Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 4. Marine Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
Tioti et al (2001) reported on fish transect surveys that were completed on Orona in 2001.
Four sites were surveyed on the windward side. Dominant fish groups included snapper
(19.3 percent), angel and butterfly fish (14.01 percent), groupers (12.48 percent), and parrot
fish (6.8 percent). These percents were based on number of fish observed. Other fishes such
as basslets, gobies, sharks, rays and damsels accounted for more than 37.96 percent. Mean
density of key fish groups was estimated and presented in Figure III-4.5 below.
Figure III-4.5. Mean density of key fish groups on Orona in 2001
(source: Tioti et al 2001).
Tioti et al (2001) concluded that there was an abundance of finfish on Orona. The hump head
wrasse, Chelenius undulates, was the most encountered wrasse along with the common parrot
fish, Scarus sp. Raw data collected by Tioti et al (2001) were presented as an attachment to
the report.
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.
Between 2000 and 2003, shark density had dropped significantly and were absent in many
sites in Rawaki (Phoenix), Manra, Abariringa (Kanton), and Orona (Obura and Stone 2003).
Pierce et al (2006) reported that Orona appeared to have been recently impacted by fishing.
Pierce et al (2006) suggested that fish resources in Orona be monitored recovery of the
stocks.
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.
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