Southeast Asia
295
.'ir-^r.-.i - -
radation that has affected many reefs in the country. Many
were also severely impacted by coral bleaching in 1998,
particularly those in the southern areas, with a 62 percent
loss of coral cover in Ishigaki Island. By contrast, no
bleaching was reported at the eastern island chains of Izu
Shoto or Ogasawara.
Unfortunately coastal development, forest clearance
and poor agricultural practices have led to the rapid
demise of many of Japan's most important fringing reefs,
and a large number, particularly around the bigger islands
such as Okinawa, can now be regarded as totally
destroyed. Further death of corals has been caused by
crown-of-thorns starfish, which have reached plague
proportions in a number of areas since 1970. There is a
great deal of tourism in the southern islands of Japan, with
the Ryukyu Islands receiving over 4 million tourists per
year in the late 1990s. Diving and snorkelling are very
^^^^^^
Taiwan, China
-^
General Data
Population (thousands!
22 191
GDP ImiUion US$1
na
Land area Ikm^)
36 3i9
Marine area (thousand km^ ']
285
Per capita fish consumption (kg/year)
na
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%)
88
Recorded coral diseases
0^
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^j
9A0
Coral diversity
255 / AU
Mangrove area* (km^j
339
No. of mangrove species*
23
No. of seagrass species
5
* For the whole of China
popular, and there is some damage caused by reef
walking. Coastal development, in part fuelled by tourism,
has led to direct destruction, including land reclamation
for the major airport in Okinawa, and a new airport in
Ishigaki, both built directly on coral reefs. Commercial
fishing on the reefs is limited. In Okinawa prefecture total
reef fish catch m 1993 was over 6 000 tons, but in 1998 it
had dropped to 4 700 tons, a decline which may in part be
linked to reef decline, but is further explained by slight
decreases in the total numbers of fishers.
While there are many protected areas, estimated
to cover nearly 13 percent of the total reef area of the
country, it is not clear to what degree these areas provide
active protection. Given that some of the greatest threats
to the reefs come from external sources a more holistic
approach may be required to ensure the survival of the
remaining reefs.
P"
Japan
'
General Data
Population (thousands)
126 550
GDP (million US$1
3 300 625
Land area [km^l
373 049
Marine area (thousand km^)
4 022
Per capita fish consumption (kg/yearl
67
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%)
91
Recorded coral diseases
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^l
2 900
Coral diversity
420/413
Mangrove area (km^j
4
No. of mangrove species
11
No. of seagrass species
8
Left: Blast fishing tias reduced vast areas of Souttieast Asia's reefs to rubble. Rig fit: Southern Japan is the northernmost
part of the range of the white mouth moray eel, Gymnothorax meleagris.
295
.'ir-^r.-.i - -
radation that has affected many reefs in the country. Many
were also severely impacted by coral bleaching in 1998,
particularly those in the southern areas, with a 62 percent
loss of coral cover in Ishigaki Island. By contrast, no
bleaching was reported at the eastern island chains of Izu
Shoto or Ogasawara.
Unfortunately coastal development, forest clearance
and poor agricultural practices have led to the rapid
demise of many of Japan's most important fringing reefs,
and a large number, particularly around the bigger islands
such as Okinawa, can now be regarded as totally
destroyed. Further death of corals has been caused by
crown-of-thorns starfish, which have reached plague
proportions in a number of areas since 1970. There is a
great deal of tourism in the southern islands of Japan, with
the Ryukyu Islands receiving over 4 million tourists per
year in the late 1990s. Diving and snorkelling are very
^^^^^^
Taiwan, China
-^
General Data
Population (thousands!
22 191
GDP ImiUion US$1
na
Land area Ikm^)
36 3i9
Marine area (thousand km^ ']
285
Per capita fish consumption (kg/year)
na
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%)
88
Recorded coral diseases
0^
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^j
9A0
Coral diversity
255 / AU
Mangrove area* (km^j
339
No. of mangrove species*
23
No. of seagrass species
5
* For the whole of China
popular, and there is some damage caused by reef
walking. Coastal development, in part fuelled by tourism,
has led to direct destruction, including land reclamation
for the major airport in Okinawa, and a new airport in
Ishigaki, both built directly on coral reefs. Commercial
fishing on the reefs is limited. In Okinawa prefecture total
reef fish catch m 1993 was over 6 000 tons, but in 1998 it
had dropped to 4 700 tons, a decline which may in part be
linked to reef decline, but is further explained by slight
decreases in the total numbers of fishers.
While there are many protected areas, estimated
to cover nearly 13 percent of the total reef area of the
country, it is not clear to what degree these areas provide
active protection. Given that some of the greatest threats
to the reefs come from external sources a more holistic
approach may be required to ensure the survival of the
remaining reefs.
P"
Japan
'
General Data
Population (thousands)
126 550
GDP (million US$1
3 300 625
Land area [km^l
373 049
Marine area (thousand km^)
4 022
Per capita fish consumption (kg/yearl
67
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%)
91
Recorded coral diseases
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^l
2 900
Coral diversity
420/413
Mangrove area (km^j
4
No. of mangrove species
11
No. of seagrass species
8
Left: Blast fishing tias reduced vast areas of Souttieast Asia's reefs to rubble. Rig fit: Southern Japan is the northernmost
part of the range of the white mouth moray eel, Gymnothorax meleagris.