REEF CHECK 98
The International Year of the Ocean

WHY REEF CHECK?
Coral reefs -- a valuable natural resource
F rainforests of the sea -- high biodiversity
F a food source for millions of people
F source of medicines -- worth billions $$F coastal protection from wave erosion
F source of islands & white sand beaches fortourist resorts
F 7 million scuba divers

What is the health ofcoral reefs globally?
Before Reef Check 97, “Science asusual” failed to give answers because:
F Too few scientists, too little time on reefs
F Too few study sites
F Few long-term studies
F Emphasis on basic research
F Different questions and methods

What is a coral reef ecosystem?
F Geological frameworkof old dead reef
F Surface of living,growing coral animals
F Thousands of speciesof fish, shellfish,
worms, sponges etc.
living in and aroundthe reefReef Check 98 -- Two goals
1.Science-- a synoptic assessment of human impacts oncoral reefs worldwide
2.Conservation-- to raise public awareness about the value ofcoral reefs, threats to their health andsolutions to these problems-- to establish a global network of monitoringand management teams

Reef Check Approach
F Internet-based -- website, listservers, e-mailF Global network of national coordinators
F Each coordinator matches teams ofexperienced recreational divers withprofessional marine scientists (60%PhD)
F Volunteer -- with private funding e.g.
Rockefeller Brothers Fund for start-up
teams in less developed countries

Marine scientist leads each team:
F training in methods and identification
F on the actual field surveys
F checking and submitting data toheadquarters at HKUSTSpecial methods designed:
F short training period (<1 day)F sport divers with a high school education
F one reef surveyed in one day

“Key Indicators” of humanimpacts
F worldwide and regional “indicatororganisms”-- a high market value-- easily identified by non-biologists due todistinctive shape and color
F other direct indicators e.g. broken coral,
trash, bleachingSurvey Design

Three surveys:
Fish -- 6 e.g. grouper
Invert. -- 8 e.g. lobster
Seabed -- e.g. corals

Coral Reef

800 m 201m00

-3

Depth (m)-10Shore

D istance from shore

5 mWhat happened?
F Growing support worldwide from scientists,divers, community, sponsors, governments
F Hundreds of divers, >100 marine scientists
F Surveys: 1 April to 30 September, 1998
F Teams in almost 40 countries and territories
in all tropical seas
F 2nd global survey of coral reefs completed

Major Results 1998
F Confirmed 1997 findings that reefs areseverely over-fished -- worse in 1998
F Most high-value species are missing
F Reefs far from cities just as bad as reefs
near-byF An unprecedented global bleaching andmortality event occurredWorld Results: Lobster
F Formerly abundant -- overfishing indicator
F None found at 88% of reefs, an increase of

7% “empty” reefs over 1997

World Abundance of Lobster
100Lobster

Sites (%)

80
9798

60

IPC40

200023451-0. .1-0. .2-0. .3-0. .4-0.
0>>0>0>0>0

N / 100m2.5>0World Results: Large Grouper
F Cyanide fishingindicator
F None at 63% ofreefs (16% moreempty reefs in1998)
F 18+ fish at somereefs
F Caribbean: Nassaugrouper -- only 3fish at 4 of 14 reefsWorld Results: Grouper70Grouper60Site (%)

50979840IPC30201000515253-0. 0.5- 1-1. 1.5- 2-2. 2.50
>
>
>
>
>
>

N / 100m

2>3

Indo-pacific Results: Humphead
F Once moderately

common in groups
F None at 90% of reefs
F Cyanide-fishingindicator

Indo-pacific Results: Barramundi

F Previously common, now rare
F Overfishing and cyanide fishingIndo-pacific Results: Edible sea
cucumbers -- 3 species
F Formerly abundant
F None at 62% of reefs--(a 23% increase inempty reefs)F 49 at protected site
F OverharvestingIndo-pacific Results: Giant clams
F Sashimi market
F Shell for curio trade
F None at 53% of reefs(a 30% increase invacant reefs)
F Over 400 clams persite at protected reefs
F OverharvestingWorld Results: Live/Dead Coral
Percentage of coral (%)

10080609798
Live coral
Dead coral

40200

World

Indo-PacficCaribbean

What is coral “bleaching?”
F Corals are animals
F They contain millionsof tiny plant cells
F The plants (algae)
provide food to coral
F The algae give corals
green/brown color

Hot water causes loss of algae
F If the coral polyps arestressed, the algae
leave the coral
F The coral becomeswhite because we cansee the white skeleton
underneathGlobal temperature pattern -- 138 years
1998 was the hottest year on record
1.0Change in temperature (°C)

