Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000 1,600 people added to the population each year. This is unlikely to stop given the high birth rate (4.0 children per female), a high proportion young people (50% of the population is younger than 20), and the high immigration rate. A recent ‘Governor’s Task Force on Population Growth’ recommended a population ceiling of 115,000 people based on limiting resources (particularly drinking water) and diminishing ‘quality of life’ factors. An ‘Action Plan’ identified steps to reduce birth and immigration rates. Recently the American Samoans identified and ranked the following threats to coral reefs: • HIGH: Over-fishing of reef resources; coastal development and habitat destruction; and oil and hazardous waste spills in Pago Pago harbour. • MEDIUM: Sedimentation; dumping/improper waste disposal; nutrient loading/eutrophication in Pago Harbour. • LOW: Nutrient loading/eutrophication other than Pago Harbour; oil and hazardous waste spills other than Pago Harbour; ship groundings; anchor damage; destructive fishing habits; marine debris from marine sources; alien species (e.g. from ballast water); crown-of-thorns starfish predation; coral diseases; collections for aquarium markets; bio-prospecting/natural products. Northern Marianas Those coral reefs in proximity to the large population centres in the CNMI receive the greatest impacts from human activities e.g. nearshore reefs of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, the reefs surrounding Farallon de Medinilla and offshore fishing banks. The primary impacts come from development and land use activities, tourism and recreation, and fishing. In the early 1980s, the economy underwent dramatic growth, with heavy Japan investment in tourism development. The population in the islands increased from 17,000 in the 1980s to 58,900 in 1995 including many foreign workers, and these increases are placing strains on the natural resources. The major concerns are increased sedimentation and nutrient loading in nearshore waters from rapid development on land. Other sources of nutrients on the developed islands include: septic systems and sewage outfalls; fertiliser use on golf courses and agricultural land; and animal waste in runoff. Marine tourism is important in the island economy, with 703,000 visitors in 1996, with many involved in scuba diving, snorkelling, sea-walker programmes, jet ski use, and fishing. Direct damage also comes from net fishermen walking on the reef. The US Navy has leased the entire island of Farallon de Mednilla as a bombing target, and surveys indicate some direct impacts on reefs, as well as sedimentation disturbances on land. Like many other areas in the Pacific, accidental groundings of commercial and recreational vessels has caused some reef damage. FSM Road construction and development projects without adequate erosion control have been responsible for reef damage. Dredging associated with airport and harbour construction has destroyed specific reefs, and subsequent increases in freshwater runoff have limited recovery. Increased population size is a rising concern for some islands as they plan new infrastructure, including sewage treatment and sewerage outfalls. Export fisheries have been a problem for Chuuk, and there are numerous reports of destructive fishing practices. Planned tourism development has the potential to damage reefs if not carefully guided. Ship groundings have caused local damage on high and low islands, and there are no funds available for clean up the many foreign long-line fishing boats abandoned on FSM reefs. 206
Status of Coral Reefs of American Samoa and Micronesia Guam Sedimentation is the major anthropogenic problem for the central and southern reefs of Guam. For the Ugum River Watershed on Guam, the rate of soil erosion was estimated at 290 tons per ha per year; 46% from sloped roads, 34% from ‘badlands’ – land burnt regularly for hunting. Ugum Watershed erosion rates doubled from 1975 (6,189 T/Y) to 1993 (12,159 T/Y), mainly from road construction and development, and this is accumulating on reefs and reducing coral diversity and abundance. Coastal pollution, eutrophication and sewage have increased on Guam during a development boom in the late 80s and early 90s, as have increased stormwater runoff from the airport expansion, new roads, hotels, shopping centres and golf courses. The salinity of coastal waters can drop below 28 o /oo during summer coral spawning events, which results in reproductive failure. Sewage treatment plants divert the wastewater directly into the ocean outfall pipes without treatment during storms, which discharge within 200m of the shore at depths of 20-25m where the corals grow. Extensions of the Northern and Central District outfalls into deeper waters further offshore are planned. A variety of pollutants occur in sediments of Apra Harbour, including PCBs, heavy metals and PAHs. Over-fishing and habitat destruction are continuing problems. Fish populations and catch per unit effort (CPUE) have declined since 1985 through the use of unattended gill nets, bleach, scuba spearfishing and fish traps along with habitat loss due to sedimentation, pollution and physical damage. More than 1 million tourists visit Guam each year, and most have little coral reef conservation ethic or awareness. This leads to damage to reefs by scuba divers and snorkelers, during underwater walking tours using surface-supplied equipment and many watercraft (jet skis). Fishing vessels, recreational watercraft and ships carrying cargo and illegal immigrants often run aground and cause localised damage to reefs, and the Navy has been responsible for reef damage within Apra Harbor. The main power generation facilities on Cabras Island, Apra Harbor dump high temperature seawater and cleaning chemicals, which both result in coral mortality. Palau While much has been achieved in guiding tourism to have limited impacts on reef resources, the volume of divers with poor training is increasing, causing damage to some reef sites. The use of mooring buoys, laws preventing coral collecting, and diving tour operator education are all helping to conserve the reefs. The greatest threat is the Compact road project for Babeldaob because of the great potential for erosion and sedimentation, and for opening up of large areas to development, and increased reef use. Dredging is planned for fill materials for the road base, which is more potential for reef damage. Increased population, both local and visitors, will require better sewage treatment. Foreign-based fishing activities are a problem for Palau, with poachers from Indonesia and the Philippines damaging Helen Reef, and moored fishing vessels causing eutrophication in Malakal Harbour. CURRENT AND POTENTIAL CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS American Samoa A steady rise in air temperature over the past 20 years suggests future climatic uncertainty and a probable increase in the frequency of hurricanes in the region. The record high temperatures in 1998 El Niño/La Niña caused droughts on land and unusually low tides that caused mortalities among exposed corals. Many reefs experienced extensive bleaching during elevated seawater temperatures in 1994. 207
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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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8. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF EAST AN
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Status of Coral Reefs of East and N
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9. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AUSTRAL
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Status of Coral Reefs of Australasi
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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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Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

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