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

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002 BANNING OF SCUBA FISHING IN AMERICAN SAMOA Local resource managers can often be surprised by how rapidly fishers adopt new techniques to catch fish more efficiently, and then the managers have to react rapidly to prevent serious destruction of breeding stock. Here is one example from American Samoa where a high technology, commercial fishery became established the mid 1990s, which dramatically increased the catch of reef fishes on the main island of Tutuila. Teams of fishermen were working their way around the island at night using scuba to spear fish, particularly sleeping parrotfish. This was proving to be extremely efficient, such that local reef fish populations were being rapidly depleted and causing considerable concerns among the local subsistence fishers. The evidence was gathered by the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources: there was a dramatic increase in reef fish catch after the fishery commenced (below); scientists and local managers reported that fish populations on Tutuila were showing signs of severe overfishing, based on long term monitoring data; and the local community were complaining that subsistence fishing had become more difficult since the scuba fishery started. Decisive action was needed to stop this destructive (and non-traditional) fishery, but it would require about 18 months to gather all the necessary scientific data to support the preliminary evidence, but by then the fish populations could be irreparably depleted. The resource managers put the position to Tauese Sunia, the Governor of American Samoa, who reacted immediately and banned the scuba fishery by Executive Order in April 2001, which was followed by banning regulation in January 2002. What helped the arguments were comparisons of fish populations of the major target reef fish around the heavily populated island of Tutuila and nearby Manu’a, where there are many fewer people and fishing pressure is lower. These clearly show the effects of fishing on the target species. Annual harvest of parrotfish on Tutuila island from 1978 to the mid 90s when there was a 15 times increase in harvests. 224
Status of the Coral Reefs in Micronesia and American Samoa Previous monitoring of the densities of the 5 major target fish families show much lower populations on Tutuila than nearby Manu’a Islands. The resource managers could also present data on the target parrotfish (Cetoscarus bicolor, Chlorurus microrhinus, and Scarus rubroviolaceus), humphead or maori wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and sharks, showing the effects of strong fishing pressure on Tutuila. This study demonstrates how managers should take the precautionary approach and use the best available information to protect their marine resources that are under threat. Sound scientific evidence is always preferable as a basis for management decisions, but if it is not available then action may be required using scientific and management judgement. In this case, the Governor acted decisively, because there was strong, coordinated support for the ban from local managers, scientists and the community. Since the bans were introduced, there seems to be little, if any, scuba fishing occurring on Tutuila, but the fishery has now been displaced to neighbouring Samoa, where the local government is also considering banning it. From Alison Green, GBRMPA, alison@gbrmpa.gov.au 225
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Status of Coral Reefs of the World:
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FOREWORD Our two governments have r
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CONTENTS Countries, States and Terr
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COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERRITORIES A
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Countries, States and Territories S
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INTRODUCTION We are pleased to endo
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Introduction Some of the larger fou
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Introduction Coral reefs are coming
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CLIVE WILKINSON A
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Executive Summary This report, howe
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Executive Summary GLOBAL AND REGION
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Executive Summary There is clear ev
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Executive Summary Key sites chosen
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Executive Summary • Europa and Sc
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Executive Summary CORAL REEF TARGET
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Executive Summary ICRI OPERATING UN
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Executive Summary COLLAPSE OF CORAL
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Executive Summary Prognosis for the
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Executive Summary concern is an out
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Executive Summary Southern Tropical
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Executive Summary Achievements in E
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7. STATUS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA CORAL R
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Status of Southeast Asia Coral Reef
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8. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN EAST AN
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Status of Coral Reefs in East and N
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9. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AUSTRAL
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Status of Coral Reefs of Australasi
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Status of Coral Reefs in the US Car
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15. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE NO
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Northe
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16. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF MESOAM
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Status of Coral Reefs of Mesoameric
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17. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE EA
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Easter
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18. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN SOUTHE
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Status of Coral Reefs in Southern T
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19. SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS, CORAL
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Sponsoring Organisations, Coral Ree
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#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

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