Cesar2000-Economics of Coral Reefs.pdf

A Comparative Study of Socio-Economic
and Management Issues Related to
Coastal Resources in the Pacific Islands
JEFF MULLER, SOFIA BETTENCOURT & ROBERT GILLETT 1
ABSTRACT
In 1998–99, the World Bank sponsored a comparative survey of
31 coastal communities in the Pacific Islands. The study aimed
to strengthen the understanding of factors influencing the
success of coastal resource management at the local level.
Perceptions of resource trends collected from 133 focus groups
and site-specific characteristics were analysed. The results
indicate a greater need for attention to coastal resource
management in the region, with particular emphasis on
reduction of fishing effort and effective co-management
between coastal communities and external partners. Factors
shown to affect local perceptions of trends in the status of
coastal resources include natural disasters, the quality of local
leadership, the complexity of a site’s ecosystem, the extent to
which the community shares the benefits and losses of management,
the presence of pollution, high local awareness, and
effective enforcement.
1
The field survey was conducted by Robert Gillett, Esaroma Ledua,
Noah Idechong, Foua Toloa, Michelle Lam, and Taiamoni Pifeliti. The
authors are also grateful to Herman Cesar, Hanan Jacoby, Ruud
Koning, Richard Pollnac, Lisette Wilson, Samu Bruce, Tevita Waqavakatonga,
Cecilia Belita, and numerous advisors and collaborators for
their assistance to the study. The findings, interpretations and conclusions
expressed in this article are entirely those of the author(s) and
should not be attributed in any manner to the World Bank, to its
affiliated organisations or to members of its Board of Executive Directors
or the countries they represent.
1. INTRODUCTION
Pacific Islanders depend heavily on coastal resources for
food, income, culture and recreation. Aquatic sports and
marine totems, for example, continue to be essential
aspects of the Pacific way of life. The estimated value of
coastal fisheries in the Pacific Islands is US$ 262 million
excluding subsistence fisheries, which in countries such
as Fiji, Samoa, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati is valued
at US$ 7–18 million a year (Dalzell & Adams 1994;
World Bank 2000b). Fish and other marine organisms
comprise 39 percent of the total animal protein in the
region, compared to 16 percent for people worldwide
(Laureti 1992). And tourism, which is also highly dependent
on the quality of the coastal environment, provides
the islands with an estimated US$ 1 billion in
gross annual revenues (Pacific Business 1998).
Coastal areas in the Pacific, however, are facing many
challenges. Expanding human settlements and the need
for cash income have led to overexploitation of resources.
Coastal ecosystems, especially coral reefs, are also
threatened by pollution, siltation and the construction
of coastal infrastructure. In addition, the government
structure in most Pacific Islands — with distinct sectoral
departments and weak central planning — make it difficult
to carry out the integrated efforts that may be needed
to deal effectively with the multiple threats affecting
coastal resources.
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