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

Status of Coral Reefs in the Southwest Pacific
complex regulations and involve local communities in the policing of these, often
through the imposition of traditional deterrents.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In the two years since the regional report of coral reefs for the Southwest Pacific in 2000,
the pertinent needs of coral reefs in the Southwest Pacific region have not changed.
Those recommendations are repeated:
• Capacity building is a priority for the region to establish coral reef monitoring
in long-term National monitoring sites. This should be addressed at all levels,
including stakeholders, NGOs, government and private sector. There is also a
need to standardise sampling and surveying methods within scientific and
monitoring groups;
• More attention needs to be focused on the more highly stressed coral reef areas
in the region, particularly, around urban and coastal areas where anthropogenic
pressures are concentrated;
• There is a growing interest in community-based MPAs throughout the region.
Fiji, Samoa and New Caledonia have initiated community based MPAs, however
there is still an urgent need for more comprehensive and enforced MPA
programs;
• The development of appropriate national coastal zone management plans and
policies are required for all countries of the region;
• All countries should incorporate coral reef issues into the national climate
change strategies under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC);
• There is an urgent need to document the biodiversity of coral reefs in all the
countries. This will require training of marine biologists (taxonomists, coral
reef ecologists, fisheries and stock assessment specialists and oceanographers)
and strengthening of the Marine Biodiversity Centre at the University of the
South Pacific e.g. the biology of the important reef food fishes is poorly known,
which impedes the introduction of sustainable fisheries management; training
is also needed in the private sector and NGOs to supplement government
programs;
• Regional and national strategies for the preservation of intellectual property
rights on marine biodiversity must be developed;
• Legislation and regulations for the management of coral reefs need urgent
upgrading, especially the incorporation of integrated coastal management, and
sustainable fisheries;
• Coral reefs should be mapped using advanced technology such as the use of
Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems.
The countries in this Node request the assistance and support from national, regional and
the international communities to tackle these recommendations.
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