Oral Session June 29 (Tue) 59 60 Oral 4-1 Status of Coral Reefs of the World 1994, 2004 and 2014: Recommendations from 80 nations for remediation 10th ICRS Status of Coral Reefs of Southwest Pacific: Fiji, Nauru, New Caledonia, Regional Coral Reef Monitoring Program and Status Report in the South Samoa, Solomon Islands Tuvalu & Vanuatu in June 2004 East Pacific Countries, GCRMN Polynesia Mana Node Reuben SULU Caroline VIEUX, Dave FISK, Peter PETELO, Taratau KIRATA, Brendon Laucala Bay Road, Suva, Republic of Fiji PASISI, Antoine NIA, Annie AUBANEL, Mary POWER, Bernard SALVAT [email protected] B.P. 1013, Moorea, French Polynesia [email protected] Significant efforts are underway in the Southwest Pacific GCRMN node to mitigate current threats to coral reefs. This paper provides a snap shot of the The Cook islands, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Niue, Tokelau, Tonga and Wallis status of coral reefs in these countries as at June 2004 and a summary of the and Futuna progess in order to assess coral reef health and exploitation on a initiatives undertaken by various communities, governments, organisations and regional basis (Polynesia mana node). The 7 independent or autonomous agencies to protect and conserve coral reefs. countries or territories including 347 islands with coral reefs are half a million inhabitants whose 80% are concentrated in 7 islands urban centers. Monitorings programmes are effective or on the way in French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Cook islands, Tonga and Tokelau and will be developped in other islands. A major bleaching event occured in 2002 with up to 50% coral mortality in Tokelau but minor one in French Polynesia. This bleaching has also been reported in Kiribati in the Tarawa lagoon but its extent is unknown. In Tokelau, overfishing has depleted most of the lagoon and slope areas in reef fishes and giant clams. Touristic development in Kiritimati (Christmas Island) and land reclamation for building in Tarawa are a threat for reef health in Kiribati and are to be monitored. Niue has been struck by the cyclone Heta early this year and 90% of the corals have been devastated on the west coast. Rarotonga (Cook) is facing a COT outbreak affecting hard corals. Marine protected areas are planned in many islands of the Polynesia mana node and reef monitoring will be developped in these areas. Only French Polynesia has taken part to the Reef Check program in the node with 13 sites monitored in Bora-Bora and Moorea. The GCRMN node Polynesia mana, South East Pacific, plan to set up a regional database under coordination and/or cooperation with the South West Pacfic node (University of South Pacific coordination), the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) , The International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN, ICRI) and Reefbase of the World Fish Center (WFC). Status of Coral Reefs in Micronesia Consolidation of the STA-GCRMN Regional Node and Status of Coral Jason KUARTEI Reefs in Southern Tropical America PO Box 1811 Republic of Palau Jaime GARZON-FERREIRA, Jorge CORTES, Aldo CROQUER, Hector [email protected] GUZMAN, Zelinda LEAO, Alberto RODRIGUEZ-RAMIREZ Cerro de Punta Betin, Zona Portuaria, Santa Marta Republic of Colombia The US Affiliated and Freely Associated islands of the tropical Pacific include [email protected] American Samoa and the islands of Micronesia (excluding Kiribati). Most lie north of the equator, except American Samoa, which is considered part of Since 1999 five countries (Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and Polynesia, but has the high coral diversity and cultural dependence on coral Venezuela) are cooperating for developing coral reef monitoring in Southern reefs similar to Micronesia. Micronesia is made up of a group of small tropical Tropical America (STA) under the framework of GCRMN, the support of islands and atolls in the central and Indo-west pacific, and encompasses an area UNEP-CAR/RCU and the coordination of th Institute for Marine and Coastal of approximately 11.6 million km2. The vast majority of their area is ocean, Research (INVEMAR, Colombia). Several actions have been carried out that with a landmass just over 3000km2. From east to west, the US affiliated and have conducted to the consolidation of the STA Node: (1) a study of the Freely Associated states include: American Samoa, the Republic of the capacity and needs for reef monitoring; (2) establishment of formal agreements Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the between INVEMAR and the other institutions; (3) support of monitoring Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Republic of Palau. As a region, activities during 2000, 2002 and 2003; (4) expansion of monitoring programs in Micronesia possesses a high diversity of corals and associated organisms and all countries; (5) preparation of regional reef status reports and contribution to the human population is heavily dependent on coral reefs and related resources the global reports published in 2000 and 2002; and (6) production of a strategic both economically and culturally. The coral reefs of American Samoa and plan (2004-2013) and a 5-years project proposal. The STA region includes reefs Micronesia range in condition from nearly pristine to seriously damaged by in Pacific, Caribbean and Atlantic waters, and most of them are strongly human disturbance and climate change. The human impacts include influenced by continental runoff. There has been major damage to coral reefs of overfishing, ship groundings, sedimentation and coastal pollution. In the past, this region in the last 35 years that has been caused by a mix of natural agents human impacts were largely related to the size of the resident populations, and direct human impacts. Nevertheless, significant coral cover can still be however fishing fleets from other nations have taken their toll on even the most found at several reef locations of both Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Monitoring remote islands and atolls. Micronesia is a highly rated scuba diving destination data suggest that reefs of the STA region have not undergone noticeable and rapid tourism development including new roads, hotels, golf courses and changes or damages during the last two years (2002-2003). Live coral cover in personal watercraft, is having substantial effect on coastal reefs on some the Caribbean averaged between 1.4% (Playa Caiman) and 50.3% (Cayo Norte) islands. In the last two years, there have been monitoring activities in the in Venezuela, between 18% (San Andres) and 41% (Uraba) in Colombia and islands north of CNMI by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association between 8% (Manzanillo) and 26% (Cahuita) in Costa Rica. Pacific reefs (NOAA) and new information is now being collected for this area. showed both low and high levels of coral cover, ranging between 57% (Utria) and 75% (Gorgona) in Colombia, between 6% (Coco) and 8% (Ballena) in Costa Rica, and between 2% (Canal de Afuera) and 54% (Iguana) in Panama. 61 10th ICRS Status of Coral Reefs of the World 1994, 2004 and 2014: Recommendations from 80 nations for remediation Oral 4-1 Report on the Activities of the GCRMN Northern Caribbean and Atlantic Status of Coral Reefs in East and North Asia (China, Taiwan, Korea and (NCA) Node in 2003 Japan) Dulcie M LINTON, Loureene A JONES, Peter E EDWARDS Tadashi KIMURA, Put O ANG, Chang-Feng DAI, Huang HUI, Jong-Geel JE Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica, W.I. Jamaica 3-10-10 Shitaya, Taito, Tokyo 110-8676 Japan [email protected] [email protected] Through funding from the ICRAN project (UNEP-CEP) the CCDC has been China, Korea and Japan belonging East and North Asian are located at the north actively encouraging greater coral monitoring and reporting among node edge of coral distribution of Pacific. Because of connectivity with the countries. A survey of institutions identified financial and human resource Philippines by the flow of the Kuroshio Current, coral diversity is quite high in limitations as the main constraints to sustained monitoring. A draft document Japan. On the contrary, there are patchy distribution of coral communities for sustaining the node over a five-year period has been produced.The CCDC along China and Korea where some branch flows from Kuroshio Current. spearheaded the formation of the Jamaica Coral Reef Monitoring Network Coral reefs well develop from Nansha Island to Hainan in the South China Sea. (JCRMN) on June 27, 2003. Seventeen individuals, representing 12 Coral reefs also develop along the southern coast of Taiwan comparing with organizations agreed on the development of an organized approach to northern coast, which has patchy coral communities. In the north of this region, monitoring of coral reefs in Jamaica, with south coast reefs as priority. Reef soft corals are dominant with a few stony coral species around the Jeju Island at Check training and data collection workshops were conducted during southern coast of Korea September and November in Negril and in Port Royal, Jamaica. Approximately Major threats on Japanese corals are crown-of-thorns starfish, bleaching, 30 individuals representing a number of different institutions and organizations Drupella, and soil runoff from land. A large number of corals were killed by participated. A similar Reef Check training and data collection workshop was sedimentation after heavy rain in 2001 and the starfish is increasing in number held in Haiti. Data from these surveys have been submitted to Reef Check and since 2000. China and Korea also have serious disturbances of environment by preliminary reports produced. JCRMN activities climaxed with a survey of the marine tourism and coastal development. Destructive fishing practice and soil reefs of Portland Bight Protected Area, Jamaica. Twenty-five participants runoff are major causes of coral disturbance in Hainan Island and Taiwan. collected data from 6 reef sites during a 4-day exercise from December 4-7, Coral destruction by tourists is another threat in Hainan Island and Korea.