#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002 132km Gulf of Mannar coastline. Corals are also found along the mainland coast. One island in the Tuticorin group has disappeared below the surface due to coral mining. Most of the other reefs in the Tuticorn group are also mined, along with strong pressure from fisheries, including harvesting of sacred chanks (Turbinella pyrum), sea cucumber, pipefishes, and sea horses. Seaweed harvesting occurs in some islands of the Mandapam group. Particularly rich reefs grow around the 530 mountainous islands in the Andaman and Nicobars, of which only 38 are inhabited. The Lakshadweep (Laccadive) Islands consist of 12 atolls, 36 islands and 5 submerged banks at the northern end of the Laccadive-Chagos ridge. The islands are surrounded by 4,200km 2 of lagoon, raised reefs and banks and are the base for an important tuna fishery with minimal tourism. Coral and sand mining, erosion, coastal reclamation and crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) infestations affect the health of the reefs. In the Gulf of Kutch, 34 out of 42 islands have fringing reefs, but these have been severely damaged by sedimentation, industrial pollution, extraction of coral sand, fishing with poisons and explosives. As well there are stresses of high temperatures, salinity changes, turbid water and exposure during extreme low tides (range to 5.9m). The Maldives These islands form an archipelago (864km long, 130km wide) on the Laccadive-Chagos ridge, with 1,190 coral islands (300km 2 ), many sand cays and faroes within 23 atolls. The reefs are particularly rich and predominantly not impacted by anthropogenic activities. Coral reef tourism and offshore tuna fisheries are the major components of the economy. Pakistan There are a few isolated patches of coral growth on hard substrates, but more extensive growth is limited by the high sedimentation and very turbid conditions. There is almost no information available on these corals. Sri Lanka Corals grow on old limestone, sandstone and rocky reefs and also on 2% of the coastline as fringing reefs. The largest areas are in the Gulf of Mannar to the northwest and along the east coast. Reefs are important for fisheries, coastal tourism, and preventing coastal erosion. CORAL REEF STATUS AND BIODIVERSITY Bangladesh Coral communities extend to about 200m offshore of St. Martin’s Island with maximum coral cover of 7.6% and colony density of 1.3 colonies per m 2 . These consist of 66 hard coral species, the most common being Acropora, Favites and Goniastrea, which are the target for coral harvesters, as well as Porites, Goniopora, and Cyphastrea. There also many soft corals, sea fans, and sea whips. Other invertebrates are only represented by a few species, with molluscs being the most abundant large invertebrates, however, these are declining due to unregulated harvesting. Reef fish diversity is low (86 species) with damselfish (pomacentrids), surgeonfish (acanthurids) and parrotfish (scarids) being the most abundant. There are also 5 species of butterflyfish (chaetodontids) and one angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis). Predator species (groupers, snappers, and emperors) are heavily fished. There are no reports of coral bleaching from St. Martin’s Island. 104
Status of Coral Reefs in South Asia Chagos These reefs have among the highest species diversity of corals and molluscs in the Indian Ocean. There are several comprehensive studies on reef fish and other invertebrates, and reef-building corals have been relatively well studied. The smaller islands support large colonies of sea birds, sea turtles and 2 species of small cetaceans. Several of the uninhabited islands and surrounding reefs have a Strict Conservation status, while much of Diego Garcia is now a Ramsar site. Corals around Chagos were seriously affected by the bleaching event in 1998. Before this bleaching event, there was 50-70% live coral cover, 10-20% soft coral cover and approximately 10-20% bare substrate. However, after 1998, most of the live coral cover on the outer reefs was killed, including almost all of the table corals. Soft corals, fire coral (Millepora sp.) and blue coral (Heliopora caerulea) were also heavily impacted, while large Porites colonies on the outer slopes were only partially bleached, and calcareous algal ridges around the atolls appear to have been reduced. The corals in the reef lagoons survived better than those on the outer reefs, probably because they normally experience higher temperatures and have built up tolerance to temperature increases. India Biodiversity on the reefs in the Gulf of Mannar includes 94 hard coral species, with the most common being Acropora, Montipora and Porites. The 1998 bleaching event destroyed most shallow water corals and live coral cover was reduced by over two thirds, such that about 25% of live corals remain. The most affected were branching Acropora and Pocillopora. Massive corals now dominate on all island groups, with branching corals almost wiped out in the Tuticorin group, while only 1-2% survive on the other islands. Some patchy coral recruitment was seen on the mainland coast by the Zoological Survey of India, in 1999. There has been a further reduction in the live coral cover with more bleaching in early 2002 in shallow areas. Bleaching also affected many massive corals, but most have since recovered. There is now an average of 19.5% live coral cover on the 7 islands of the Mandapam group (dead coral 21.4%; sand and rubble 53.4%). Reef fish diversity and abundance has not been well documented. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have about 12,000km 2 of reef lagoons, coral banks, reef slopes and reef flat areas. North and South Andamans are dominated by Porites, while the Middle Andamans and Nicobars are dominated by Acropora. In all, 203 hard coral species occur on the islands such that coral diversity is much higher than reported previously. In the last ‘Status’ report, nearly 80% of the reefs in the Andaman and Nicobar groups were reported as being bleached, however recent surveys indicate that 56% of corals remain alive, with 20% dead coral and 11% coral rubble. There is no evidence of recent bleaching or damage caused by Acanthaster planci. The highest live coral cover on the Nicobar Islands is 73.5% on North Reef, and cover in Car Nicobar and Outram are 72.7% and 67.3% respectively. These numbers, and the continued dominance of Acropora on the Middle Andamans and Nicobars, indicate that there has been no recent bleaching mortality. More than 1200 fish species have been recorded around the Andamans and Nicobars. Sponges, sharks, spiny lobsters, dugongs, dolphins and sea turtles are also exploited in the islands. 105
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Status of Coral Reefs of the World:
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FOREWORD Our two governments have r
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CONTENTS Countries, States and Terr
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COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERRITORIES A
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Countries, States and Territories S
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INTRODUCTION We are pleased to endo
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Introduction Some of the larger fou
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Introduction Coral reefs are coming
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CLIVE WILKINSON A
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Executive Summary This report, howe
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Executive Summary GLOBAL AND REGION
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Executive Summary There is clear ev
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Executive Summary Key sites chosen
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Executive Summary • Europa and Sc
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Executive Summary CORAL REEF TARGET
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Executive Summary ICRI OPERATING UN
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Executive Summary COLLAPSE OF CORAL
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Executive Summary Prognosis for the
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Executive Summary concern is an out
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Executive Summary Southern Tropical
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Executive Summary Achievements in E
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Status of Coral Reefs in East and N
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9. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AUSTRAL
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Status of Coral Reefs of Australasi
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10. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE SO
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Southw
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12. STATUS OF THE CORAL REEFS IN MI
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Status of the Coral Reefs in Micron
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13. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE HA
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Hawaii
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14. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE U.
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Status of Coral Reefs in the US Car
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15. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE NO
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Northe
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16. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF MESOAM
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Status of Coral Reefs of Mesoameric
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17. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE EA
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Easter
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18. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN SOUTHE
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Status of Coral Reefs in Southern T
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19. SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS, CORAL
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Sponsoring Organisations, Coral Ree
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#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

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