Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000 extensive loss of habitat as well coral diseases, hurricanes, and other stresses. Fisheries are close to collapse, with even areas within the boundaries of ‘marine protected areas’ are deteriorating. Existing zoning, erosion control, and fishing regulations are not providing sufficient protection against this unprecedented combination of natural and human stresses. Coral Diseases These have caused extensive mortality on reefs around St. John and St. Croix. Corals around Buck Island experienced less disease than those around St. John, except for white band disease. Recent measures show the incidence of disease on corals to be 5.4% (St. Thomas), 5.6% (St. John) and 2.0% (St. Croix). The branching Acropora palmata, A. cervicornis are the most vulnerable to storm damage and are also susceptible to white band disease e.g. the impressive cover of A. palmata on Buck Island fell from 85% in 1976 to 5% in 1988. Only 6 living A. palmata colonies were found on Haulover Bay, St. John in 1999, where previously there had been impressive stands. Small patch reefs of Porites porites died in many bays, around St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix, possibly from an undetected disease, and some have been dead for over 12 years. Gorgonians have been killed by a fungal disease (Aspergillis syndowii), which coincided with strains of the fungus isolated from African dust carried over the Caribbean. Coral Bleaching There was extensive coral bleaching in 1998, but mortality was relatively minor. Bleaching on Newfound and Lameshur Reefs, St. John was 43% and 47%, and 41% on Caret Bay reef, St. Thomas during the hottest summer seawater temperatures on record. All corals that bleached at Buck Island recovered, but only 50% of bleached colonies of Montastraea on Saba Island, St. Thomas had fully recovered their pigmentation 6 months later. There was previous bleaching in 1987 and 1990 around St. John. Navassa Reef Health The shallow reefs of Navassa have high live coral cover and a high degree of architectural complexity, which is particularly valuable as reef fish habitat. There is also a high abundance of small, newly recruiting corals and extremely low incidence of coral diseases, which suggests that the benthic reef communities are ‘healthy. At least 36 hard coral species are reported from 4 sites along the west (lee) coast. Octocorals were less varied with 12 species. Mean percent cover of live coral ranged from 20 to 26.1% for 4 sites along the west coast. Other major community components (in terms of space occupation) were sponges (7-27%), fleshy brown algae (10-24%), and crustose coralline algae (5-16%). Finally, the keystone grazing urchin, Diadema antillarum, was moderately abundant in all sites e.g. 2.9 urchins per 30 m 2 belt transect. STATUS OF CORAL REEF FISHES AND INVERTEBRATES Florida East Coast Reef Fish Recent observations indicate that some of these reefs are in relatively good condition based on corals and fish populations. The Florida Current (Gulf Stream) often influences these reefs (particularly the reefs off Palm Beach County). The current moderates winter 246
Status of Coral Reefs in the US Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico temperature and on occasion brings algal blooms over the reefs. During cold-water upwelling events there are also reef fish kills. In summary, these reefs are in similar condition as those in the Keys. Florida Keys Reef Fish Over 500 fish species have been identified from the Florida Keys, with 180 being reef fish. Fish monitoring of 263 species began in 1979, and monitoring results indicate that over 59% of all fish come from 10 species. The bulk of the biomass was from a few species, namely bluehead wrasse, bicolor damselfish, tomtate, sergeant major, striped parrotfish, yellowtail snapper, bluestriped grunt, white grunt, masked goby, and French grunt. Other species of large fish seen are tarpon, barracuda, gray snapper, Bermuda chub, stoplight parrotfish, smallmouth grunt, and yellow goatfish. The most significant observations have been that there are relatively few individual fish of legal, harvestable size, confirming other data indicating that reef fish are over-exploited. Data show that 13 of 16 groupers, 7 of 13 snappers, one wrasse, and 2 of 5 grunts are over-fished in the Florida Keys and such nonsustainable fishing practices are changing fish trophic structures on the reefs and leading to reduced reproductive capacity. But the news is not all bad. Fish numbers in the no-take areas are increasing and the numbers of target reef fish per are higher in no-take Sanctuary Preservation Areas than in fished reference sites. There has been an overall increase in abundance of 4 species of snapper (Lutjanidae) and hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) at 7 of 9 areas after the establishment of the no-take zones in 1997. Commercial fishing is one of the largest industries in the Florida Keys and is heavily regulated through annual catch quotas, closed seasons, gear restrictions, and guidelines which set minimum catch sizes. State and Federal fisheries management councils have developed laws and the State collects catch information on 400 species of fishes, invertebrates and plants in order to follow trends. Invertebrates Populations of spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) are now more abundant and larger in protected areas than in similar sites outside. However, queen conch populations (Strombus gigas) continue to decline in both no-take areas and reference sites despite a cessation of harvesting by commercial and recreational fishermen in the mid-1980s. Attempts are underway to supplement wild populations with laboratory-reared stock. Populations of the black-spined urchin (Diadema antillarum) have shown poor recovery since the die-off in 1983. So far 62 hard coral species and 90 species of algae have been identified in the Florida Keys, as well as 38 species of sponges, 33 species of polychaete worms, 82 species of echinoderms, two species of fire coral, and 42 species of octocoral. Texas Flower Garden Banks Fish Health Fish diversity on the very isolated Flower Garden Banks is low compared to other Caribbean reefs (approximately 260 fish species), but abundances are high. The fish population includes both resident tropical species and migratory pelagic species. Some of the most abundant species at all three banks are butterflyfish (Chaetodon sedentarius), Spanish hogfish (Bodianus rufus), bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum), brown chromis 247
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Status of Coral Reefs of the World:
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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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10. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE SO
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Southw
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11. STATUS OF SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL
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Status of Southeast and Central Pac
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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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