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

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002
islands. There is no monitoring in Kiribati, except surveying the abundance of the toxic
alga responsible for ciguatera. Likewise, there is no monitoring in Niue and Tokelau.
Tonga monitors the marine parks and reserves for nutrients, pesticides, metals, faecal
pollution and the status of the benthos.
There is little information on changes to coral cover on most of the coral reefs, and the
data are published only in national technical reports. Monitoring has started as surveys
and some reefs were occasionally re-surveyed, but most programs have lapsed (with the
exception of French Polynesia). Most outer reef slopes have low cover (between 16% and
71%), due to the exposure to oceanic waves, and not human damage. Wallis and Futuna
has the lowest coral cover; Tonga and French Polynesia are intermediate; and Kiribati has
the highest. Coral cover in the lagoons is highly variable.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Some progress has been accomplished since the last coral reef status report in 2000, but
only in those countries which have the most advanced monitoring programs. Thus the
gap is increasing between the different countries: French Polynesia is well advanced; Cook
Islands, Kiribati, Tonga, and Wallis and Futuna are developing their capacity for coral reef
monitoring and management; while there has been no reported progress in Niue and
Tokelau. Most countries reported gaps and recommendations for improved management
and conservation of their coral reefs and resources in 2000. The following
recommendations are a summary of those:
Political Will
There is a widespread lack of political will for the conservation of coral reef resources.
More political concern is shown for the larger economic components such as tuna
concessions, than reef fisheries that are the basis for subsistence fisheries on remote
islands. Insufficient attention is given to long-term environmental considerations
although healthy lagoons and reefs are the basis for a flourishing tourist industry and
traditional livelihoods. Most of the calls for conservation of the environment and the reestablishment
of traditional management have come from communities and local NGOs.
Funding
The lack of sustainable funding is a major impediment for improving coral reef
monitoring, conservation, economic assessment, education and awareness raising. These
are all essential for developing the management capacity to maintain healthy coral reefs.
The variation in funding is represented in the differences in monitoring and conservation
between the wealthier states and the others. All countries depend on assistance from
regional organisations, especially SPREP, which provides expertise, and organises
exchanges and capacity building.
Capacity Building, Knowledge, Monitoring
Most countries have small populations and thus lack sufficient trained people for reef
assessment, research and management. There are few research or tertiary training
centres. Fisheries departments often have a dual role – to promote fisheries and as well as
conserve the environment. This leads to confused roles and inaction. More education
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