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

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002
Haiti
This is the western part of the island of Hispaniola, with a coastline of 1,500 km, including
the offshore islands of La Gonave, La Tortue, Ile-à-Vache and the Cayemites. The north
coast is extremely exposed and is bordered by a barrier reef separated from the mainland
by a 30m deep channel.
Jamaica
Jamaica is roughly 230km long and 80km wide with an Exclusive Economic Zone 25
times the land area. The estimated length of the coastline is 891 km. The narrow northern
shelf is fringed by a system of well-developed reefs, whereas reef development is
discontinuous on the much broader southern shelf. Offshore are the Pedro and Morant
Banks where there are also coral cays.
Turks and Caicos Islands
The islands consist of two archipelagos. There are 8 large islands and 40 small cays,
covering 505km 2 (estimated coastline is 389km). These islands extend over 160km and are
distributed across two limestone platforms with the margins ending in ‘drop-off’ plunging
into abyssal depths. The Caicos Bank is the larger platform and covers approximately
8,000km 2 . Water depth ranges from a few centimetres along the inland coasts of the
Caicos Islands to 20–30m at the top of the drop-off, and clarity is typically good. A wide
range of habitats occurs across the Caicos Bank. The margins are dominated by coral,
algae and gorgonian communities that grow on hard substrate, while the middle of the
bank is typically covered by sparse sea-grass, calcareous green algae and bare oolitic sand.
Mangroves grow in fringes along the inland margins of the Caicos Islands, and there are
substantial areas of hypersaline mud dominated by halophytic succulents. There are
fringing reefs offshore, and shallow patch reefs around all islands and cays. Providenciales
though not the largest, is the most developed and has the highest population.
STATUS OF THE CORAL REEFS
Since the 2000 report, the coral reefs in most countries have not deteriorated any further. A
notable exception is in Haiti where the general decline continues unabated as economic
conditions worsen and the environment is exploited further. Some sites have reported stable
coral reef cover, with values similar to or slightly higher than AGRRA surveys done 2-3 years
ago. There are some reports that the urchin (Diadema antillarum) populations are slowly
increasing and there are signs of increasing coral recruitment. Incidences of bleaching have
been low in 2001-2002, with most corals recovering. While coral diseases have been observed
at most sites, incidences have remained low and no major outbreaks have been reported.
Bahamas
Coral reefs have declined in waters of the more developed and populated islands, but are
generally in good condition, especially on isolated offshore banks. Relatively isolated reefs
of the less developed islands (Abacos, Andros, Bimini, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Long Island,
the Exumas etc.) are still considered to be very healthy with high percent cover by hard
corals as well as high densities of fish. Andros Island is the largest but one of the least
populated islands of the Bahamas, with the third largest barrier reef system in the world
(229 km). Surveys by the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) program and
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