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

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS All countries and states are partners in MAREPAC, which aims to coordinate activities and avoid duplication of effort, fill gaps in areas of need and use time and financial resources efficiently and wisely. There is a need for a forum for states to present their priorities for monitoring and plan future directions. There is considerable expertise across the region and this needs to be harnessed in a coordinated manner to assist all states and raise the capacity in-country for more effective coral reef monitoring and conservation. American Samoa The coral reefs in American Samoa have been recovering from natural stresses, but the fisheries resources have not been recovering. The recovery of the corals will be enhanced if there are healthy populations of grazing and herbivorous fishes. These have been lost due to overfishing on Tutuila. Other major factors causing serious harm are reduced water quality near populated areas, and destruction of turtle nesting beaches. • There is a need to expand coral reef monitoring efforts, but focus the objectives. Most monitoring efforts so far have been ecological in focus, but there is a need to address the questions faced by coral reef managers: ‘Is overfishing occurring’; ‘Is sediment from poor land-use practices harming the reef’. Consequently, monitoring programs must clearly identify the intended user of the data, and the parameters to measure to provide the information. A monitoring program in American Samoa should be: achievable with local staff, although off-island expertise may be needed; sustainable even with staff changes; comparable to other programs; and open to community input and management. • Improved land-use practices are needed to slow the impacts that are currently damaging water quality. Some progress has been made in Pago Pago Harbor, but the coral reefs there have not fully recovered nor is swimming safe or fish uncontaminated. Fish and sediments in the harbour need to be tested for toxicity at regular intervals. • A regional network of MPAs needs to be created to protect coral reef resources across the region. For example, tagging data show green sea turtles nest in American Samoa and migrate to both Fiji and Tahiti to feed. • A recent ban on scuba-assisted fishing has been established, but there is a need for monitoring of its effects. The ban appears to have been enforced and the lack of large fishes indicates that time is required to show results. Village-based management and monitoring of reef fisheries resources should be encouraged. CNMI The CNMI has established a long-term marine monitoring program to provide data for conservation efforts. • There is a need to ensure that agencies collaborate to collect and analyse monitoring data within a monitoring program that has sound objectives and establishes repeatable protocols for data collection, storage and analysis. An interagency team should be established to assess methods and design a workable monitoring program. 232
Status of the Coral Reefs in Micronesia and American Samoa • Although there are adequate staff resources to start a long-term monitoring program, additional training is required to ensure continuity. Training is required in data collection, data analysis and quality control, as well as training in identification of marine flora and fauna. • The CNMI should attempt to Rapid Ecological Assessments for the populated southern islands to identify long-term monitoring sites and implement the monitoring program. Data can then be used to recommend additional marine protected areas on Tinian and Rota. Guam The coral reefs of Guam continue to decline because of activities from the land. There are adequate monitoring and research data to identify the problems and suggest corrective measures. For example, there have been disturbing reductions in coral recruitment indicating that reef recovery is threatened in areas impacted by typhoons, COTS, and earthquakes. Community education initiatives have increased awareness and the political will to address reef decline. However, there is far more to be done in these areas. Overfishing is still a concern, but 5 Marine Reserves is a positive step. • Enforcement of existing laws and environmental regulations is required. • Improvements to erosion control programs are needed to reduce the land-based stresses on coastal reefs. • Recovery of Guam’s reefs will only occur with improvement in coastal water quality that allows natural recovery to occur. A balance needs to be found between continuing development of the traditional, urban, military and tourist sectors, and the conservation of the coral reefs, which are a key component of the local economy. Federated States of Micronesia The reefs within the FSM are in relatively good condition. However, land-use practices on the high islands are a concern and urban developments and agriculture have caused reef damage, which is expected to increase. Also reef fisheries on some islands have been overexploited, and damaging fishing practices have been reported in Chuuk Lagoon. • There is a need for integrated watershed management through improved coordination of management activities among the states. Currently some agencies have overlapping responsibilities. • Improved monitoring of the coral reefs and assessments of fisheries resources are needed to counteract the over-optimism about developments, especially needed are data on how the fisheries respond to current levels of exploitation. • Education and programs involving the community need to be expanded to increase awareness at all levels of the need and benefits of fisheries management and conservation via the establishment of MPAs. • There is a need for improved enforcement of State fishery laws by police or conservation officers and patrols are required in MPAs to ensure that conservation objectives are attained. • Mechanisms for the prevention of ship groundings and especially the timely removal of ships, with penalties applied for damage to the reefs, need to be applied state and national level. 233
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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 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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