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

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002
Ningaloo Reef: This is a 280km long fringing reef separated from the shore by a sandy
lagoon. There are minimal land impacts from the arid coast with the only major future
impacts likely to come from the rapidly developing tourist industry e.g. boat traffic,
anchor damage, recreational fishing. The reef front is exposed to oceanic swells, however
coral cover may reach 40% on these slopes. Recovery is generally rapid after major
storms. Coral cover behind the front and in channels can be up to 75% with more cover in
the south. The coral-eating snail (Drupella) has caused some loss of corals in the last two
decades. Another significant impact has resulted from coral spawn decomposing and
depleting oxygen causing major coral kills in same sections of Ningaloo. Fish populations
are abundant with fishing only permitted in some parts of the Ningaloo Marine Park.
CALM manages the Park and has established a monitoring program at 72 permanent sites.
Abrolhos Islands: These are at the southern limit of reefs in Western Australia and have an
interesting mix of kelp and corals growing together. The area supports a major and
sustainable rock lobster industry, which causes minimal damage to the coral and fishes,
and the reefs are generally in excellent condition. Plans are being developed for an MPA
over the area, but no coral reef monitoring exists in the Abrolhos islands.
ANTHROPOGENIC THREATS TO CORAL REEFS
The most serious threats to coral reefs in PNG are from uncontrolled forestry and
agriculture on the steep slopes, from increasing rates of fishing pressure and pollution
from sewage. The island of New Guinea is recent in origin, particularly steep and has high
rainfall, therefore terrigenous sediments are easily dislodged after logging and agriculture
and flow directly onto the reefs growing on the narrow coastal shelf. Like many countries
in the region, populations are growing in coastal areas and putting increased pressures on
fish stocks. Blast fishing is apparently increasing, as is the illegal capture of live fish for
the restaurant trade in Hong Kong. Coral mining, oil spills, industrial pollution, mine
waste, land reclamation, ship groundings are all localised threats, and COTS populations
occur on many PNG reefs, with occasional outbreaks.
There are few human pressures on the extensive Australian reefs, mainly due to the low
population density of relatively wealthy people who do not depend on the reefs for
subsistence, and the high level of community support for resource management. Also,
most of the Australian continent is dry, therefore freshwater runoff from the mainland is
low, but there are occasional major floods after cyclonic rainfall. Inshore reefs of the GBR
are showing signs of stress from sediment and nutrient pollution (nitrate and phosphate)
due to over grazing of cattle and sheep, runoff from sugar-cane and banana farming, and
domestic sewage. Now tourist resorts and cruise boats are required to reduce sewage
pollution, and most towns have either secondary or tertiary sewage treatment. Pollution is
minimal on reefs off Western Australia, freshwater runoff is particularly low and fishing
pressures are slight. Australia is attempting to control subsistence fishing for shark, fish,
trochus, giant clams and sea cucumbers by Indonesian nationals on the remote reefs.
Australia hosts some of the largest populations of endangered dugong and turtles in the
world, although numbers have declined in some areas. Dugong populations are threatened
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