GCRMN_COI_2017-Western Indian Ocean Reef Status

Coral reef status report for the Western Indian Ocean (2017)
Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network
2.1.9 Recommendations
Comoros reefs would greatly benefit from management efforts that target multiple
pressures at both local and national levels. Currently, community initiative is the primary
driver of local management efforts. Local management could be strengthened through
capacity building and support from NGOs, local government, and interactions with other
communities with successful management initiatives. The proposed Protected Areas could
improve management at both local and national levels if they include capacity building
for effective co-management and are developed with commitment from both government
and communities through consistent dialogue and sharing of decision-making and
implementation responsibilities.
A wide range of actions are proposed to strengthen coral reef management and monitoring:
Pressures
1. Climate change – take strong national stance (with SIDS) on climate issues
internationally, and adaptation/low carbon fuels locally.
2. Small-scale fishing – increase training, legislation and sustainability measures, and
enforce bans on destructive gears (dynamite and poisons).
3. Sedimentation, urban and agricultural runoff – improve soil conservation, agricultural
and urban development plans to minimize soil erosion and pollution runoff.
4. Beach excavation – sand harvesting should be stopped, as it exacerbates the problem
of erosion and runoff, resulting in sedimentation of reefs.
Responses
NATIONAL CHAPTERS
5. Marine Protected Area network – conduct participatory implementation and develop
capacity required for effective co-management of the new national network of MPAs to
ensure MPA effectiveness in protecting reefs from current and future threats.
6. Community-led efforts – facilitate community-based management of marine resources
and identify synergies between community and government efforts.
7. Mohéli National Park - the change from an MPA to an island management system offers
opportunities to greatly enhance the links between terrestrial and marine stakeholders,
livelihoods and impacts
8. Strengthen both government and non-government institutions to play complementary
and mutually supportive roles in protecting coral reefs.
Monitoring
9. Capacity building is needed to increase the number of personnel and level of expertise.
10. Training is needed in diving, survey methodology, identification of coral, fish, and
invertebrates, and data management and analysis. A recommended avenue is
involvement of the University of Comores as a potential provider of personnel and
long-term data storage.
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