Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

More documents

Recommendations

Info

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 204
Status of Coral Reefs of American Samoa and Micronesia & Wildlife imposed a moratorium on Trochus harvesting after concluding that densities were too low for commercial exploitation. This was reversed in 1996, but two conservation areas were established to house breeding populations (Lighthouse Marine Protected Area, and Tank Beach Conservation Area). Similar evaluations of 9 species of edible sea cucumbers within the Saipan Lagoon in 1996 showed that populations were too low to support a commercial fishery, but a recreational or subsistence fishery may be sustainable. Commercial landings of sea cucumbers on Saipan showed a declined in 1996 surveys. FSM The greatest impact on the fisheries has been the commercial export of resources. Yap and Kosrae have limited export largely to personal or family use, such as shipping coolers of fish to relatives in Guam or the CNMI. Chuuk had the largest commercial export in the past, and there was some commercial export of fish and crab from Pohnpei, however, a recent outbreak of cholera shut down the export of fish from Pohnpei, and also affected exports from the other islands. A small sea cucumber fishery operating in Yap was closed in the mid-1990s. Catch and export data are limited, and quantitative assessments of fisheries resources within the FSM are needed. Guam Fish populations have declined during the past 15 years, according to statistics collected by the Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources. Total finfish harvest (day and night catch) for 1985 was estimated at 151,700kg while in 1999, this dropped to 62,689kg. Surgeonfishes, which are important reef herbivores, accounted for approximately 23% of the total catch in 1999. Catch per unit effort has dropped by more than 50% since 1985, and large reef fish are rare. Seasonal runs of juvenile rabbitfish, a local favourite, were considered poor for the 1997-1999 seasons, but numbers increased in the 2000 season. Regulations and protected reserves are being enforced to deal with this problem. Scuba spearfishing is still allowed on Guam, which is contrary to the conservation ethic. Legislation is now proposed to ban this practice. Palau The largest number of reef fish species in Micronesia occur in Palau with 1,278 known species, and the number could potentially rise to 1,449 with more searches. Ulach Channel in Kayangel atoll has high fish abundance and diversity, with high populations on the ocean slopes. Export fisheries are now strictly controlled and most product is sold in the major markets of Koror for local consumption. Reef fish harvests over the last 10 years have been 1,800mt per year. Most fishermen report that fish catches have dropped recently and catch per unit effort has decreased considerably. Some fish spawning aggregations have been seriously depleted and two have been totally lost. ANTHROPOGENIC THREATS TO CORAL REEF BIODIVERSITY American Samoa Human-related impacts are likely to increase due to rapid population growth rate. During the past 10 years, the population increased by 16,300 people; an explosive increase of 35%. The population estimate of 63,000 in 2000 is increasing at 2.5% per year with about 205
Page 1 and 2:
Status of Coral Reefs of the World:
Page 3 and 4:
FOREWORD Over the past few years, I
Page 5 and 6:
CONTENTS COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERR
Page 7 and 8:
COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERRITORIES A
Page 9:
Countries, States and Territories T
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16 and 17:
Page 19 and 20:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CLIVE WILKINSON T
Page 21 and 22:
Executive Summary CORAL BLEACHING I
Page 23 and 24:
Executive Summary South Asia Most r
Page 25 and 26:
Executive Summary parts of Fiji and
Page 27 and 28:
Executive Summary management and mo
Page 29 and 30:
Executive Summary tourism developme
Page 31:
Executive Summary problem is loomin
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Page 52 and 53:
Page 54 and 55:
Page 56 and 57:
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
Page 62 and 63:
Page 64 and 65:
Page 66 and 67:
Page 68 and 69:
Page 70 and 71:
Page 72 and 73:
Page 74 and 75:
Page 76 and 77:
Page 78 and 79:
Page 80 and 81:
Page 82 and 83:
Page 84 and 85:
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 107 and 108:
6. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN SOUTH A
Page 109 and 110:
Status of Coral Reefs in South Asia
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127:
Page 130 and 131:
Page 132 and 133:
Page 134 and 135:
Page 136 and 137:
Page 138 and 139:
Page 140 and 141:
Page 143 and 144:
8. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF EAST AN
Page 145 and 146:
Status of Coral Reefs of East and N
Page 147 and 148:
Page 149 and 150:
Page 151 and 152:
Page 153 and 154:
9. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AUSTRAL
Page 155 and 156:
Status of Coral Reefs of Australasi
Page 157 and 158:
Page 159 and 160:
Page 161 and 162:
Page 163 and 164:
Page 165 and 166: Status of Coral Reefs of Australasi
Page 171 and 172: 10. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE SO
Page 173 and 174: Status of Coral Reefs in the Southw
Page 193 and 194: 11. STATUS OF SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL
Page 195 and 196: Status of Southeast and Central Pac
Page 211 and 212: 12. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AMERIC
Page 213 and 214: Status of Coral Reefs of American S
Page 215: Status of Coral Reefs of American S
Page 229: Status of Coral Reefs of American S
Page 232 and 233: Status of Coral Reefs of the World:
Page 266 and 267:
Page 268 and 269:
Page 270 and 271:
Page 273 and 274:
15. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE NO
Page 275 and 276:
Status of Coral Reefs in the Northe
Page 277 and 278:
Page 279 and 280:
Page 281 and 282:
Page 283 and 284:
Page 285 and 286:
Page 287 and 288:
Page 289 and 290:
Page 291 and 292:
Page 293 and 294:
Page 295 and 296:
Page 297:
Page 300 and 301:
Page 302 and 303:
Page 304 and 305:
Page 306 and 307:
Page 308 and 309:
Page 310 and 311:
Page 312 and 313:
Page 314 and 315:
Page 316 and 317:
Page 318 and 319:
Page 320 and 321:
Page 322 and 323:
Page 324 and 325:
Page 327 and 328:
17. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE EA
Page 329 and 330:
Status of Coral Reefs in the Easter
Page 331 and 332:
Page 333 and 334:
Page 335 and 336:
Page 337 and 338:
Page 339 and 340:
Page 341 and 342:
Page 343 and 344:
18. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN SOUTHE
Page 345 and 346:
Status of Coral Reefs in Southern T
Page 347 and 348:
Page 349 and 350:
Page 351 and 352:
Page 353 and 354:
Page 355 and 356:
Page 357 and 358:
Page 359 and 360:
Page 361 and 362:
19. SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS, CORAL
Page 363 and 364:
Sponsoring Organisations, Coral Ree
Page 365 and 366:
Page 367 and 368:
Page 369:
Page 372 and 373:
Page 375:
LIST OF ACRONYMS AGRRA AIMS ASEAN B
show all

Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?