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cover over previous years. Most of these reefs were on<br />
the west coast of Zanzibar Island and the mainland<br />
around Dar es Salaam, where lower temperatures were<br />
recorded due to upwelling of deeper water. Many of<br />
these reefs were already highly degraded because of anthropogenic<br />
threats prior to the El Niño. Baseline data<br />
on invertebrate and fish populations were recorded in<br />
1999 for monitoring of long term effects. Increases in<br />
coral competitors that thrive on degraded reefs (Corallimorpharia)<br />
have been documented, which may significantly<br />
retard reef recovery. Monitoring of fisheries and<br />
tourism have shown the potential for losses in income<br />
following reef degradation, however these impacts are<br />
not yet being felt.<br />
KENYA<br />
The southern coast of Kenya is fringed by a continuous<br />
200 km fringing reef, while reefs on the northern coast<br />
are less developed due to the influence of cold water<br />
from the Somali current system. Coral cover decreased<br />
from pre-bleaching levels of 30-50%, to post-bleaching<br />
levels of 5-10% on most reefs, representing losses of 60-<br />
90%. Shallow reefs on the southern coast were most affected,<br />
with less impact at depth and northwards,<br />
though some individual reefs along the coast were<br />
found with close to 100% mortality. Recovery of some<br />
lagoon patch reefs in the south has been noted, primarily<br />
by regrowth of surviving colonies, and partially by recruitment<br />
of some opportunistic coral species (e.g. Pocillopora<br />
damicornis). However, generally, coral recruitment<br />
has been low. Monitoring of zooxanthellae and<br />
chlorophyll concentrations in five coral species has continued<br />
since the El Niño, to provide baseline data for future<br />
events. Studies of components of the benthic community<br />
are investigating the responses of macroalgae,<br />
microalgae and bioeroder communities following the<br />
coral mortality. Fisheries catch monitoring is being conducted<br />
by a number of groups, however no response to<br />
the El Niño has yet been noted. As in Tanzania, tourism<br />
may suffer in the long term due to the loss of coral.<br />
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