Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000 Turks and Caicos Islands All conservation agencies are under staffed, and few staff have the requisite training and experience. All agencies have insufficient equipment to carry out daily operations and in some cases out-dated or inappropriate equipment. Some conflicts among key agencies need to be resolved, and rights and responsibilities in management of the protected areas need to be clarified. There should be mechanisms for key stakeholders and users of reef resources to provide input to monitoring and conservation. CONCLUSIONS Bahamas This region can be considered one of the least impacted in the tropical Americas but that situation is changing rapidly. Bermuda Coral reefs are in reasonably good condition and are well managed, although a higher level of enforcement to protect reef fish stocks is desirable. Cayman Islands Coral reefs and their resources are in relatively good condition but are increasingly threatened by rapid development, population growth and intensive tourism. Proper management is now crucial to their continued health but is hampered by the lack of political support. Cuba Offshore reefs are in relatively good condition. General coral reef decline in Cuba derives from regional and global stresses e.g. diseases and increased temperature, while the main anthropogenic stresses are sedimentation, organic pollution and over-fishing. Priority should be given to reforestation, to the reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution by waste-water and to better controls on fishing. All options should be explored for sustainable funding of MPAs and environmental management. On the social side, there should be more environmental education, especially among local communities and decision-makers, and more cross-sectoral integration. Dominican Republic Most reefs are degraded from the overgrowth of algae due to the lack of grazing caused by over-fishing and, in some areas, nutrient pollution, even in the MPAs. Other reefs, especially near towns or tourism sites, are degraded from other causes. Government capacity to manage the coastal zone is seriously in need of improvement. Haiti Near-shore reefs are suffering from excessive algal growth and depleted fish stocks. Restoration of management capacity will require funds, training and a stable government. 280
Status of Coral Reefs in the Northern Caribbean and Western Atlantic Jamaica Overgrowth by algae is occurring everywhere due to the lack of herbivores and also due to nutrient pollution in many places. There has been some regrowth of opportunistic corals, partly facilitated by the spread of sea-urchins. The reefs are now less able to provide important services to fisheries, tourism and coastal protection. Turks and Caicos Islands Most reefs are in good condition, but the pressures from tourism are increasing. Proper conservation and monitoring of coral reefs depends on the enhancement of human and material resources, probably by increased donor support. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS • Coral reefs are well developed throughout this region. • The status of reef communities has declined in all 8 countries recently, most important has been the loss of reef building elkhorn and staghorn corals (Acropora palmata and A. cervicornis), apparently from white-band disease. Many reefs are overgrown by macroalgae released from herbivore control by over-fishing and the mass mortality of the grazing sea-urchin Diadema. Other diseases have become more common, where reefs are stressed by human activity, and some are causing serious mortality. Sediments, nutrients and other pollutants have impacted reefs near human population centres. • Reef condition is relatively good in the small low islands and bad nearshore in the high islands. The worst may be in Jamaica (where there is a little recovery) and the Dominican Republic, but there is little information about Haiti. Some deep reefs are in better condition than shallow ones. The best reefs are far from human influence, on the outer shelves of Cuba, offshore banks, or the more remote islands of the small-island groups. Bermuda reefs, which had no Acropora to lose, have probably changed least. • The diverse and formerly abundant coral reef fish resources have been depleted to some degree in all countries. The loss of predators and herbivores has impacted on benthic communities. • The impact of reef fisheries (and other human factors) is modulated by geography, demography and economics. Over-fishing is particularly acute in Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where narrow fringing reefs are easily accessible to numerous low-income fishers. Reef fish stocks dispersed over broad shelves are less depleted, as in Cuba, the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Higher standards of living in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda result in reduced fishing pressures and reef fish stocks are relatively healthy. However, the more valuable resources such as queen conch and spiny lobster are also being exploited by larger commercial interests, and are at risk throughout the region. • Increasing human population and careless economic development drive other major anthropogenic impacts; sediment pollution, nutrient pollution, and habitat destruction. These derive from agriculture, human habitation, industry and, increasing tourism sector, which is the largest earner of foreign exchange in the 281
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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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12. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AMERIC
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Status of Coral Reefs of American S
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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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