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

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002 depth and 36% at 10m. Hard coral cover on reefs off the Yemeni coast ranges from 15% cover in Mukalla to 69% in Belhaf at 2m depth where there was 2% of recently killed coral at several sites. Despite this apparent high coral cover, the surveyed reefs seem to have declined recently. The reefs around Kamaran Island are severely degraded. Collecting of aquarium fish is increasing in Yemen, especially near Kamaran and there are reports of destructive fishing at some sites. Despite the increasing local and foreign fishing pressure, the abundance of indicator fish was among the highest in the Red Sea. Butterflyfish averaged 9 per 100m 2 (maximum 20), snappers were abundant averaging 100 per 100m 2 (range 24-2,000) and large schools of snappers were seen on many reefs. Socotra Island also had high numbers of snappers, butterflyfish and groupers. Most of the reefs surveyed in the Red Sea and on Socotra were in relatively good condition, despite increasing human impacts. However, there are increasing signs of deterioration on the coral reefs. High numbers of coral–eating gastropods were found and COTS were seen consistently. There are also large populations of bioeroding sea urchins (average 29 per 100m 2 on Red Sea sites; 18 per 100m 2 on Socotra). Such sightings should cause alarm as these urchins can rapidly undermine corals and cause them to collapse. Public awareness about coral reef conservation is low in Yemen and the legal framework for reef protection is weak. The exception is Socotra Island, which is a National Park and receives international funding and research attention. REGIONAL SUMMARY The first obvious comparison is that the water is clearer in the north compared to the south: water visibility in the Gulf of Aqaba and Egypt is 40-50m; on the Wajh Bank, Saudi Arabia in the centre it is 30-35m; and visibility less than 5m at some transects in the Southern Red Sea. This poor visibility in the south is reflected in lower coral cover at 8- 12m compared to 3-6m. The highest coral cover is in the Red Sea of Yemen, despite the reefs being relatively poorly developed, compared to more complex reefs in the northern Red Sea. However, some of the most damaged reefs were seen in Yemen and Djibouti in the south, where there were more COTS and Diadema sea urchins damaging the corals. Edible sea cucumbers are currently being fished in most countries for export to Southeast Asia. Densities averaged between 3 and 5 individuals per 100m 2 respectively in Yemen (Red Sea and Socotra) despite the increasing trade. The numbers of indicator fish differed markedly between regions; the highest numbers of snappers were in Yemen and in Farasan Islands (an order of magnitude higher than elsewhere) with large schools recorded. The largest fish, however, were found in Sudan, including the now rare large groupers and humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and the only humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) were also found in Sudan. The lowest numbers of butterflyfish were found on Jeddah reefs which correlates with increasing pollution and fishing pressure from the city. 50
Status of Coral Reefs in the Red Sea–Gulf of Aden CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The Red Sea showed comparatively low levels of human impact, as most of the coastline is sparsely populated. However, there is increasing development of many coastal areas and problems are becoming evident for the reefs. The impacts are most obvious around the larger ports and major tourist resorts. Deterioration was also found away from coastal developments, where it is probable that COTS and other natural disturbances have damaged the reefs. All countries have a legal framework for coral reef conservation, and the scope of the laws and the degree of implementation differs widely between and even within the countries of the region. Stronger enforcement of national and international laws, the development of public awareness programs and the adoption of sustainable management strategies are all needed for coral reef conservation to improve and for the current trend in deterioration of the environment to be reversed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This survey was organised and funded by the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA). We would like to thank Mr. Abdullah Alsuhaibany, for his continuous support throughout the mission. We could not have conducted the surveys without the active participation of scientists or without the help of the National Program Coordinators of PERSGA in each country. In particular we would like to thank the following people: Djibouti: Nabil Mohammad, Nasser Djama Abdi, Hussein Rirach, Moussa Omar and Alexandre Galandrin; Egypt: Essam Saad-Allah, Ayman Mabrouk, Tamer Kamal El-Den, Ali Ahmed, Saied El-Sayed and Tamer Monir; Saudi Arabia: Khaled Hizam and Ehab Abo el Adel; Sudan: Mahgoub Hassan, Sheikheldin El-Amin and Eihab Omer; Yemen: Malek A. Abdal-Aziz, Aref Hamoud, Zahir Al-Agwan, Fouad Nasseb, Thabett Khamis and Mohammed Ismail. We would also like to thank Simon Wilson and Jeremy Kemp for their valuable input and information of previous surveys. AUTHOR CONTACTS Moshira Hassan, The American University in Cairo, Egypt, moshira@reefcheck.de; Mohammed M. A. Kotb, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt, kotb13@ismailia.ieeg.com; Abdulmohsin A. Al-Sofyani, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah Saudi Arabia SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION Pilcher N, Alsuhaibany A, 2000. Regional Status of Coral Reefs in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In: Status of coral reefs of the world: 2000. Wilkinson, C. Ed. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville: 35-54. Spalding MD et al. (2001). World Atlas of Coral Reefs. Berkeley, University of California Press. 51
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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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Page 11 and 12: INTRODUCTION We are pleased to endo
Page 13 and 14: Introduction Some of the larger fou
Page 15 and 16: Introduction Coral reefs are coming
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Page 19 and 20: Executive Summary This report, howe
Page 21 and 22: Executive Summary GLOBAL AND REGION
Page 23 and 24: Executive Summary There is clear ev
Page 25 and 26: Executive Summary Key sites chosen
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Page 29 and 30: Executive Summary CORAL REEF TARGET
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Page 33 and 34: Executive Summary COLLAPSE OF CORAL
Page 35 and 36: Executive Summary Prognosis for the
Page 37 and 38: Executive Summary concern is an out
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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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13. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE HA
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Hawaii
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14. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE U.
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Status of Coral Reefs in the US Car
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15. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE NO
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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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