Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000
45-95 coral species per site. Coral cover on the lagoon slopes of the barrier reef is around
60% with about 45 species each time. The Kayangel atoll lagoon has lower coral cover and
diversity, whereas the western rim of the channel (Ulach) has healthy coral communities,
with 70% coral cover on the outer walls and 50% on the inside in 1992. Coral cover on the
ocean slopes averaged 20-25% with the number of coral species varying from 40-50.
Kayangel atoll has seagrass beds and at least 126 coral species in the lagoon.
The ocean reef slopes are 62.7km long with cover on the northeast slopes averaging 10%
and 35 coral species. The protected area the southern end Ngkesol has a higher coral
cover (25%; 45 species) and coral cover on the western facing ocean slopes is from 60-
70% with 35 species. Northwest facing reefs have lower coral cover (10-20%) but more
species (50). These northern slopes are protected by Ngerael, Ngkesol and Kayangel and
have higher coral abundance and diversity, and the western Babeldaob lagoon has over
500 patch reefs with around 50% coral cover, including several rare corals (Cynarina,
Zoopilus, and Siderastrea). During 1992, 200 coral species, 170 invertebrates and 277 fish
species were found in Ngermeduu Bay which has both estuarine and reef habitats. The
channel Toachel Mlengui, north of Ngermeduu Bay entrance, is the most important pass to
the open sea with the next pass Sengelokl 85km to the south. There were no changes in
coral cover between 1976 and 1991 at a fringing reef at the southern tip of Malakal: reef
margin 60.3% compared to 55.7%; reef slope 73.6% compared 82.2%.
STATUS OF CORAL REEF FISHERIES
American Samoa
Despite the on-going recovery of corals, the fish and invertebrate populations are not
recovering as well. Giant clams and parrotfish are over-fished, there is heavy fishing
pressure on surgeonfish, and fewer or smaller groupers, snappers and jacks are the only
remaining large fish. Most village fishermen and elders report that numbers of fish and
shellfish have declined, and the fish are now toxic with heavy metals in some areas,
particularly Pago Pago Harbour. Hawksbill turtle populations are in serious decline for two
major reasons: illegal harvest and loss of nesting habitat. These are listed as ‘Endangered’
and rapidly approaching extinction in the Pacific.
Only limited information is available for fish and invertebrate catches from American
Samoa, but declining subsistence catches were monitored between 1979 and 1991-1995
(there are no data since). The artisanal catch was monitored in 1994, but is only assessed
now via market invoices; however, and the data are unreliable because of poor compliance
by vendors.
Northern Marianas
The Fisheries Section of the Division of Fish & Wildlife has been collecting data on fish
diversity and abundance within the existing and proposed conservation areas on Saipan,
Tinian and Rota. The Tinian leadership proposed in 1996 that a marine conservation area be
created to cover one-third of the western shoreline of Tinian with harvesting prohibited. No
decisions have been made, but baseline surveys are particularly useful. Trochus was
introduced into the Marianas (Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan and Agrihan) in 1938 by the
Japanese for commercial harvest (for buttons, paint, and meat). In 1982, the Division of Fish
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