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WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
Integrating measures
A considerable raft of measures are thus available for
the protection of coral reefs, including fisheries controls,
protected areas, and other schemes ranging from diver
clean-ups, to consumer or market driven controls on reef
utilization. All of these measures are heavily dependent on
awareness raising and on education, and the establishment
of training programs for managers and other authorities.
Education needs to be aimed at all levels, including
politicians and senior managers, artisanal and commercial
fishers, recreational users of the reefs, tourists and aquarium hobbyists, but also the vast numbers of people
whose lifestyles or businesses may affect reefs through
pollution or sedimentation. The problems of global
climate change represent an even larger challenge, which
needs to be met with global education in order to make
people aware of the massive changes required to reverse
greenhouse gas emissions.
There remains, however, a considerable weakness in
any of these or other measures, when they are taken in
isolation. Protected areas, if they have the support of the
local community, can be highly effective in controlling
overfishing problems and preventing direct damage to
reefs. They will fail to serve their purpose, however, if
tourists are allowed to destroy the same reefs through
anchor damage, or pollution from hotels, or if a forestry or
mining permit inland allows massive sedimentation to
pour onto the reefs downstream.
The concept of integrated coastal management has
been widely accepted and promoted in many countries.
In essence this involves developing a policy, not for
particular locations, but for the entire coastal zone,
including inland watersheds, and also offshore waters.
Such policies, if developed in full consultation, and with
active participation of local stakeholders, can be a highly
effective means to protect not only coral reefs, but the
livelihoods of all those living in the coastal zone.
Typically the drafting of legal measures to implement
policy is required, but often there is also devolution of
controls to local agencies, further engendering the sense
of ownership which can overcome the problems of common access. The development of such integrated measures
is critical, but also challenging, requiring considerable
coordination of disparate groups of people, and involving
complex negotiation and processes of conflict resolution.
Provision of information and ongoing research
remain a further priority. This includes establishing or
expanding systems to monitor coral reefs around the
world, in order to establish a clearer base line, and provide
a warning of change. Equally important are studies on
different management systems and fisheries techniques,
and further research into aquaculture and reef restoration
techniques. Such studies have already enabled the development of new and innovative management regimes,
greatly improving the lives of many reef users around the
world. More detailed studies into ecology, genetics and
oceanography may further our understanding of natural
processes and the connections and interactions between
reefs, which may prove critical in the design of nature
reserves and wider protection and management systems.
Perhaps the most important message, which is still
not widely appreciated, is that active, sustainable
management of coral reefs is always the most sensible
approach. There is still a perception that reefs are of low
economic or social value, and there is little or no connection between land-based activities and the impacts on
the coral reefs.
Coral reefs are extremely valuable in social and economic terms. They are also highly sensitive ecosystems.
Examples from the establishment of effective no-take
zones, to well managed tourism development, to the
establishment of small-scale aquaculture, show, again and
again, that reefs can be well managed and that good
management pays. Even in the relatively short term the
benefits from wise management are rapidly observed, in
both economic and social terms. With the application of
such measures the value of reefs is a permanent one, sustainable across generations.
Left: A snorketler holds up nets wtiich have become tangled in shallow coral and abandoned. Right: A dried sea
cucumber Demand for these has led to their over-harvesting from reefs across the Indo-Pacific.
WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
Integrating measures
A considerable raft of measures are thus available for
the protection of coral reefs, including fisheries controls,
protected areas, and other schemes ranging from diver
clean-ups, to consumer or market driven controls on reef
utilization. All of these measures are heavily dependent on
awareness raising and on education, and the establishment
of training programs for managers and other authorities.
Education needs to be aimed at all levels, including
politicians and senior managers, artisanal and commercial
fishers, recreational users of the reefs, tourists and aquarium hobbyists, but also the vast numbers of people
whose lifestyles or businesses may affect reefs through
pollution or sedimentation. The problems of global
climate change represent an even larger challenge, which
needs to be met with global education in order to make
people aware of the massive changes required to reverse
greenhouse gas emissions.
There remains, however, a considerable weakness in
any of these or other measures, when they are taken in
isolation. Protected areas, if they have the support of the
local community, can be highly effective in controlling
overfishing problems and preventing direct damage to
reefs. They will fail to serve their purpose, however, if
tourists are allowed to destroy the same reefs through
anchor damage, or pollution from hotels, or if a forestry or
mining permit inland allows massive sedimentation to
pour onto the reefs downstream.
The concept of integrated coastal management has
been widely accepted and promoted in many countries.
In essence this involves developing a policy, not for
particular locations, but for the entire coastal zone,
including inland watersheds, and also offshore waters.
Such policies, if developed in full consultation, and with
active participation of local stakeholders, can be a highly
effective means to protect not only coral reefs, but the
livelihoods of all those living in the coastal zone.
Typically the drafting of legal measures to implement
policy is required, but often there is also devolution of
controls to local agencies, further engendering the sense
of ownership which can overcome the problems of common access. The development of such integrated measures
is critical, but also challenging, requiring considerable
coordination of disparate groups of people, and involving
complex negotiation and processes of conflict resolution.
Provision of information and ongoing research
remain a further priority. This includes establishing or
expanding systems to monitor coral reefs around the
world, in order to establish a clearer base line, and provide
a warning of change. Equally important are studies on
different management systems and fisheries techniques,
and further research into aquaculture and reef restoration
techniques. Such studies have already enabled the development of new and innovative management regimes,
greatly improving the lives of many reef users around the
world. More detailed studies into ecology, genetics and
oceanography may further our understanding of natural
processes and the connections and interactions between
reefs, which may prove critical in the design of nature
reserves and wider protection and management systems.
Perhaps the most important message, which is still
not widely appreciated, is that active, sustainable
management of coral reefs is always the most sensible
approach. There is still a perception that reefs are of low
economic or social value, and there is little or no connection between land-based activities and the impacts on
the coral reefs.
Coral reefs are extremely valuable in social and economic terms. They are also highly sensitive ecosystems.
Examples from the establishment of effective no-take
zones, to well managed tourism development, to the
establishment of small-scale aquaculture, show, again and
again, that reefs can be well managed and that good
management pays. Even in the relatively short term the
benefits from wise management are rapidly observed, in
both economic and social terms. With the application of
such measures the value of reefs is a permanent one, sustainable across generations.
Left: A snorketler holds up nets wtiich have become tangled in shallow coral and abandoned. Right: A dried sea
cucumber Demand for these has led to their over-harvesting from reefs across the Indo-Pacific.