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CM,AL REEFS IN TI-E PACIFIC - TI-EIR POTENTIALS A}O T}IEIR LIMITATIO{S
E. D. Gomez and l-t T. Yap
Marine Sciences Center, University of the Philippines
Dilimen, Guezon City, Philippines
ABSTRACT
The hiqh productivily of coral reefs is generally recognized. Available data
indicate appreciable yields in terms of fish biomass, although significant quantities
of seaweeds, nnlluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms are also harvested. Coral
reef s are a principal ecological zone in virtually all islands of the tropical
Pacific. In characterizing the potenlials and limitations of lhese resources, the
uniqueness and physical variability of island systems must be recognized. Of
particular relevance is the fragility of small island systems due to isolation, size,
and the semi-enclosed character of the reefs. Human popula[ions are a primary
factor to consider. Up till the early twentieth century, subsistence eeonomies
were the rule in rrpst Pacific island communities which depended on reef
resources to varying degrees. In the island economy as a whole, however, the
latter were mly secondary relative to produce from the land. Even then, rnarine
resources displayed their vulnerability and their inadequacy to eustain exploitaLion
on a commerciel scale. At present, new problems arise mainly from the
transformation of subsislence economies to cash economies. These problems are
associated with increasing human population, strif ts in the major spheres of
economic activity, the loss of traditional management and eonservation systems,
the developrnent of new reef ures s,rch es tourism, improvements in harvesting
teehnology, and degradation of coral reefs d-re to human activities. The carrying
capacity of reef resources thus becomes a pivotal issue. A recent promising
developrnent related to the question of Pacific rcef poLentials lies in the field of
mariculture.
INTRODUCTION
Pacific island populetions have traditionally depended m corel reefs to a great extent
for their survival and livelihood. Modern developncnts have signif icantly altered the
relationahips between man and reef in an increasing rumber of localities, srd even extrerely
remote areas haye not been pared. The fundamental dependence of human populations in the
Pacific m their reef reaources, however, remains.
Tlc prerent paper attenpts to explore a rumber of factorg relevant to these issues.
Discussion focucaes sr the countrieg and territorieg of the South Pacific, specifieally, those
within the jurisdiction of the South Pmific Commiseion.
NATI'RAL PRODUCTIVITY OF CORAL REEFS
Ccal rsefs ere rccognized to be gnong tha moct productive natural cccyrtemr in the
world (Grigg, ]979; Mamh, 1976; Sdvat, l98l). Rater of prirnery prodrctivity range from J00
to 5{100 gClm-lyt, rrhich erc af high l in the rrst fartile watoB (Lewir, 1977\ Valuee from
dlffcrant E6y.tcm! ec drown In Tabb l. Productivity in the vsriou! reaf hebitata is mt
unlform, bwevcr. Sonc rosf ccolytttmr axhiblt ralativaly low productivitiee, qrc*r r csrtain