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

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002
While there has been considerable reef monitoring in the Maldives, this information is
scattered and virtually none is used to support decision-making. Moreover, many
monitoring programs have been discontinued when projects have finished with the
government not providing continuity. The Maldives needs a coordinated approach to the
monitoring and management of these resources that are critical for the tourist industry.
The reefs in MPAs in Sri Lanka have been well monitored in the past, however, this
information is not used by government for site management. All sites close to shore in Sri
Lanka show clear signs of human damage, and this was compounded in 1998 during the
mass bleaching event.
GOVERNMENT POLICIES, LAWS AND LEGISLATION
All countries in the region have established laws to conserve natural resources, with some
including specific legislation on corals and coral reefs e.g. the Maldives. However, these
laws are rarely enforced through a lack of government and community awareness of the
problems facing the coral reefs and the need for management, and through a lack of
capacity in government and private sectors to implement monitoring and management.
In Bangladesh, the government has the power to establish a national park for their one
coral reef, St Martin’s Island, but this has not been implemented, despite calls for its
conservation.
The government of India also has laws to protect coral reefs and other coastal
environments and prohibit the collection of corals. All the hard corals and gorgonians
were included in 2001 in the Schedule List of Wild Life Act of 1972. The Indian Coral Reef
Monitoring Network and the Indian Coral Reef Initiative were established in late 1990s to
provide a cross-sectoral approach for coral reef management. The Ministry of
Environment has funded training programs in monitoring, conservation and management
in the 4 major coral reef areas; data are stored in a GCRMN, South Asia database as a
further aid for management. The National Coral Reef Research Institute has been
established in Port Blair (Andamans) to provide research support for coral reef
management and conservation. Similarly an Indian Society for Coral Reef Studies was
formed and there is a capacity building program through Australian assistance.
Many government sectors of the Maldives are involved in coral reef management,
particularly in recognition of the importance and value of reefs to their economy,
especially through tourism. Some of the more remote atolls still have systems of
traditional management and some of these have been incorporated into fisheries law.
Regulation of coral mining was seen as a key issue in 1992 and specific regulations were
enacted then to prevent coastal erosion.
Similarly, many ministries and government departments in Sri Lanka have coastal
management responsibilities, but this results in cross-sectoral disputes, or else problems
are ignored. Environmental issues have received lesser focus in government recently due
to the ongoing instability. A coastguard has been established to control illegal fishing, but
it is under-resourced.
114