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

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002 water quality and the harvest of aquarium fish on reefs in the NWHI. The National Coral Reef Monitoring program developed on-line databases for field data entry and tracking research progress. Monitoring data were published in the first National Report on the Status and Health of U.S. Coral Reef Ecosystems. Capacity in Hawaii to manage coral reefs and fisheries was expanded, and an economic evaluation of coral reefs completed in 2002. An Environmental Characterization of the Ahupua`a of Waianae, Hawaii, assembled information on terrestrial and marine resources, land-use patterns, traditional Hawaiian land and resource management concepts, and land cover data to identify potential stresses to coral reefs and how to mitigate them. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve was established to conserve the coral reefs and related marine resources. Progress is encouraging on: sanctuary designation and operations; research, mapping and monitoring; and marine debris removal. Draft benthic habitat maps were completed for 9 of 10 areas and bathymetry determined for all areas. A detailed atlas of the NWHI, will be available in January 2003. A database was developed of abandoned vessels on coral reefs, standardised protocols for managing vessel groundings, and a removal plan for problem vessels, along with a spill response guide focusing on oil and sea turtles. INTRODUCTION There are 2 distinct components in the Hawaiian Archipelagos: predominantly recent volcanic islands with fringing reefs and some associated patch and barrier reefs of the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI); and the older atolls and bank reefs of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Most of these reefs are surrounded by deep oceanic waters and occur in tropical to sub-tropical climates (latitude range 19–28°N). Together they constitute 80% of the coral reefs under the jurisdiction of the USA, with 65% spread over about 2,000km of the NWHI. These 2 regions also differ markedly in the degree of human and land-based impacts. The NWHI are virtually uninhabited and have minimal impacts from the small amount of land near the reefs, whereas there are strong and increasing human pressures on the MHI with growing populations of residents and increasing numbers of tourists. Most of the reefs, however, are in fair to excellent condition and the level of government, academic, community and NGO interest and management has increased considerably over the past few years. More intervention is required on MHI with greater protection needed for fish stocks and to reduce tourist impacts. The situation is more encouraging on the NWHI which is the focus of considerable government interest in coral reef conservation. The new Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, created by Executive Order 13178 in 2000, is 1200 nautical miles long and covers 3-50 nmi from the shoreline. It is expected that the Reserve will be designated a National Marine Sanctuary and managed by NOAA, and the Executive Order has established 15 Reserve Preservation Areas in which almost all extractive uses are prohibited. 238
Status of Coral Reefs in the Hawaiian Archipelago STATUS OF CORAL REEFS Main Hawaiian Islands Average coral cover from Hawaii’s Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (CRAMP) sites is 23%, overwhelmingly dominated by massive and encrusting Porites lobata and branched Porites compressa. There are also Montipora and Pocillopora species. The amount of coral cover is controlled by local variations in wave energy, depth, watershed influences, and bottom type. Coastal sites with high wave exposure (e.g. Pupukea, Hoai Bay) have the lowest cover (>10%), while bays and wave-protected coastal areas (e.g south Molokai) have the highest coral cover (70-80%). Hawaiian endemism is thought to be over 25% and the islands of O’ahu and Hawaii have the highest biodiversity. The average % cover of the dominant coral species in all sites and all depths combined from surveys in 1999. While local rises in water temperatures (or increased UV penetration) have caused occasional coral bleaching, the events that devastated reefs in many areas of the Pacific during the past decade have missed the Hawaiian reefs. Coral diseases and tumours have been documented in most major reef-building coral species in the area, especially in Porites, Montipora and Pocillopora species and a bacterial disease has been found in Porites from Hanauma Bay, O‘ahu, similar to white-band disease from Florida. Like other areas, the incidence of coral disease in Hawai’i does not appear to be related to anthropogenic stress e.g. pollution, proximity to urban centres, and no major disease outbreaks have yet occurred in Hawai’i. However, necrotic coral tissues, whether caused by abrasion, predation, or pathogens, are rapidly invaded by fine filamentous algae and cyanobacteria. There are 400+ species of marine algae in the Hawaiian Islands, with most of these being red algae (Class Rhodophyta), and many are endemic. There is one endemic species of seagrass (Halophila hawaiiensis). So far, more than 100 species of sponges, 1071 species of molluscs, 884 crustacean species, and 278 echinoderms have been identified, with a large number of endemics. Unlike elsewhere in the Pacific, there have been no major outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) in Hawaii since the early 239
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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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10. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE SO
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Southw
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Southw
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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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