Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000
Fisheries
Shark resources are depleting rapidly with rapid declines in shark-fin catches by local
fishermen and foreign poaching vessels, particularly Yemen, Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan.
Many fishermen operate without licences, catching shark by hook and line and nets, and
damaging coral reefs. Large amounts of by-catch, including turtles, dolphins and finfish are
killed. There is a lack of surveillance and enforcement of existing regulations, such as the
unregulated use of spearguns in MPAs. Over-fishing of reef species is evident in Djibouti
and parts of Yemen, with the removal of predators (snappers, triggerfish and pufferfish),
possibly catalysing the crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks that are causing major damage in
Egypt and Yemen.
Destructive Fisheries
Unsustainable fishing practices include spearfishing, the use of fine mesh nets, and some
dynamite (blast) fishing along the Egyptian coastline and other areas, but in general the
incidence is much less than in Asia.
Recreational Scuba Diving
Some damage occurs around major tourist dive sites as anchor, trampling and flipper
damage to fragile corals, particularly around the major tourist sites in Egypt at Ras
Mohammed and Hurghada, in Sudan at Sanganeb and at Sept Freres and Moucha and
Maskalia in Djibouti, where thousands of tourist divers visit each year. Large amounts of
corals, molluscs and fish are collected for the curio and aquarium trades in Egypt, and was
widespread in Saudi Arabia in the 70s and 80s, although this is somewhat curtailed today.
Sewage Pollution
Most sewage in the region is discharged untreated or partially treated, often directly onto
coral reefs off major towns in Saudi Arabia (e.g. Jeddah, Jizan and Al-Wedj), Yemen,
Sudan (Port Sudan and Suakin), and Djibouti. There virtually no sewage treatment plants in
the region, existing plants lack regular maintenance, and coastal habitats are damaged
because there are inadequate pollution control regulations, monitoring and enforcement.
Algal booms have been reported on the coral of Sudan as a result of sewage discharges.
Natural Predators
There have been recent major outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)
and sea urchins (Diadema sp.) in most countries. Gastropod snails (Coralliphyllia sp. and
Drupella) actively feed on Porites and branching Acropora at sites in Yemen, Saudi Arabia
(southern Red Sea) and Jordan with partial mortality in coral colonies ranging from 10% to
70%. The large outbreak of A. planci (10,000 individuals) occurred around Gordon reef,
near Tiran island, Egypt in 1998, and large numbers were also found at Khor Ambado in
Djibouti. Recent extensive coral mortality on offshore Red Sea reefs in Yemen, resembled
crown-of-thorns starfish damage. The urchins Echinometra and Diadema spp. occur in
moderate to high abundance (>10m 2 ) at some sites, and are major contributors to bioerosion
along with grazing parrotfishes (Scaridae) and boring sponges. Bio-erosion was
particularly noticeable in Yemen after the 1998 bleaching event.
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