Signs of Change
interconnected coral reef realm. Two points arise: firstly
that individual reefs may actually be dependent on other
reefs "upstream" for the provision of larval recruits and
the maintenance of diversity; and secondly that legal
protection of particular reefs provides little protection
from external threats such as pollution and sedimentation
originating elsewhere.
In a few cases marine protected areas are of sufficient
size to have some potential to be self-sustaining, while a
similarly small number of sites include both coral reefs
and sufficient areas of the adjacent land to provide significant protection from sedimentation and pollution.
Even Australia's Great Barrier Reef is affected by terrestrial activities occurring beyond the park boundaries.
Protected areas, particularly in the marine environment,
cannot be considered sufficient in themselves. They are
part of the solution, but are most effective when placed
within the context of a broader suite of coastal policy
and planning measures, including wider legal measures
(for example on land-based activities), but also programs
on awareness raising and education. The concepts of
integrated coastal zone management are increasingly
being embraced in countries around the world, but before
considering these, a brief overview of other systems or
regimes which provide protection to coral reefs is laid out.
Other approaches
In addition to the conventional designation of protected
areas with some legal status, a number of other coral reefs
around the world receive some degree of protection from
other regimes or factors.
Private ownership: private protected areas are rare in
the marine environment, as few countries allow for private
ownership of marine resources, but there are a number
of privately owned coastal sites, including entire islands,
which provide some degree of de facio protection of their
adjacent marine resources.
Private and NGO initiatives: these have led to the
adoption of codes of practice, or even the recognition
of voluntary reserves in a number of areas. Recognizing
the importance of the coral reef resources to their own
business, it is now relatively common to see dive organizations setting restrictions on their own customers"
activities (such as banning fishing, or fish feeding, and
ensuring adequate buoyancy control so that divers do not
touch the reef). A number of dive schools and NGOs have
become involved in monitoring coral reefs, with the most
notable scheme being ReefCheck, an international initiative
which is using volunteer divers to monitor hundreds of
reefs worldwide. While this does not provide protection
per se it is a very powerful tool for reef assessment, raises
awareness of conservation issues, and gives a clear message to other national agencies about the public concern
for coral reefs. Another increasingly common activity,
often supported by the dive industry, has been the
undertaking of reef clean-up activities, where teams of
volunteer divers go out to remove solid waste such as
fishing lines and nets from coral reefs.
Military use: despite the damage caused to coral
reefs by a number of military facilities mentioned above,
there is also evidence, from a few areas, of more positive
impacts. Many of these areas are closed to other activities
on land, and to fishing in nearby waters. The presence of
a military force further acts as a considerable deterrent
to illegal fishing activities which abound in most areas.
The large US base on Diego Garcia in the Central Indian
Ocean, combined with British personnel on this island,
undoubtedly has some deterrent effect for the large areas
of coral reefs in the Chagos Archipelago.
The role of consumers
Such approaches by the dive industry may be motivated
by direct conservation concern, or by consumer demand.
"Consumers", the paying users of the reef, may become an
increasingly powerful tool, providing an economic incentive for coral reef conservation. Hotels, as well as dive
A fairy tern Gygis alba returning to roost on Cousine Island, a privately owned reserve in the Seyctiettes.
interconnected coral reef realm. Two points arise: firstly
that individual reefs may actually be dependent on other
reefs "upstream" for the provision of larval recruits and
the maintenance of diversity; and secondly that legal
protection of particular reefs provides little protection
from external threats such as pollution and sedimentation
originating elsewhere.
In a few cases marine protected areas are of sufficient
size to have some potential to be self-sustaining, while a
similarly small number of sites include both coral reefs
and sufficient areas of the adjacent land to provide significant protection from sedimentation and pollution.
Even Australia's Great Barrier Reef is affected by terrestrial activities occurring beyond the park boundaries.
Protected areas, particularly in the marine environment,
cannot be considered sufficient in themselves. They are
part of the solution, but are most effective when placed
within the context of a broader suite of coastal policy
and planning measures, including wider legal measures
(for example on land-based activities), but also programs
on awareness raising and education. The concepts of
integrated coastal zone management are increasingly
being embraced in countries around the world, but before
considering these, a brief overview of other systems or
regimes which provide protection to coral reefs is laid out.
Other approaches
In addition to the conventional designation of protected
areas with some legal status, a number of other coral reefs
around the world receive some degree of protection from
other regimes or factors.
Private ownership: private protected areas are rare in
the marine environment, as few countries allow for private
ownership of marine resources, but there are a number
of privately owned coastal sites, including entire islands,
which provide some degree of de facio protection of their
adjacent marine resources.
Private and NGO initiatives: these have led to the
adoption of codes of practice, or even the recognition
of voluntary reserves in a number of areas. Recognizing
the importance of the coral reef resources to their own
business, it is now relatively common to see dive organizations setting restrictions on their own customers"
activities (such as banning fishing, or fish feeding, and
ensuring adequate buoyancy control so that divers do not
touch the reef). A number of dive schools and NGOs have
become involved in monitoring coral reefs, with the most
notable scheme being ReefCheck, an international initiative
which is using volunteer divers to monitor hundreds of
reefs worldwide. While this does not provide protection
per se it is a very powerful tool for reef assessment, raises
awareness of conservation issues, and gives a clear message to other national agencies about the public concern
for coral reefs. Another increasingly common activity,
often supported by the dive industry, has been the
undertaking of reef clean-up activities, where teams of
volunteer divers go out to remove solid waste such as
fishing lines and nets from coral reefs.
Military use: despite the damage caused to coral
reefs by a number of military facilities mentioned above,
there is also evidence, from a few areas, of more positive
impacts. Many of these areas are closed to other activities
on land, and to fishing in nearby waters. The presence of
a military force further acts as a considerable deterrent
to illegal fishing activities which abound in most areas.
The large US base on Diego Garcia in the Central Indian
Ocean, combined with British personnel on this island,
undoubtedly has some deterrent effect for the large areas
of coral reefs in the Chagos Archipelago.
The role of consumers
Such approaches by the dive industry may be motivated
by direct conservation concern, or by consumer demand.
"Consumers", the paying users of the reef, may become an
increasingly powerful tool, providing an economic incentive for coral reef conservation. Hotels, as well as dive
A fairy tern Gygis alba returning to roost on Cousine Island, a privately owned reserve in the Seyctiettes.