<strong>Status</strong> <strong>of</strong> Coral Reefs <strong>of</strong> the Lesser Antilles <strong>after</strong> the <strong>2005</strong> Coral Bleach<strong>in</strong>g EventIn 1996, there were 28 <strong>coral</strong> species on the Saba Bank, with 60-90% <strong>coral</strong> cover. However,AGRRA surveys <strong>in</strong> December 1999 recorded only 24% <strong>coral</strong> cover with the highest cover at 21m depth, <strong>and</strong> 27.5% dead <strong>coral</strong> cover. This <strong>in</strong>dicated that disease <strong>and</strong> <strong>bleach<strong>in</strong>g</strong> had severelydamaged these shallower <strong>reefs</strong>.There is limited fish<strong>in</strong>g around Saba <strong>and</strong> fish populations are considered healthy, but stillrecover<strong>in</strong>g from historical over-fish<strong>in</strong>g. Grouper <strong>and</strong> snapper biomass cont<strong>in</strong>ues to rise <strong>after</strong>the establishment <strong>of</strong> the Saba National Mar<strong>in</strong>e Park. About 50 fishers (mostly from Saba) fishon the Saba Bank target<strong>in</strong>g ma<strong>in</strong>ly lobsters, red snapper <strong>and</strong> conch. There was an <strong>in</strong>tensivegrouper fishery until populations decl<strong>in</strong>ed.St. Eustatius: The <strong>of</strong>fshore <strong>reefs</strong> beg<strong>in</strong> at 25 m depth with complex spur <strong>and</strong> groove formationsthat extend to 60 m. There are steep buttresses on the northern part with 80% <strong>coral</strong> cover<strong>and</strong> 35 species. The northern complex has a labyr<strong>in</strong>th <strong>of</strong> encrusted ridges, s<strong>and</strong> channels <strong>and</strong>huge encrusted rocks, with a fr<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g reef on the exposed Atlantic side. The leeward side ismostly a s<strong>and</strong>y plateau with large populations <strong>of</strong> Queen Conch down to 17 m. Hurricanes Luis<strong>and</strong> Marilyn (1995) removed large amounts <strong>of</strong> sediment from the erod<strong>in</strong>g cliffs <strong>and</strong> severelydamaged s<strong>of</strong>t <strong>coral</strong>s <strong>and</strong> sponges; recovery was rapid.There are only 15 full- or part-time fishers on St. Eustatius, who use traps to catch fish <strong>and</strong>lobsters for restaurants. Yellowtail snapper <strong>and</strong> grouper are highly prized, but locals eatalmost any reef fish. Spear-fish<strong>in</strong>g with scuba is illegal, but is still practiced. Many conch werecollected until 2001, when regulations were enforced, but some are still taken illegally. Conchpopulations appear healthy, <strong>and</strong> turtles are protected, although some poach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> eggs stilloccurs despite an <strong>in</strong>tensive public awareness campaign.St. Maarten: Patch <strong>reefs</strong> with spur <strong>and</strong> groove structures at 8-18 m depth are concentratednear the east <strong>and</strong> south-eastern part. In 1999, average hard <strong>coral</strong> cover was about 30% with<strong>bleach<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>and</strong> some diseased <strong>coral</strong>s evident. Hurricane Luis damaged <strong>reefs</strong>, seagrass beds <strong>and</strong>beaches, <strong>and</strong> re-suspended s<strong>and</strong> smothered Acropora palmata st<strong>and</strong>s <strong>in</strong> shallow water, butthese have largely recovered.There are about 30 fishers who use fish traps <strong>and</strong> other artisanal practices. Fish populationsare still reasonable, although big groupers are uncommon <strong>and</strong> conch populations have beendepleted.Effects o f t h e <strong>2005</strong> Bl e a c h i n g Ev e n tCoral <strong>bleach<strong>in</strong>g</strong> was first noticed <strong>in</strong> the north on St. Maarten, Saba, <strong>and</strong> St. Eustatius <strong>in</strong> lateAugust <strong>2005</strong> <strong>and</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>ued until mid-November <strong>2005</strong>. Around 80% <strong>of</strong> <strong>coral</strong> colonies werebleached on these isl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>in</strong> mid-October. Coral loss on St. Eustatius from June <strong>2005</strong> to June2006 was 18% at 15 m depth (<strong>coral</strong> cover dropped from 24% to 6%) <strong>and</strong> 11% at 25 m (from26% to 15%). No mortality data are available for St. Maarten <strong>and</strong> Saba.Bleach<strong>in</strong>g was less common on Bonaire <strong>and</strong> Curaçao, with <strong>bleach<strong>in</strong>g</strong> affect<strong>in</strong>g an average <strong>of</strong>14% <strong>of</strong> <strong>coral</strong> colonies dur<strong>in</strong>g November <strong>2005</strong>. No mortality was apparent <strong>and</strong> average <strong>coral</strong>cover rema<strong>in</strong>ed at around 40% at 12 m depth <strong>and</strong> 30% at 6 m, between April <strong>2005</strong> <strong>and</strong> April2006.95
