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

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002 MAB VIRGIN ISLANDS, USA – MAN AND THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) is a group of 3 islands, St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, in the Eastern Caribbean. Most of the coral reefs around the islands are shallow fringing reefs that run parallel to the coastlines. The Virgin Islands National Park includes 3 individual areas, whereas the Biosphere Reserve, established in 1972, incorporates the entire area. The effects of hurricanes and coral disease have seriously damaged the coral reefs in the USVI with coral cover dropping from 85% in 1976 in the Buck Island special reserve to 5% in 1988 following storms and disease. Damage to reefs is also comes from tourism, and especially fishing, with significant harm being caused by anchoring and ship groundings. Direct damage by divers and snorkellers has been recorded at heavily used sites. Within the last 15 to 20 years, the amount of live coral cover has declined, while the abundance of algae has increased. Overfishing is also widespread throughout the islands. The U.S. National Park Service supports management of the area as well as research work by the Virgin Islands Resource Management Co-operative (VIRMC). In cooperation with other local institutions and agencies, the Management Cooperative has completed studies within the reserve including ecological and social characterization of local fisheries, and description and mapping of near-shore marine communities. In 1999 a marine conservation district was declared southwest of St. Thomas, as a cooperative effort amongst fishers, divers and the local government. The area is closed to all fishing and anchoring, and represents an important step towards cooperative fisheries management. Ecological Monitoring: U.S. Park Service and U.S. Geological Service initiated a longterm reef monitoring program around St. John and Buck Island in 1989. In 1991, other long-term sites were established around St. John in Newfound and Francis bays. These sites have provided detailed information about the effects of storms and the recovery of reefs from storms and anchor damage. Socio-economic Monitoring: This is not as detailed as the ecological monitoring, however there are plans to implement more substantial monitoring. Coral reefs are 60% of the natural resources. Ecological Monitoring is substantial. Socio-economic Monitoring is effective. 276
15. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE NORTHERN CARIBBEAN AND ATLANTIC NODE OF THE GCRMN DULCIE LINTON, ROBBIE SMITH, PEDRO ALCOLADO, CARL HANSON, PETER EDWARDS, REYNALDO ESTRADA, TATUM FISHER, RAUL GOMEZ FERNANDEZ, FRANCISCO GERALDES, CROY MCCOY, DUNCAN VAUGHAN, VINCENT VOEGELI, GEORGE WARNER AND JEAN WIENER ABSTRACT The general pattern is one of continued decline of coral reef resources, although the rate of decline may have slowed. The decline is particularly acute where island shelves are narrow and easily accessible, and where reefs are relatively close to high population areas. Some of the more isolated reefs of the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and Cuba are still considered relatively healthy. Reefs of the Cayman Islands and Bermuda are generally healthy, although impacts are increasing, while reef systems of the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica are highly impacted, with low coral cover on most shallow reefs. In most cases, the deterioration of the reefs is related to nutrient and sediment pollution from on-shore sources, such as sewage and agriculture (causing algae to over-grow reefs), disease, over-fishing, anchor damage, destructive fishing (dynamite and bleach) and high diving/snorkeling pressures. All of the countries are dependent on tourism to some extent to support their economies, but in countries such as the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica, where economic development is heavily dependent on the marine environment, the deterioration of the reef system is greater, due to rapid coastal development and resultant habitat destruction. The situation in these countries is exacerbated by high fishing pressure on coral reef fishes. Where legislation and effective management of marine resources are given fairly high priority (Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman), some of the negative stresses have been removed and reef systems appear more stable. However, where MPAs have not been declared (Haiti) or where they remain little more than ‘paper parks’ (Cuba, Dominican Republic and Jamaica) coral reefs continue to be under stress. INTRODUCTION The Northern Caribbean and Atlantic region contains the 3 largest islands in the Caribbean; Cuba, (110,000 km 2 ), Hispaniola (divided into Dominican Republic and Haiti; 76,000 km 2 ) and Jamaica, (10,991 km 2 ), as well as the small, low islands of Bermuda and Cayman, and the archipelagic islands of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos with their extensive banks. Reef systems are well developed in all countries, mostly as fringing reefs along island shelves and offshore banks. The islanders are heavily dependent on coral reef systems for their livelihood, providing major sources of income and resources through tourism, fishing, and coastal protection. Most of the countries have limited opportunities 277
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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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12. STATUS OF THE CORAL REEFS IN MI
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Status of the Coral Reefs in Micron
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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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