Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000 Solomon Islands) because of extensive logging, poorly planned agriculture, uncontrolled coastal development, and mining. The major threats to the marine environment throughout the Pacific Islands are summarised below: • nutrients from sewage, soil erosion and agricultural fertilisers; • increased sedimentation from poor land use; • physical alterations through destruction of fringing reefs, beaches, wetlands and mangroves for coastal development and sand extraction; and • over-exploitation of coastal food fisheries, particularly through destructive fishing methods. Most of the population lives in the coastal zone, and in atolls like Tuvalu, all livelihoods are coastal based. Rapid growth of these coastal populations is responsible for much of the plundering of coastal resources, destruction of mangroves, pollution of lagoons and harbours, and loss of some marine species and ecosystems. Some of the damage is now irreversible, e.g. coastal modification and destruction of habitats, and this will increase in the future, if population growth continues unabated. Land based sources of pollution are among the greatest threats to marine biodiversity. Marine invasive species are poorly documented, but may pose a threat near ports, harbours and coastal habitats. Shipsourced marine pollution is also a potential threat. Tourism is the most rapidly growing industry in parts of the region (e.g. Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu), with a large proportion of these tourists being divers. Construction of tourism facilities has accelerated erosion in some areas and caused sedimentation on reefs and in CROWN-OF-THORNS STARFISH Population explosions of the coral eating crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS, Acanthaster planci) have been a major problem on many coral reefs, such as the Suva Barrier Reef, Fiji since 1979. While human activities have been blamed for these outbreaks, they may also reflect long-term natural variations in the populations or consequences of climate events like El Niño events. However, there is evidence that eutrophication and siltation encourage larval survival and enhance the proliferation of the animals. Heavy infestations cause major changes in coral communities and have the potential to shift species diversity because they target the branching corals of the species Acropora and Pocillopora. Major outbreaks were observed in 1986, 1988 and 1997 on Suva reefs. In 1996, the Mamanuca group was affected and was followed by a moderate outbreak in the Kaba area in 1997. In 1998 the Wakaya and the Lau Group reefs saw a large aggregations of COTS, as were Taveuni and the Somosomo Strait the following year. Early this year Cuvu Reefs on the Coral Coast were affected by COTS and villagers collected over 2000 COTS for a one-km stretch of reef. Current reports from August to September 2000, indicate large numbers of COTS aggregating near the Solo Lighthouse Reef in the Great Astrolabe Reef. There has been a recent outbreak around Noumea, New Caledonia, and there was a clean up at major dive sites; 1,500 were collected from Tabu reef, and 1000 from Ilot Maitre. These are the first outbreaks for at least the last 10 years. 166
Status of Coral Reefs in the Southwest Pacific Subsistence Commercial Mt per yr $US (x 1000) Mt per yr $US (x 1000) Fiji (40kg yr-1) 16,600 45,800 6653 18,300 Nauru 98 220 279 630 New Caledonia 2,500 9,000 981 7,970 Samoa (26kg yr-1) 3,281 5,000 208 320 Solomon Islands 10,000 8,410 1150 4,340 (34kg yr-1) Tuvalu 807 660 120 980 Vanuatu (14kg yr-1) 2,045 1,950 467 1,510 A summary of the mean annual subsistence and commercial fisheries production between 1989 – 1994 with the annual fish consumption listed in parentheses. lagoons. Some areas with intensive development, such as the Coral Coast on Viti Levu (Fiji), have suffered from increased eutrophication and sedimentation and there has been an increase in the growth of benthic macroalgae, such as Sargassum on reefs and reef flats. CORAL REEF FISHERIES Coastal and offshore fisheries are the sources of most animal protein and the backbone of Pacific Island economies, particularly those with small land areas and large EEZs. The Pacific offshore fishery is of global significance and was valued at more than US$2.0 billion in 1998. The Pacific Island region contributes over 50% of the world’s tuna catch of 3.4 million mt. The offshore fishery is important to the economy of Pacific Island countries such as Samoa, where annual fisheries exports are estimated at US$14.95 million, or 70% of total merchandise exports for 1999. Coastal and reef fisheries play a significant social and economic role for Pacific peoples, and constitute 80% of the total fishery. Reef fisheries are predominantly subsistence, involving traditional, simple non-mechanised and non-technical gear. Fishing is carried out mostly by rural dwellers, especially women, and provides the bulk of animal protein, as well as supporting traditional rituals and culture. Most (about 80%) of harvested marine resources are consumed by the village, with the remainder sold at local markets or exported. The total value of the subsistence fishery in this region is US$71.04 million, while the commercial coastal fishery earnings are US$30.05 million. But the true quantity and value of the subsistence fishery in most Pacific countries is poorly documented, and estimates of marine resources harvested range from 17,000mt/yr (Fiji), to 4,600mt (Samoa) and 2,000mt in Vanuatu. The annual consumption per capita ranges from 14kg/capita/yr (Vanuatu) to 40kg/capita/yr (Fiji). It is very much higher in atoll countries such as Tuvalu, where up to 1kg of fish may be consumed daily. In most of the southwest Pacific countries, management of the coastal fisheries had been essentially traditional since the islands were inhabited, but management of marine resources became the responsibility of the ‘State’ during colonial rule. Since these periods, ‘western style, open access’ legislation was introduced and fishing activities were regulated 167
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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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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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