CORDIO Status Report 2000

numerically dominant non-cryptic species. If conditions
were too rough to lay a transect line, a point count
method was used. Circles with a radius of 7 m (area =
153 m 2 ) were used, sampling two point counts for each
transect to a total area of 306 m 2 instead of 250 m 2 . On
one occasion, due to very poor visibility and reef fish
community, a 30 minute random survey was undertaken
instead of the two methods described above.
Data was analysed focusing on abundance (total
number of individuals per family), diversity (total
number of species per family), trophic groups (total
number of individuals belonging to a specific trophic
Table 1. Summary of status and condition of each reef surveyed based on benthic cover and fish trophic groups.
Locality Reef Status & Condition
Quirimbas Archipelago Sencar channel The reef was severely affected by the 1997-1998 bleaching event.
The poor status of the reef is given by the high percentage of dead coral and
algae as well as the relative abundance of herbivorous fish. Most of the fish were
of small size reflecting the high pressure of fishing.
Pemba Ponta Maunhane Reef with a good cover of hard coral and recovering from bleaching, however
still significant amount of dead coral. Good reef fish community represented
by all size classes of fish.
Mozambique Is. Sete Paus Island Presence of considerable amount of dead coral probably due to the effects of
bleaching and storm damage. A poor fish community – one dominant family of
herbivores and mostly small sized fish indicate high pressure from fishing.
Goa Island
Serious damage from a cyclone and bleaching. The presence of colonizing
coralline algae indicates recent death of coral. Dominance of herbivore fishes of
mostly small sizes suggest heavy fishing pressure.
Bazaruto Archipelago Lighthouse reef Protected area. Reef in good condition. However, substantial amount of dead coral colonized by
coralline algae may indicate damage from sedimentation and aerial exposure at
low tide. Carnivorous fishes dominant and all size classes were well represented
with fish larger than 20 cm very common.
Inhambane Anchor Bay Typical rocky reef of southern Mozambique, with a fairly low cover of hard coral.
Fish were mainly herbivorous and of small and medium size classes, indicating
high fishing pressure.
Mike’s Cupboard
Similarly to Anchor Bay, this rocky reef shows a richer community of soft corals.
Small and medium sized fishes indicate some pressure from fishing.
Inhaca Barreira Vermelha Protected area Reef in relatively good condition, with some physical damage shown by the
amount of dead coral, probably from destructive fishing practices, though fishing
is banned. All fish size classes were represented and fish over 30 cm were
common.
Inhaca Ponta Torres Protected area Subject to aerial exposure, shown by the percentage of dead coral and algae on
the top of typical bommies. All families of fish were well represented. Carnivores
of large sizes dominated.
(Source: Rodrigues et al., 1999)
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