Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

More documents

Recommendations

Info

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. 48
Regional Status of Coral Reefs in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Coral Bleaching There was extensive recent coral mortality on many reefs, including those in the Arabian/Persian Gulf, the northern nearshore area of the Red Sea, in the southern Red Sea, the Socotra archipelago and north east Gulf of Aden. A number of Red Sea sites with healthy coral cover in the 1980s, experienced near total mortality. Bleaching around the Socotra islands and NE Gulf of Aden was patchy in 1998. At the worst affected sites in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, most species were injured and about half of the live coral cover was killed. In Djibouti over 30% of coral was killed, while no bleaching was reported in Jordan. Coral Disease These are apparently becoming more prevalent in the Red Sea, and include black-band and white-band disease, which may result from cumulative anthropogenic stresses such as high nutrient and sediment loads. Desalination There is extensive use of desalinated water to meet demands of the population and industry. There are at least 18 desalination plants along Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast which discharge warm brine and maintenance chemicals (chlorine and anti-scalants) directly near coral reefs. In Yemen, power stations at Mokha, Ras Katheeb and Hiswa (Aden) discharge saline high-temperature water which results in localised coral bleaching and mortality. Floods These are rare in this low rainfall region, however occasional heavy rainfall in Egypt, Yemen and northern Saudi Arabia, results in wadis delivering increased sediment loads and fresh water, mostly impacting reefs that fringe the mainland coasts. MARINE PROTECTED AREAS (MPAS) AND LEVELS OF MANAGEMENT Tourism has been the catalyst for the development and implementation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the region, with most of these in the northern Red Sea (e.g. Ras Mohammed and Hurghada areas) and Djibouti to the south. Recent awareness of the ecological importance of several sub-regions has resulted in areas being protected based on environmental qualities (such as Sanganeb atoll in Sudan, the Socotra archipelago in Yemen and the Jubail Wildlife Sanctuary in Saudi Arabia). The following provides a brief overview of MPAs in the region (additional details can be found in the 1998 Strategic Action Programme for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden). Djibouti Two MPAs have been established for more than 10 years, and 2 more are proposed for protected status, including Sept Frêres which is of regional importance. Egypt Ther are 4 MPAs that include coral reefs, and another two without reefs. Most of these are around the Sinai Peninsula at Ras Mohammed to support recreational scuba diving, but considerable anchor and flipper damage is evident. All of the offshore islands and mangroves are also legally protected but need better enforcement. Another 7 MPA areas of 49
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: Status of Coral Reefs of the World:
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 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:
Status of Coral Reefs in South Asia
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:
Page 167 and 168:
Page 169 and 170:
Page 171 and 172:
10. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE SO
Page 173 and 174:
Status of Coral Reefs in the Southw
Page 175 and 176:
Page 177 and 178:
Page 179 and 180:
Page 181 and 182:
Page 183 and 184:
Page 185 and 186:
Page 187 and 188:
Page 189 and 190:
Page 191 and 192:
Page 193 and 194:
11. STATUS OF SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL
Page 195 and 196:
Status of Southeast and Central Pac
Page 197 and 198:
Page 199 and 200:
Page 201 and 202:
Page 203 and 204:
Page 205 and 206:
Page 207 and 208:
Page 209 and 210:
Page 211 and 212:
12. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AMERIC
Page 213 and 214:
Status of Coral Reefs of American S
Page 215 and 216:
Page 217 and 218:
Page 219 and 220:
Page 221 and 222:
Page 223 and 224:
Page 225 and 226:
Page 227 and 228:
Page 229:
Page 232 and 233:
Page 234 and 235:
Page 236 and 237:
Page 238 and 239:
Page 240 and 241:
Page 242 and 243:
Page 244 and 245:
Page 246 and 247:
Page 248 and 249:
Page 250 and 251:
Page 252 and 253:
Page 254 and 255:
Page 256 and 257:
Page 258 and 259:
Page 260 and 261:
Page 262 and 263:
Page 264 and 265:
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?