Waitabu was proud to have been presented at the ICRS as a poster by Helen SYKES and Kenneth MACKAY.
The International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS):
- The world’s major coral reef science meeting, the International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS), is held every 4 years.
- The sanctioning organization is the International Society of Reef Studies.
- The ICRS is devoted to the best reef science available, with the purpose of sharing scientific findings with government agencies, resource management, and non-government organizations throughout the world.
The International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS), is the Olympics of Coral Reef Science!
Previous ICRS have been held in Okinawa (2004), Bali (2000), Panama (1996), Guam (1992), Australia (1988), Tahiti (1985), the Philippines (1980), Miami (1977), Australia (1974), and the 1st ICRS in India (1969).
Changes in The Coral Reef Populations Within A Community Managed Marine Protected Area in The Fiji Islands
Summary
Annual biological monitoring was used to assess the effects of ten years of community-managed conservation in a village–based “no-take” Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Fiji Islands.
Surveys were carried out by a mixed team of marine scientists and community members, and compared with neighbouring reefs used for subsistence fishing. A variety of in-water survey methods were used, including community-based Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) for key invertebrate species, Manta Tows for broad-scale habitat and invertebrate animal assessment, Point Intercept Transects for coral cover, and Belt Transects for Fish Underwater Visual Census (UVC).
Within 3 years, fish populations had noticeably increased within the MPA, after 5 years many invertebrate populations had been restored. Poaching of finfish and shellfish occurred once stock rose, and is one of the major challenges now facing the project. So far this has not significantly impacted overall populations, anti anxiety drugstore, suggesting the ecosystem is now adequately robust to withstand some harvesting.
Waitabu at the International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS)
Coral health improved in the MPA over the fishing grounds, but was retarded by a mass bleaching event in the second year of protection. However, increased numbers of herbivorous fishes reduced macroalgae cover within the MPA, creating better coral-growth substrate, in turn accelerating coral settlement and recovery in comparison with the heavily fished area where macroalgae continued to cover most available substrate, preventing new coral settlement.
Villagers report that they now harvest larger fish and more commercially important invertebrates in their fishing grounds bordering the MPA. In addition, their caretaker role for this MPA has generated an awareness of the need to conservatively manage marine resources for the future.
Reef Management Poster 23.916
Changes in the coral reef populations within a community managed marine protected area in the Fiji Islands
Helen SYKES, Kenneth MACKAY
