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

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002 RACKHAMS CAY, JAMAICA – DREDGING AND RELOCATION OF CORALS Port Bustamante, the main Trans-shipment Terminal for Kingston, Jamaica was expanded to take more and larger ships by dredging the turning basins, ship channel and approaches to the harbour. This was going to damage the corals on Rackhams Cay just outside the Harbour. The Cay consists of a semi submerged sand bar, extensive seagrass beds on the margins and corals growing on the steeper exposed slopes, before the muddy bottom at 20m depth. Fishermen collect bait (silversides or white fry, juvenile sprats and herring) for their major trolling and hook and line fishery from around Rackhams Cay. An Environmental Impact Assessment recommended that the Port Authority of Jamaica relocate many of the living corals and employed DiveTech, a local commercial diving company. They relocated 60,000 lumps of reef organisms, including corals, gorgonians and urchins to the western side of Rackhams Cay, in April 2002. Large and small coral colonies were moved underwater and cemented to existing patch reefs and seagrass beds. These included large intact colonies of elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata), which were cemented to the bottom or to concrete blocks. This was the largest relocation attempt in Jamaica, and the site is being monitored to evaluate the effectiveness of the methods and as a guide for similar restoration projects. Preliminary data show many relocated corals are apparently healthy, however others look less healthy, mainly because they are not stable in the relocated positions. ascidians, 8 urchins, 278 fishes). It has the largest and most diverse shelf habitats in the insular Caribbean (barrier and patch reefs, islands, mangroves forests (extensive in Zapata Swamp) and extensive sea grass beds. It includes several reef fish spawning sites, and predatory fish such as the Nassau grouper and the Goliath grouper. However, there is some threat from unregulated fishing. Coral cover data are sketchy, however signs of decline are evident near large population centres such as Havana where highly polluted waters are damaging about 3% of the shelf edge reefs. For example, the CARICOMP sites at 10m depth on Cayo Coco averages 6% coral cover. Reefs at Herradura (31% coral cover), west of Havana, and in the Archipelago de los Canarreos appear to be in good condition. Nutrient enrichment has caused overgrowth by algae and coral diseases (white band, yellow band and aspergillosis) have caused some coral mortality, and in late 2000 and early 2001, there was a massive outbreak of white plague disease on corals near Havana. There was intense coral bleaching in 1998, but recovery was widespread. Reefs of the southwest are more impacted but live coral cover is still moderate. Dominican Republic The situation has not improved since 2000. Near-shore reefs continue to be severely impacted by anthropogenic activities that include sedimentation from deforestation, coastal development and dredging, pollution from agricultural and industrial development and untreated wastewater discharge, and over-fishing. Data from the CARICOMP site at El Penõn in the Parque del Este (a MPA) at 10m depth indicate a decline from 20% average coral cover in 1996, to 11% in 2001. Generally, higher coral cover is found only on deep or 282
Status of Coral Reefs in the Northern Caribbean and Atlantic Node of the GCRMN offshore reefs that are less impacted by anthropogenic effects. These include the Montecristi barrier reef and the Silver Banks with mean coral cover approximating 40-50%. Haiti There is virtually no monitoring due to the political impasse between the Haitian government and the international community about funding activities, including environmental activities. Presumably the reefs have suffered from the recent Caribbeanwide mortalities from coral bleaching and disease, as well as the effects of extreme deforestation, over-fishing and local pollution. Over-fishing continues unchecked and the lack of herbivores means macroalgal growth is not controlled and smothers corals. There is obvious damage from urban runoff from Port-au-Prince. Jamaica The reefs continue to show symptoms of stress. Low coral cover and dominance by macroalgae is clearly evident, particularly on shallow reefs, where coral cover ranges from 2 - 20%. However, deeper reefs are in better condition. A CARICOMP monitoring site in Discovery Bay at 8m, shows a slight increase in coral cover from 9% to 12-14% in 10 years. Parallel ReefCheck surveys suggest slightly higher cover. Densities of the sea urchin (Diadema antillarum) increased until 1999, but have since declined. There are, however, encouraging signs of some recovery, with good coral recruitment on shallow reefs. In the Negril Marine Park, reefs have remained stable over the past 5 years and are generally in poor condition. Recovery is impeded by seasonal storms, constant fishing (including spear fishing, pot fishing and seine net fishing), heavy algal cover, frequent diving and snorkelling by tourists and locals, and sedimentation. The biggest problem is eutrophication and data from the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society (NCRPS) confirm that macroalgal biomass on the reefs in Negril is at critical levels, particularly on reefs near the mouth of the South Negril River. Sewage and land run-off carrying agricultural fertilisers contribute to high nutrient loadings around Negril. Live coral cover remains low, between 5 and 12% in 2000 as does coral recruitment. There are, however, some reefs outside most of the coastal stresses that are in reasonably good condition. Reef Check surveys in Bloody Bay Negril suggest 30-40% coral cover, with many healthy gorgonians, but very few fish were seen confirming that over-fishing continues to be a major problem. Beach erosion in Negril continues without any immediate solution, and in future, the rapid deterioration of the reefs in the Negril Marine Park may reduce their ability to protect the shoreline from erosion. South coast reefs, particularly those near high population centres, are similarly stressed e.g. coral cover near Kingston Harbour varied from 7.3% at South East Cay to 21.4% at Rackhams Cay (average 15%). Density of coral recruits ranged from 1 to 6.4 individuals per m 2 , and the incidence of coral bleaching was 1.9 to 16.7%. There were signs of slow recovery of Diadema antillarum populations. Reefs around the offshore islands in the Portland Bight Protected Area are in better condition, though impacted by siltation and some algal overgrowth. Visual estimates of coral cover at Pigeon Island in 2001 and 2002 were >20% and coral recruits of different species e.g. Agaricia, Siderastrea and Acropora (cervicornis) were observed. There were low levels of disease (1.4%) and bleaching (1.4%). Again, fishes were small and scarce with no large predators. The offshore reefs at the Morant and Pedro Cays are relatively inaccessible and less impacted than inshore reefs, but there are no recent data. 283
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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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