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

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002
Jamaica
Near-shore, shallow reefs continue to be dominated by fleshy algae, but the situation
appears to have stabilised. Offshore, deeper reefs are less impacted. Over-fishing continues
to be a problem, particularly on the north coast. Environmental education, improved
monitoring capacity and effective management of MPAs are required to secure
improvement of conditions of coral reefs.
Turks and Caicos Islands
Some reefs are still considered healthy with healthy fish stocks, but conditions are
changing at near-shore reefs, particularly on more developed islands. All conservation
agencies are understaffed, requisite training and experience is lacking, however, there
have been improvements since 2000. There is little active monitoring of reef health
within the existing MPAs which is a major requirement for the future especially as
development continues.
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
• Coral reefs have suffered declines in the past in all countries, particularly where
development is high. Signs of slow recovery are few (e.g. Discovery Bay,
Jamaica).
• Some reef systems are still impressive and include the isolated reefs of the
Bahamas, Cuba and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Major anthropogenic impacts on reefs include pollution from sewage and
agricultural discharge, sedimentation from deforestation and agricultural
activities, coastal habitat destruction, physical damage to reefs from increased
tourism activities and especially over-fishing.
• All countries are directly dependent on coral reefs to sustain their economies,
through tourism and fisheries.
• All reefs have suffered some decline in reef fisheries resources, particularly of
commercially important species such as conch and lobster and predatory
species such as the Nassau grouper.
• Over-fishing is particularly acute in Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica,
where the loss of herbivores has exacerbated the problem of algae overgrowing
reefs.
• The incidence of coral bleaching during 2001-2002 has been low and most
corals affected seem to have recovered.
• Coral diseases seem to be widespread but disease incidence is relatively low.
• Coral reef monitoring is relatively extensive in Bermuda, Cayman Islands, and
Jamaica, limited in Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos and
severely limited by lack of funds in Haiti and Cuba (which has adequate
monitoring expertise).
• Management of MPAs is very high in Bermuda and Cayman Islands, moderate to
low in Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Turks and Caicos. No
MPAs exist in Haiti.
• Funding and capacity for implementing and enforcing conservation measures
are the main constraints to coral reef management in the Caribbean.
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