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

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002 since 1992. The central region of the GBR is currently experiencing outbreak levels of COTS, while reefs in the Cairns section are showing signs of recovery. A second outbreak of COTS is active in the southern Swains reefs. There was damaging coral bleaching over considerable areas of the GBR in 2002. Bleaching was once again correlated with elevated temperature ‘hotspots’ but these varied from the areas affected in 1998. Bleaching was more extensive and inshore reefs were once again the most affected. Mortality rates from this event are not yet known. Coral disease is emerging as a new threat to the GBR with surveys in 2002 showing increased coral mortality due to an unknown group of pathogens colloquially termed ‘white syndrome’. The coral reefs of Papua New Guinea (PNG), however, are less well known with few protected areas, but with strong traditional management. There are reefs with high biodiversity and great scenic beauty, which are in relatively good condition, although there are warning signals of increasing human pressures and threats from global climate change. Countering these negative trends, there has been strong recent interest by larger NGOs which are intent on conserving much of this high biodiversity through involving communities in resource management. The largest threats on the horizon are major deforestation activities, increasing fishing pressures from steadily growing populations, and the unknown threats from coral bleaching. INTRODUCTION The coral reefs around Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) collectively contain approximately 17.2% of the world’s total, and include some reefs with almost the same high biodiversity as those in the ‘biodiversity hot spot’ of Indonesia and the Philippines. The critical difference to those ‘hot spot’ reefs is that most in this region are under low human pressures and those around Australia are subject to high level research and monitoring activity that is supporting strong resource management. Thus these reefs remain as some of the least impacted with the best prognosis for the future, with the exception of climate change related coral bleaching and mortality. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is the major Australian reef structure, with 3,000 fringing, submerged, platform and barrier reefs spread over 2,700km of the Queensland continental shelf, from the reefs of the Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea to 23°S. All of the reefs are contained within the GBR Marine Park (339,750km 2 ), which is also a World Heritage Site. There are also remote reefs in the Coral Sea to the east and south of the GBR, and also extensive coral reefs off the coast of Western Australia, including 4,000km 2 at Ningaloo Reef. Australia’s EEZ includes reefs well out into the Indian Ocean, as far as the longitude of western Sumatra. Papua New Guinea (PNG) includes a series of large (New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville) and small islands as well as the eastern half of the large island of New Guinea. The coastline of over 10,000km and the EEZ of several million square kilometres includes all major reef types, with an estimated area of 40,000km 2 . The diversity of reef fishes and corals at the few locations that have been studied ranks among the highest in the world. Coastal communities depend significantly on coral reefs for coastal protection, subsistence food, medicines and cultural products e.g. the names for PNG currency are based on reef species recognising that these were once traditional currency. The reefs are important for dive tourism and export fisheries, especially the live reef food fish trade. 164
Status of Coral Reefs of Australasia This report summarises the previous report of 2000, with the addition of more data on reef monitoring from Australia, and some anecdotal reports from PNG. STATUS OF CORALS, OTHER BENTHOS AND FISHES PNG Reports continue to state that most reefs in PNG are relatively stable with healthy populations of corals and fishes. Reefs show relatively little evidence of damage from human activity, and 40% to 50% coral cover is the norm in most areas. Effects of bleaching appear to have been uneven, with some incidences of high mortality, but most reefs have been unaffected. A conspicuous recent development has been the increasing presence and influence of conservation NGOs in PNG. These have been responsible for numerous surveys of biological resources emphasising biodiversity, and of the socioeconomic importance of coastal resources, particularly reefs. Conservation International has a very active association with UNEP in the Milne Bay Province, where surveys have reported exceptionally high levels of biodiversity. WWF has a program to monitor water quality in Madang Lagoon and is assisting community groups establish their own conservation areas. The Wildlife Conservation Society has conducted biodiversity assessments in 7 locations. The first surveys of the isolated Lak region in southern New Ireland, Papua New Guinea were undertaken in 2002 by local and outside scientists as part of an Integrated Conservation and Development project to determine the conservation value of the marine resources, assess the sustainable development potential, and consider projects for conservation. The fringing reefs are exposed to high wave energy, with few other stresses, other than the potential for sediment damage from uncontrolled logging and the possibility of coral bleaching. The reefs consisted of massive Porites corals, table and other Acropora corals, and soft corals. Dead branching Acropora was prevalent, indicating possible recent high temperature events. Coral cover was generally above 40%, with above 20% dead coral cover in some locations. Soft corals were prevalent in some areas to 45% cover. At 10 sites there is hard coral cover of over 50% (Cape Narum, Cape Bubun, Toua Island, Beriota, Li, Lavinia Cove, Watun, Tauwanlik Pt, Watlongor and Wasir). Subsistence and artisinal fishing is the predominant human activity on PNG reefs, and destructive fishing practices are uncommon compared with other regions of the ‘Coral Triangle’ (including Indonesia and Philippines). In general, reef fish harvests are considered to be within sustainable levels, but there is evidence of over-fishing around large coastal centres. There is also good evidence of substantial over-fishing in many locations of invertebrates such as sea cucumbers, trochus, green snail and clams for export. These exploitation pressures will increase as populations grow, and there are few alternative mechanisms for generating income in a developing county economy. Australia The scale and extent of the coral reefs in Australia dictates that, irrespective of the considerable amount of research and monitoring, there will still be gaps for large areas. The most extensive coral reef monitoring program in the world is conducted by the government funded, Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). This covers a 165
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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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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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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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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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