<strong>Status</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Caribbean</strong> Coral Reefs <strong>after</strong> Bleach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> Hurricanes <strong>in</strong> <strong>2005</strong>There was negligible <strong>bleach<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> 2006 on St. Maarten, Saba, <strong>and</strong> St. Eustatius <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> Bonaire<strong>and</strong> Curaçao. At Bonaire, 9% <strong>of</strong> <strong>coral</strong> colonies were partially bleached <strong>in</strong> October 2006 (normallythe peak <strong>bleach<strong>in</strong>g</strong> month) <strong>and</strong> only 2% were completely bleached. Bleach<strong>in</strong>g (pale <strong>and</strong> fullybleached) affected only 3% <strong>of</strong> <strong>coral</strong> colonies on Curaçao, <strong>in</strong> early November 2006.35302520151050May-97Oct-97Feb-98May-98Nov-98% Bleach<strong>in</strong>gFeb-99May-99Sep-99Jan-00Apr-00Aug-00Dec-00Apr-01Nov-01Apr-02Nov-02Oct-03Apr-04Dec-04Apr-05Nov-05Apr-06Nov-06Survey DateRecords <strong>of</strong> the average percentage <strong>of</strong> hard <strong>coral</strong> colonies that bleached on Curaçao dur<strong>in</strong>g the last 10years show that <strong>bleach<strong>in</strong>g</strong> was greatest <strong>in</strong> 1998 <strong>and</strong> <strong>2005</strong>.Im p a c t s o f Hu r r i ca n e s <strong>in</strong> <strong>2005</strong>The northern isl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> St. Maarten, St. Eustatius <strong>and</strong> Saba are regularly hit by <strong>hurricanes</strong>,whereas Bonaire <strong>and</strong> Curaçao are south <strong>of</strong> the path <strong>of</strong> most <strong>Caribbean</strong> <strong>hurricanes</strong> <strong>and</strong> are onlyrarely damaged. Thus, the <strong>reefs</strong> <strong>of</strong> Bonaire <strong>and</strong> Curaçao are extremely well developed withvery old <strong>and</strong> large <strong>coral</strong> heads. The last hurricane damage occurred <strong>in</strong> 1999 when HurricaneLenny generated 6 m high waves that struck the lee side <strong>of</strong> the isl<strong>and</strong>s, particularly Bonaire,completely destroy<strong>in</strong>g many shallow reef areas to depths <strong>of</strong> 6 m. In some areas, broken <strong>coral</strong>heads rolled down the reef slopes caus<strong>in</strong>g serious damage at greater depths. In 2004, HurricaneIvan caused m<strong>in</strong>or damage, but Bonaire <strong>and</strong> Curaçao were not affected by <strong>hurricanes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>2005</strong>.There was no serious hurricane damage dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>2005</strong> on St. Maarten, St. Eustatius or Saba,where regular <strong>hurricanes</strong> have meant that optimum reef development occurs <strong>in</strong> deeperwaters.So c i o e c o n o m i c Im p a c t s a n d Ma n ag e m e n t ResponsesNo special management responses resulted from the events <strong>of</strong> <strong>2005</strong>, except that monitor<strong>in</strong>g<strong>and</strong> surveillance were <strong>in</strong>creased <strong>in</strong> the MPAs, e.g. <strong>in</strong> the Bonaire Mar<strong>in</strong>e Park, the CuraçaoMar<strong>in</strong>e Park, the Saba National Mar<strong>in</strong>e Park, <strong>and</strong> the St. Eustatius Mar<strong>in</strong>e Park. In 2006, natureconservation legislation was passed <strong>in</strong> St. Maarten to provide legal designation <strong>of</strong> the St. MaartenMar<strong>in</strong>e Park. This will <strong>in</strong>clude the levy<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> a diver fee, <strong>and</strong> will enable the well-establishedlocal NGO (St. Maarten Nature Foundation) to manage the <strong>in</strong>tended mar<strong>in</strong>e park. Ten years <strong>of</strong>fund<strong>in</strong>g has already been donated by WWF <strong>and</strong> other Dutch donors to help management untilit becomes f<strong>in</strong>ancially self sufficient. The NGO employs a park manager <strong>and</strong> assistant managerto establish moor<strong>in</strong>gs, conduct monitor<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> undertake outreach activities.96