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

Status of Coral Reefs in the Southwest Pacific
Fiji
Effective coral reef monitoring continues in Fiji due to the presence of the main campus
of the University of the South Pacific (USP) and many NGOs: World Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF); Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific (FSP); Coral Cay Conservation
(CCC); Greenforce; and International MarineLife Alliance (IMA).
Most of Fiji’s reefs were affected by mass coral bleaching in March-April 2000, except
those in the far north, with more than 40% of colonies dead at many sites. There was also
variable bleaching in 2001 and 2002, except for intense bleaching in 2002 in very shallow
areas. Many affected reefs are making a strong recovery e.g. increasing densities of
Acropora recruits at sites around Suva.
Direct human impacts from sewage pollutants, heavy gleaning, coastal development and
siltation continue to damage reefs near large urban centres. Destructive fishing is also
causing serious damage in some areas, through the use of ‘dynamite’ and poison from the
Derris root. Stocks of invertebrates such as giant clams, trochus and beche-de-mer have
been reduced by moderate to heavy fishing. The highly targeted reef fish species such as
emperors (Lethrinus), and mugilid (mullet) species have been overfished in Fiji. The large
bump headed parrot fish (Bolbometopon) has been fished to local extinction in most
areas, but Greenforce reports regular sightings at Yadua. Outbreaks of the crown-ofthorns
starfish (COTS) have been reported annually since 1996 at widely dispersed sites,
including the Mamanucas, Wakaya, Lau, Taveuni, southern Viti Levu, Kadavu and Gau,
and there is an outbreak now on the Great Astrolabe Reef, Kadavu.
Fiji is the world’s second largest exporter of live reef products for the aquarium trade,
after Indonesia, and the market is expanding. There are no export limits or management
plans for the trade, but these are being planned. An assessment of the impact of
harvesting has started with Reef Check conducting pilot field testing of the MAQTRAC
monitoring protocols.
The 2000 mass bleaching event catalysed the first major GCRMN activity in the region,
when 8 independent research groups collaborated to assess bleaching at 19 sites
throughout Fiji. Since 1996, the GCRMN has assisted with the Seawater Temperature
Monitoring Programme at the University of the South Pacific (USP) to record
temperatures throughout Fiji. Data on about 100 Fiji reefs comes from researchers,
tourist resorts, and reef-based tourist operations, such as the Fiji Dive Operators
Association, Greenforce and Coral Cay Conservation. A campaign to involve tourist
resorts in monitoring their local reefs was initiated in 2002 at 7 permanent GCRMN and
Reef Check sites around Suva timed in March/April to coincide with the potential
bleaching season.
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