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

Status of Coral Reefs in East and North Asia
species in Jejudo have been declared for preservation by the Natural Environment
Preservation Act.
CORAL BLEACHING AND RECOVERY AFTER THE 1998 CLIMATE CHANGE EVENT
The coral reefs of southern Japan suffered the most severe coral bleaching and mortality
ever observed from July to September 1998. Coral mortality was: 40-60% in Nansei Island;
under 20%, in Koshikijima Island western Kyushu, eastern Shikoku and Kushimoto; 30-
40% on Hachijo Island (80-90% in parts); 70-90% on south Yoron Island; and 30-60% on
north Yoron Island. In the Sekisei Lagoon, 40% of Acropora died and 8% of coral cover
was lost. Coral cover showed a 62% decrease on Ishigaki Island, with most Acropora lost,
while mortality in Heliopora coerulea, Porites cylindrica and branching Montipora was
not significant. In 2001, another bleaching event occurred when water temperatures
increased between July and September in Ryukyu Islands and Amami Islands. The
mortality observed was 7-45.7% in Sekisei Lagoon and 0.8-68.8% in Ishigaki Island.
Okinawa Island and Kerama Islands had lower levels of mortality at 0.3-25.3%, and no
mortality was observed in Miyako Islands and Amami Islands.
There was extensive coral bleaching in southern Taiwan in 1998, with 30% to 50% of
colonies bleached on Penghu Islands, Lutao, and Lanyu. Subsequent mortality was about
20% of coral colonies in 1998. Reports of coral bleaching in 2002 on Taiwan were
scattered. Only three reef sites in south Taiwan and one site in east Taiwan reported with
sporadic bleaching of corals (