Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000
regional level decision-makers. This regional monitoring programme is now able to alert reef
managers in the event of problems, and is an integral tool for integrated coastal planning.
Since then national networks have evolved, each with a National Focal Point, a National
Committee and a Supervisory Body, all coordinated by a Regional Organizer. This network
constitutes the regional Node for the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) for
the ‘South-west Indian Ocean Island States’. There are plans to establish more monitoring
stations to increase the relevance of the results both in the region and within the
international networks e.g. GCRMN, ICRI, GOOS etc.
STATUS OF CORAL REEFS
The following is a synopsis of the monitoring sites established, surveys conducted and
findings for each country through the REP-IOC Programme:
Comoros
Two sectors in Grand Comore were monitored in 1998 and 1999: Mitsamiouli and Moroni
(Comotel). After the installation of the ‘Parc Marin de Moheli’, a comprehensive assessment
of reef status was required and 2 study sectors were selected: Itsamias in the Marine Park,
which is a major marine turtle (Chelonia mydas and Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting site;
and the small islands of Nioumachouoi with one transect site on the small island of
Ouenefou, and another on Candzoni island, with reef flat and outer slope transects.
Mitsamiouli Site: This is on the north-west of Grande Comores, 42km from Moroni on 4km of
coastline with rocky cliffs interspersed with white sand beaches where the major tourist
sites are located (11 o 25’ S; 43 o 18’ E). The Mitsamiouli population of 4,500 has 3 extremely
active associations for environmental protection, which have prohibited sand and coral
mining, and fishing is a key economic activity. Permanent transects on the reef flat (8m
depth) showed 46.9% live coral cover in 1998, and 44.0% in 1999, however, there was
approximately 15% bleached and dead coral cover in 1999 that were covered with algae.
Transects on the outer slope (19m depth) showed strongly degraded corals with cover of
only 25% in 1999, whereas it had been 54% in 1998. This area was probably impacted by
the EAL airline crash, leading to much coral death.
Itsamia Site: Here there are 376 people in over 80 families, including 39 fishing families, with
agriculture as the main economic activity, and fishing is not well developed, although many
people fish and glean reefs at low tides. There is an ecotourism resort as part of the Moheli Marine
Park, with nesting turtles and seabirds, and an excellent coral reef (12 o 21’S; 43 o 52’E). The
discontinuous reef at Itsamia has suffered huge anthropogenic damage, with the dominant
branching and tabulate Acropora corals either broken or bleached, however, other hard corals
(Platygyra, Diploria, Favia and Porites) are abundant. Estimated living coral cover is 40%, with 45%
dead coral, and 10% algae. Most of the dead corals had been bleached and were covered with
algae. Among the living corals, there was 50% Porites, 20% Diploria; 5% Pavona, 2% Favites and
19% of 4 Acropora species. At 10m depth below most human impacts, there was about 70%
live coral cover mainly Porites (32.6%) and Favites (16.5%); dead coral covered 15%, algae 18.4%
and rock 13%. Fish populations were fairly good, including parrotfish, grouper, butterflyfish,
angelfish and damselfish, but most fish were small, indicating intensive fishing pressure.
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