Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 4. Marine Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
Dunn and Dunn (2005) reported that Nielsen published an account of cowries for McKean in
1969. However, no citiation was provided. According to Dunn and Dunn (2005) Nielsen
reported 14 cowry species for McKean including: Cypraea isabella, C. poraria, C. helvola,
C. caputserpentis, C. carneola, C. depressa, C. scurra, C. mauritiana, C. nucleus, C. globules
C. moneta, C. talpa, C. schilderorum, and C. vitellus. Eleven of these species were the same
as found on Abariringa (Canton).
In 2000, Tridacna sp were observed during surveys on McKean (Stone et al 2001).
NIKUMARORO (GARDNER)
Nine giant clams were observed during the 2000 survey of Nikumaroro (Stone et al 2001).
In 1995, clams were observed near the village of Niku facing Maroro (Government of
Kiribati 1995). Clam density was 2 to 3 clams/m 2 .
In 2002, surveys of selected invertebrate diversity and abundance were conducted in the
Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003). Abariringa, Birnie, Enderbury, Manra,
Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki were surveyed.
ORONA (HULL)
In 1995, clams were surveyed at Moantewa lagoon (Government of Kiribati 1995). Density
was 20 to 25 clams per m 2 . Even at the shoreline, clam density was 5 to 7 clams/m 2 .
Surveys for pearl oysters were completed (Government of Kiribati 1995). Only one young
black lip pearl oyster was found.
In 2000, Tridacna sp were observed at Orona (Stone et al 2001). Within the lagoon,
Tridacna was abundant.
In 2001, no Tridacna gigas were found on the reef (Tioti et al 2001). Tioti et al (2001)
reported that there were high concentrations of Tridacna maxima in Orona’s lagoon.
Tioti et al (2001) reported that no pearl oysters were found during dive surveys on Orona in
2001.
In 2002, surveys of selected invertebrate diversity and abundance were conducted in the
Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003). Abariringa, Birnie, Enderbury, Manra,
Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki were surveyed.
Obura and Stone (2003) report high densities of Tridacna spp, in Orona’s lagoon, as high as
10-15 clams/m 2 . They noted that giant clams were being harvested by the residents of Orona.
Stocks were healthy, but could be depleted with over harvest.
Obura and Stone (2003) reported high densities of Actinopyga sp. on the windward side of
Orona.
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