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

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002
In contrast, there are very specific laws and legislation aimed at managing coral reefs and
a single organisation has the authority to manage the GBR – Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park Authority, in association with the Queensland State Government. This was reviewed
in the Status 1998 report. Similar laws are being enacted to manage the reefs off Western
Australia. Fisheries are managed by both National and State/Territory governments, with
the latter being responsible out to the 3 nautical mile limit, and the former managing
fisheries beyond that to 200nm (EEZ). There are several examples of commercial fisheries
that are managed to achieve sustainability e.g the Western Rock Lobster fishery on coral
and rocky reefs of Western Australia, and the Gulf of Carpentaria prawn fishery, but most
are showing signs of over-fishing with stock sizes and populations decreasing. This is
leading to increases in government regulations through input controls by limiting the
number of vessels, the time and place of fishing, and the type gear permitted. A major
focus of management on the GBR has been to reduce the damage done to the benthos by
trawling on inter-reef bottoms, as evidence of damage to the environment became
available. A new mechanism for management has been to seek protection for habitats,
other than the coral reefs, within the GBR World Heritage Area. There are also specific
laws to protect endangered species and to limit unintended marine catch. The developing
trade in live reef fish for the Chinese restaurant market, principally in Hong Kong, is
coming under strict regulation to ensure sustainability. This is a major theme for the
International Marinelife Alliance, which is using the GBR as a base to assist countries of
the region with the management of their fisheries.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Papua New Guinea
• More training in coral reef science and management is required in PNG; and
more importantly to fund programs that employ the trained people. The best
prospects for improved monitoring lie with NGOs and the private dive
operators. There is also a major lack of trained divers and dive equipment.
• There is a need for integration between environmental planning and any
economic developments, especially in urban development, watershed
degradation and forestry, and large-scale commercial activities.
• Most reefs of PNG have not been mapped, making resource conservation more
difficult.
• The best potential for reef conservation lies in community-based programs by
allowing communities to establish and manage their own MPAs. The
involvement of NGOs should be encouraged as they have shown success in
working at this level.
• Effective enforcement of fisheries regulations is lacking and required. Moreover,
PNG does not have the infrastructure to patrol their waters and control the
developing live reef-fish trade.
• Community education and alternative income programs are essential to arrest
damaging fishing practices, pollution and over-exploitation.
Australia
• The current levels of monitoring and management of coral reefs needs to be
maintained; there are, however no signals that effort or funding will be reduced
or radically changed.
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