Biodiveristy_State of Environment report - Mission Beach Cassowaries

Appendix 6.3—Status of the Shire'sCoral ReefsThe following descriptions of reef status are entirely from -Sweatman et al. (2003) “Long-term Monitoring of the GreatBarrier Reef – Status Report No 6 2003” Updatedinformation can be viewed directly from the AIMS website(link).They are presented here as a baseline indicator forcomparison in future SoE reports. The reefs described do notcorrespond exactly to the Shire's boundaries.Figure 6.3 - Reefs surveyed by AIMS in the InnisfailSectorSource: AIMS Website 2005Inner Shelf ReefsMore monitoring of the inshore reefs is planned for thefuture.Jessie and Kent Islands- An inner shelf fringing reefThis reef has been surveyed four times since 1986. Over thistime reef-wide live coral cover has remained low (1-10%)with little or no change between survey years. The reef iscurrently classified as No Outbreak. Records of bleachingand coral disease on this reef in 2002 are not available.Normanby and Mabel Islands- An inner shelf submerged reef with an area of 0.4 sq. km.This reef has been sampled regularly since 1986. No COTShave been recorded in any surveys. Reef-wide live coralcover was initially high (30-50%) before a major declinebetween 1990 and 1992. The reasons for this drop in coralcover were uncertain but flooding from Cyclone Ivor (March1990) may have been a factor. There was some recovery ofreef-wide live coral up to 1996 before another period ofdecline. Reef-wide live coral cover was low (1-10%) in 2002and the reef was classified as No Outbreak. No bleachingwas observed and white syndrome disease was restricted to asmall number of scattered coral colonies.Middle Shelf ReefsBeaver Cay- A middle shelf reef patches reef with an area of 12.6 sq.km.Beaver cay has been sampled five times 1988. Whenoriginally surveyed, reef-wide live coral cover was low (1-10%) and the reef was classified as Recovering fromprevious COTS activity. Reef-wide live coral cover thenincreased to high levels (30-50%) in 1997. Surveys in 2000found an Active Outbreak with numbers of COTS well inexcess of those expected to reduce coral cover. There was amarked decline in reef-wide coral cover to a low level (1-10%) in 2003. No COTS were recorded and there was nocoral disease or bleaching. The reef was reclassified asrecovering.Ellison- A middle shelf crescentic reef with an area of 13.1 sq km.This reef has been surveyed seven times since 1986. COTShave been seen on this reef in most survey years. Lownumbers of COTS were recorded in 1986. The reef widecoral cover was moderate (10-30%) and the reef wasclassified as Recovering. Small numbers of COTS were seenagain in the following year and reef-wide coral cover hadcontinued to decline to a low level (1-10%). Although theCOTS density was below that generally expected to causesignificant mortality, COTS were the most likely cause ofthe continued decline. Reef-wide live coral cover increasedfrom 1987, peaking in 1997. Surveys in 2000 showeddramatic increase in COTS activity and the reef wasreclassified Active Outbreak. Reef-wide live coral coverdeclined again to a low level in 2003 due to COTS feedingactivity. No COTS were seen in 2003 and the reef wasreclassified as Recovering. No bleaching or coral diseasewas recorded.Feather- A middle shelf crescentic reef with an area of 14.1 sq. km.This reef has been surveyed extensively since 1986. it wasinitially classified as recovering from previous COTSactivity. There was a gradual increase in reef-wide live coralcover to a moderate level during the late 1980’s and early1990’s. The recovery of coral cover stalled in the mid1990’s, possibly due to the effects of cyclones (CyclonesGillian, Ita and Justin were active in the area) and remainedat moderate levels (10-30%) through the late 1990’s. By2000, reef-wide coral cover had declined to a low level (1-10%) and there were large numbers of COTS. The reef wasreclassified as Active Outbreak. By 2002 COTS numbershad declined and the reef was reclassified as Recovering.Reef-wide coral cover was low in 2003 and the reefremained listed as Recovering. No bleaching or coral diseasewas observed.Flora- A middle shelf crescentic reef with an area of 8.79 sq. km.This reef has been surveyed eight times since 1986 when itwas classified as Recovering from prior COTS activity.Reef-wide live coral cover was initially low (1-10%) andincreased gradually to a moderate level (10-30%) by 1996.Surveys in 1999 found a decline in reef-wide live coral coverxvi