0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0-0.1
-0.2
-0.3

1840 1860

1880

1900

1920

Year

1940

1960

1980

2000

“Bleached” corals may recover or die
F 29% of Reef Checksites reported
bleaching
F Mortality ranged
between 0 and 95%
F Many old colonies
killed (1000 years old)

Composite monthly satellite sea surface temperature increases
January through September 1998 and Reef Check sites
SST +1 degree above monthly maximum temperature

N. America
Asia

AfricaS.America
Australia

SST data courtesy of Dr. Alan Strong, US NOAA

1998 Results Recap
F Confirmed 1997 findings that reefs areseverely over-fished -- worse in 1998
F Most high-value species are missing
F Reefs far from cities just as bad as reefs
near-byF An unprecedented bleaching and mortality
event occurred, damaging and killing reefs
in throughout tropical seas

Seafood Conclusions
F Demand for seafood has exceeded supply
F Too many fishermen, too few fish
F HK, China and Taiwan are allowing theirfishermen to use methods overseas that areillegal at homeSeafood Solutions
1.Countries should ban overseas use offishing methods which are illegal at home
2.Cyanide testing programs for fish
3.Countries should ban export and import ofimmature fish and shellfish
4.More and larger marine protected areasurgently needed e.g. Pratas Reef (Dongsha)
5.R & D on aquaculture of high-value speciesReef Die-off Conclusions
F 1998 was hottest year ever, due partly toglobal warming and to El Niño
F Reef corals in all tropical seas were
bleached and many died -- worst hit was theIndian Ocean
F Event is unprecedented in geographic
extent, depth, and severity.
F Economic impacts (tourism, seafood) will
be severe
F Precurser to severe global warming effects

Analysis
F US and China are the two top producers ofGreenhouse gases
F IPCC recommends cuts of 60%
F Kyoto 12/97 agreed 5-7% cuts
F Buenos Aires 11/98 debated “flexibilitymechanisms” e.g. emissions trading toavoid direct cutsGlobal Climate Change Model (November 1998)
Hadley Climate Centre UK
7Temperature Change (°C)

65

G lobalC o n trol
LandSea

4
32
10-1

1900

1950

2000

Year

2050

2100

Reef Die-off Solutions
How to stop global warming?
1.Individual actions important -- conserve
energy2. Increase gas mileage on cars
3. Clean up power plants
4. Ban logging of old forests, plant new forest
5. Countries should follow lead of Argentina
and set higher goals for reductionUS Sierra Club Statement“The human race is engaged in the largest
experiment in history - an experiment to see
what will happen to our health and the healthof the planet when we make drastic changes inour climate. This is not a controlled scientificinquiry. It is a massive change in the Earth's
environment, and we are gambling our children's
future on the results.”

REEF CHECK 98
End of Global Presentation

HONG KONG REEF CHECK 98’• International Year of the Ocean• Hong Kong Coordinator: WWF HK• Six Teams: Hong Kong Marine Conservation
Society, Hong Kong UnderwaterAssociation, HKU, HKUST
WWF & general public• 7 sitesHONG KONG REEF CHECK 98’

HONG KONG REEF CHECK 98’

RESULTS:• All sites with medium - high coral coverage
except Ninepin• Coral bleaching less serious than last year

• Needs more rigorous scientific investigation

HONG KONG REEF CHECK 98’

RESULTS:• Coral damage:- By dynamite fishing: Ping Chau and Double
Haven- By fish nets: Ping Chau, Double Haven andBluff Is.
- By anchor: Shelter Is., Bluff Is. & Hoi Ha Wan

HONG KONG REEF CHECK 98’

RESULTS:• Marine fauna- Butterflyfish: highest number at Shelter andBluff Is.
- Some high value commercial species such as grouperand snapper: Ping Chau, Double Haven and Bluff Is.
- Other coral reef fish: Ping Chau and Double HavenHONG KONG REEF CHECK 98’

RESULTS:• Marine fauna- Diadema spp. (Long spine sea urchin)- great increase in number at Coral Beach andNinepin

RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Ninepin: previously damaged by dredging
2. Ping Chau and Bluff Island: proposed to be
designated as Marine Parks
3. Strengthen the monitoring and enforcement works
in Marine Parks and Reserves
4. Educate the fishermen and general public onmarine conservation

HONG KONG REEF CHECK 98’

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS• Environment and Conservation Fund

• Institute for Environment & SustainableDevelopment, HKUST• Other collaborating parties

- End of this Part -