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

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002
The major threats to the coral reefs in coastal Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka are high
levels of destructive fishing, industrial, agricultural and domestic pollution, sedimentation
and coral mining. This is combined with major changes to coastal habitats from human
settlements and increased industrial development. There are two main categories of
fishing activities that occur within the coastal waters of South Asia, industrial and
artisanal, each posing threats to the coral reefs of a different type and magnitude. In the
Gulf of Mannar, bottom trawling by semi-industrial vessels is a major threat to the reefs.
In a sector which is characterised as labour intensive with low mechanical sophistication,
the artisanal fishermen of South Asia receive a wide range of benefits from the coral reef
resources. The proliferation of damaging gears and crude fishing techniques (bamboo
traps, set nets and blast fishing) in India and Sri Lanka are, however, posing serious
threats to the sustainability of the resources. There is also widespread collecting for the
aquarium trade and harvesting of molluscs, as well as turtles and dugongs, which are all
seriously endangered. Coral and sand collection for building, making of lime and curios
continues to damage coastal reefs. Industrial and domestic pollution continues to be a
significant threat, particularly in the Gulf of Kutch, where industrial growth is having a
severe impact on the coral reefs.
The more remote Indian reefs on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are being impacted by
increased sediment flows to the nearshore reefs due largely to unregulated logging and
encroachment into the forestry reserves by settlers. Some damage has occurred through
coral mining, dredging and blasting of corals for navigational channels. Fishing activity is
increasing on these reefs as well as on the Lakshadweep Islands where fishing in the
lagoons for live bait for tuna is increasing. There are some minor examples of pollution
from untreated sewage. Bleaching on the Lakshadweeps was severe in 1998 with major
losses of corals.
Most reefs in the Maldives are better protected, mainly because of their isolation from
human activity. The main damage to reefs occurs around the heavily populated islands
e.g. the capital Male and nearby islands. Coral mining, dredging of channels for boats and
coastal construction have resulted in extensive damage to the reef flats around some of
these islands or major changes in sand distribution and erosion. Reef fisheries are
increasing, and the extensive grouper fishery may already be affecting the grouper stocks.
Infestation by crown-of-thorns starfish has also impacted on the reefs in the past (1980s)
but no major incidences have been reported recently. Damage during the 1998 El Niño
bleaching event was severe on both populated and remote reefs. The only threats to the
Chagos reefs are through coral bleaching and more recently through illegal fishing, including
the collection of sea cucumbers, shark and possibly live fish for the restaurant trade in East
Asia. The fisheries protection vessel now appears to be deterring the shark fishing.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPACTS
The areas which are vulnerable to sea level rises are the low-lying parts of atolls and
coastal regions, whereas the coral reefs themselves will be only minimally affected
provided they still contain healthy coral populations. There has been coastal erosion, and
saline intrusion into fresh groundwaters along the western and southern coasts of Sri
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