Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 4. Marine Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
In 2002, fish dive surveys were conducted in the Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003). In
addition, and ROV and Dropcam were used to record species of fish. Abariringa, Birnie,
Enderbury, Manra, Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki were surveyed.
Reef shark density was similar between 2000 and 2003 in Enderbury, Nikumaroro, and
Birnie (Obura and Stone 2003).
In 2006, Kerr and Wragg (2006) conducted large indicator fish abundance; abundance of key
fish families, and coral health rapid assessment surveys on Manra, Rawaki, Enderbury,
Birnie, McKean, Orona, and Nikumaroro.
ENDERBURY
Fish were abundant on Enderbury (Hydrographic Office 1940; see also Hydrographer of the
Navy 1969).
Schultz (1943) documented fish species collected during the 1939 survey expedition of the
Phoenix Islands by the U.S.S. Bushnell. Fish collections were done at Abariringa (Canton),
McKean, Enderbury, and Orona (Hull).
Halstead and Bunker (1954) collected fish species from Abariringa (Canton), Enderbury,
Orona (Hull) and Manra (Sydney) by hook and line, beach seind, spear, throw net, dip net,
and rotenone poisoning. Grovhoug and Henderson (1978) noted that although informative,
information collected by Halstead and Bunker (1954) on fish species was not quantitative.
Randall (1956) reported that Acanthurus rackliffei was known from three specimens from
Orona (Hull). A. glaucopareius and A. achilles from Orona (Hull) and Enderbury appeared
to have similar stomach contents. Randall (1956) suggested that A. rackliffei may be a hybrid
between A. glaucopareius and A. achilles.
Randall and Randall (2001a) reviewed the Kuhliidae genus Kuhlia. It was noted that Kuhlia
petiti was only known from the Phoenix Islands and the Marquesas Islands. Specimens
examined included fish from Abariringa (Canton), Orona (Hull), and Enderbury.
In 2002, fish dive surveys were conducted in the Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003). In
addition, and ROV and Dropcam were used to record species of fish. Abariringa, Birnie,
Enderbury, Manra, Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki were surveyed.
Reef shark density was similar between 2000 and 2003 in Enderbury, Nikumaroro, and
Birnie (Obura and Stone 2003).
Randall et al (2003) described a new soldierfish, Myripristis earlei, from the Marquesas and
Phoenix Islands. Specimens examined included fish from Abariringa (Canton), Enderbury,
and Rawaki (Phoenix). It was speculated that the Phoenix Islands population was probably
the result of downcurrent dispersal of larvae from the Marquesas.
Landaeta et al (2005) noted that the Creediidae genus, Crystallodytes included two species,
one of these species had two subspecies. One of the subspecies, Crystallodytes cookie
enderburyensis, was originally described from Enderbury.
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