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A.
B.
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Table 5 : Causes of reef degradation
(after Salvat)
Collecting and fishing in excess or illegally
l. Collecting of shells and corals by tourists or commercially
2. Collecting of reef fish for aquariums
t. Collecting of coral-reef resources for local populaLions
4. Spean-fishing
5. Commercial fishing in reef areas
6. Dynamite used for fishing end for public works
7. Poison and other toxic ehemicals used for fishing
8. Other destructive fishing methode (e.9. muro-ami)
Pollution
l. Pesticides and detergents
2. Sediments from soil
t. Sewage and eutrophication
4. Oit
5. Thermal effluents
6. Industrial wastes
7. Heavy rnetals
8. Radioactivity
Disturbance
l. Dredging activities
2. Constructional activities contiquous to'reefs
l. Recreational impacts (scuba and snorkel activilies, boating, anchor damage)
4. Introduction of alien or exo[ic species
5. Acanthaster problems
6. Mining of coral rock, sand, and shellgrit
7. Oil and gas drilling, mineral prospecting
Mariculture potentiale
Mariculture as a commercial activity to augrnent natural harvest from reefs is not
widespread in the tropical Pacif ic. A possible neason is that most islanders are simply
unaware of its potentials. A few inroads have been made, however, such as Lhe cultivation of
oystens in French Polynesia (Salvat, f980). In Hawaii and Palau, experimental projecls in
mericulture appear promising, but have not yet been developed to any stage of commercial
importance (Mason, 1979). Pearl cultivation in istands such as the Tuamotus shows potentials
of being developed into a major end fairly secure export activit.y (Salvat, 1980). What are
called for now are baseline studies on the different species of possible com'nercial value,
anch as those of Munro and Gwyther (1981) m tridacnid clams. To ensure adequate gains
from any mariculture venture, trowever, appropriate marketing strategies must be developed.