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

Status of Southeast and Central Pacific Coral Reefs ‘Polynesia Mana Node’
CORAL REEF FISHERIES
Fish resources are important food for the Polynesian people, and have been the focus of
many traditional management regimes. Most fish are eaten locally and there is little interisland
fisheries trade, except to large urban centres in the Cook Islands, Kiribati, and
French Polynesia. There is a developing export industry for grouper and wrasses for the
live reef fish trade from Kiribati to Asian markets. The tuna fishery remains a major
economic interest for island peoples, especially via royalties for foreign harvest within
Polynesian country EEZs.
Invertebrate and turtle resources are also important for atoll peoples e.g. harvest of
octopus, clams and other molluscs, algae, worms, sea cucumbers and jellyfish. Sea
cucumbers are exported from Wallis-Futuna, but export has been banned from Tonga.
Lobsters are over-exploited and populations are now threatened. Black corals have been
over-harvested, especially in Kiribati and Tonga although laws ban this exploitation.
ISOLATED CORAL REEFS OF THE PHOENIX ISLANDS, KIRIBATI
These islands of Kiribati are just south of the equator in the Central Pacific, and
comprise 3 atolls, 5 coral reef islands and 2 submerged reefs (total area 29km 2 ). They
are also some of the most remote reefs in the world, being 3 days steaming from the
closest port, and also pounded by ocean swells on three sides, making them some of
the most difficult to access. Two multi-disciplinary expeditions by the New England
Aquarium (USA) and Nai’a Cruises Fiji in 2000 and 2002, documented the diversity and
status of terrestrial and marine life on these remote coral reefs. The Phoenix Islands
are virtually in pristine condition with minimal human impacts and a wealth of
biological resources. Coral diversity was moderately high with about 120 species,
comparable to the 115 species identified from the Gilbert and Line groups to the east
and west. The health of the reefs was excellent, with no evidence of bleaching that has
plagued reefs in other parts of the Pacific, no evidence of disease or predation, and
large, prolific communities of Acropora and Pocillopora. Coral cover on leeward atolls
ranged from 25-45% and in some instances exceeded 75% on shallow platforms, while
windward sides ranged from 20-30% cover. Coral reef islands averaged 20-25% coral
cover, although rocky platforms and spurs at Phoenix had >60% cover contributed by
encrusting, submassive and plate colonies. Fish populations were incredibly abundant
and diverse, and included pelagic fishes such as tuna and oceanic mackerel. There were
large numbers and sizes of some fishes (such as the humphead or Maori wrasse –
Cheilinus undulatus), which have been severely depleted in Asia and the Western
Pacific. Shark populations were abundant on some islands indicating healthy coral reef
ecosystems. However, in 2002 the expedition recorded a reduction in shark
populations on Phoenix, Kanton and Manra islands, due to harvesting by a foreign
shark-finning vessel. Similarly, sharks at Orona Atoll was severely depleted after a
government project in 2001 to harvest sharks for their highly prized fins. The other
islands (Nikumaroro, Birnie, McKean, Enderbury) are excellent examples of near
pristine reefs because of the exclusion of human impacts. The Phoenix Island reefs are
of global significance, and were suggested for World Heritage listing in early 2002.
From: Sangeeta Mangubhai, smangubhai@africaonline.co.ke
207