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

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002 Fish % of sites % of numbers % biomass Brown surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) 74.9% 10.7% 7.4% Black durgon (Melichthys niger) 36.6% 2.7% 11.6% Goldring surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus strigosus) 55.4% 7.0% 7.4% Saddle wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey) 95.4% 13.5% 4.0% Orangespine surgeonfish (Naso lituratus) 41.1% 1.3% 4.1% Whitebar surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucopareius) 26.9% 1.4% 4.4% Sargent major (Abudefduf abdominalis) 21.7% 5.6% 5.2% Convict tang (Acanthurus triostegus) 27.4% 2.9% 3.2% Redlip parrotfish (Scarus rubroviolaceus) 21.7% 0.2% 3.4% Pacific gregory (Stegastes fasciolatus) 69.7% 3.4% 0.9% Above is a list of the top 10 reef fish species with the % seen at 44 locations, the % of the total population number and the % of the total fish biomass. STATUS OF CORAL REEF FISHERIES Main Hawaiian Islands There are 557 species of reef and shore fishes, of which 24.3% are endemic. Surgeonfishes are the dominant fish group and herbivores in general accounted for over 70% of the total reef fish biomass in all locations, followed by invertebrate feeders (13%) and plankton feeders (9.7%). Predators were rare and accounted for only 3.8% of reef fish biomass. The highest numbers and species of fish were seen in locations of moderate wave exposure, compared to the protected Kane’ohe Bay, which had the lowest fish richness and diversity. The lowest biomass was observed in areas exposed to north and south swells, whereas nearby areas protected from the direct swells, had higher stocks of reef fishes. There are more fish and more species in more complex habitats, which illustrates the importance of shelter as a refuge for some fishes to avoid predation. The only apparent exceptions were in a few places where there was high fish biomass in sites with low habitat complexity, but these were sites protected from fishing. The results of years of chronic over-fishing around the more populated areas are seen with classic over-fishing indicators – mostly small fish that rarely reach breeding age. It is clear that in areas where fishing is prohibited, there are larger fish populations with distinctive fish assemblages. An example of the value of limiting fishing is in the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District where lower standing stocks of fishes directly correlates with no restrictions on fishing. Thus the existing management regime which allows all types of fishing is not contributing to the conservation of these fish populations. Fisheries catch statistics continue to be unreliable because of under-reporting by commercial fishers and the large resident recreational and subsistence fishing population. This is the only state in the USA where a saltwater recreational fishing license is not required. The pressures are particularly seen on the populations of predators, as can be seen in the pie diagrams below. 242
Status of Coral Reefs in the Hawaiian Archipelago Another area where management is needed is in the trade of ornamental fish and invertebrates which are exported to the mainland USA. Evidence of this trade is seen in markedly reduced populations of the better aquarium species. There are 5 species of sea turtles and 24 marine mammal species on the coral reefs off the MHI. These include the threatened ‘Hawaiian’ green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) that feeds in shallow waters of the MHI, as well as the Hawaiian hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). Turtle tumours (fibropapillomatosis) were rare prior to 1985, but are now common on turtles on Maui, Kaua’i, and O’ahu; with up to 60% of the turtles in Kane’ohe Bay infected. The endangered Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) occasionally visits waters of the MHI. The average total fish biomass in the NWHI is 260% higher than in the MHI with a far greater proportion of top predator (‘target’) species, whereas on the MHI, the predator species are a smaller proportion of a much smaller biomass, thereby showing indications of serious over-fishing. NWHI A total of 266 species of fishes are listed from Midway Atoll of which 258 are reef and shore fishes. Cooler water temperatures, lack of some high-island habitat types, and lower sampling effort may all contribute to the lower number of species compared to the main Hawaiian Islands. However, average fish biomass in the NWHI is nearly 3 times greater than in the MHI, with more than 54% of the total fish biomass consisting of top predators (there were fewer than 3% of these in the total fish biomass in the MHI). Jacks, sharks and groupers are the dominant species, while they are either rare or absent in the MHI and the target species that were present, regardless of trophic level, were nearly always larger in the NWHI. Mean weight of apex predators in the NWHI was 570% greater than in the MHI, and herbivores were 97% heavier in the NWHI. These differences represent both near-elimination of apex predators and heavy exploitation of lower trophic levels in the MHI compared to the largely un-fished NWHI. The only substantial fishing pressure comes from commercial vessels larger than 20m. The National Marine Fisheries Service, through the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council, is now managing the fishing industry, and the lobster fishery is closed. 243
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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 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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