Waitabu at the International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS)

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The International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS), is the Olympics of Coral Reef Science!


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.

  • 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).
Waitabu was proud to have been presented at the ICRS as a poster by Helen SYKES and Kenneth MACKAY.

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, suggesting the ecosystem is now adequately robust to withstand some harvesting.

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 ManagementPoster 23.916Changes in the coral reef populations within a community managed marine protected area in the Fiji IslandsHelen SYKES, Kenneth MACKAY*

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