 163
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FOREWORD Over the past few years, I
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CONTENTS COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERR
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COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERRITORIES A
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Countries, States and Territories T
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CLIVE WILKINSON T
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Executive Summary CORAL BLEACHING I
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Executive Summary South Asia Most r
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Executive Summary parts of Fiji and
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Executive Summary management and mo
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Executive Summary tourism developme
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Executive Summary problem is loomin
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6. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN SOUTH A
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Status of Coral Reefs in South Asia
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Status of Coral Reefs of American S
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15. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE NO
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Northe
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17. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE EA
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Easter
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18. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN SOUTHE
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Status of Coral Reefs in Southern T
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19. SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS, CORAL
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Sponsoring Organisations, Coral Ree
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LIST OF ACRONYMS AGRRA AIMS ASEAN B
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