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

Status of Coral Reefs in the Southwest Pacific
ICRAN
CORAL GARDENS PROJECT, FIJI – ICRAN DEMONSTRATION SITE
The Coral Garden sites are along a stretch of coral reefs on the southwestern coast of
Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji. These sites are representative of the major
ecosystems of the Indo-Pacific region: atolls; fringing reefs; and barrier reefs, and
sites will be managed under a variety of different zones, including ‘tabu’ or marine
protected areas, coral reef restoration sites and experimental aquaculture. The area is
under considerable threats from piggery wastes, sewage pollution, crown-of-thorns
starfish (COTS) infestations, freshwater flooding and coral bleaching.
The Coral Gardens Project is centrally coordinated by a committee of landowners in
the district of Cuvu and managed primarily by the Foundation for the People of the
South Pacific (FSP- Fiji). These groups are developing comprehensive management
plans for coral reef fisheries and land-based waste problems. Based on these pilot
sites, international NGOs and FSP- Fiji will provide regional workshops to train people
to replicate the Coral Gardens model throughout the Pacific and into the Caribbean.
Ecological Monitoring: Several experiments were initiated in Cuvu Bay to examine
experimental coral reef restoration, including test coral plantings for habitat
enhancement, tide pool enhancement with UV and temperature tolerant corals, and
coral aquaculture trials. These were initially successful until a COTS outbreak and
coral bleaching resulted in the loss of the test plantings.
Socio-economic Monitoring: Community participation will begin with the
establishment of an Environment Committee. The Coral Garden Project is allied with
the MacArthur Foundation-sponsored ‘Learning Portfolio’ on community-managed
marine protected areas.
Coral reefs are 80% of the natural resources.
Ecological Monitoring is occasional.
Socio-economic Monitoring is planned.
URGENCY OF SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
Hawksbill and green turtle populations in the South Pacific are in serious jeopardy;
hawksbills are rapidly approaching extinction and greens should be classed as
endangered. After nesting in American Samoa, these turtles migrate over 850km to
feed on the higher diversity and biomass of seagrasses and algae in Fiji. Turtles were
tagged with metal flipper tags and 7 were tracked by satellite transmitters. Six of the 7
migrated to Fiji at a rate of 1.8km per hour. The metal tagged turtles did the same with
96% travelling west after nesting, and 61% ended up in Fiji waters. Most returned to
American Samoa to breed 4-5 years later. Thus Fiji is critical for turtle conservation
and there is a need to identify and map the feeding sites. It is also critical to manage
the water quality and rates of harvest in these feeding habitats. This action is urgently
required. Contact: Peter Craig, National Park of American Samoa,
Peter_Craig@nps.gov
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