Problems of Monitoring and Rational Use of Reef Resources
421
been the main source of existence there providing 60-90% of necessary
proteins (Johannes 1977a). Their populations exploited reef resources
extremely carefully. Well-defined lots of reef and lagoon belonged to
responsible families. Neighbors or visitors could not fish in them. The family
took from its lot only the necessary amount of food. The head of the family
and the fishermen kept strict count of the stock of fish and never permitted
overcatch. Various taboos based on legends and religion controlled
undesirable fishing in particular zones of the reefs in definite seasons. The
chiefs of tribes looked after the stocks and watched over their use by their
peoples (Johannes 1977b, 1978b). Due to such a regulation of fishery the
reefs of Polynesia remained in a juvenile state for centuries despite a high
density of the aboriginal populations. This state of affairs was maintained by
subdivision of the reef area between responsible owners, and by the careful
handling of resources by users (Johannes 1978b, 1981b). These attitudes
fundamentally differed from the attitude of peoples in western civilizations
and in most other regions of S.E. Asia. According to the latter the fish
resources on marine shelves are not owned by anybody. So they could be
used by everybody, free for all to catch as much as they could. As this
coincided with market economy, it inevitably resulted in the devastation of
natural fish resources. It happened also many times in the history of world
fishery, that because of such attitudes of people and due to commercial
relationships, all attempts to control fishery from the side of state yielded
usually meagre results or needed immense efforts and expenditure (Parrish
1980).
At the beginning of the eighteenth century most countries and territories
of coastal reef areas and islands had been colonized by western countries.
The administration of the colonies by implanting christianity eradicated local
religious traditions and habits, which had preserved reef resources. As a
result, commercial fishery spread, replacing the traditional one. Such
developments soon led in many reef regions to the degradation of reefs,
overfishing of valuable species, and a drastic decrease in fish stocks, as it was
mentioned above.
The task of the scientific community in these circumstances is to make a
correct evaluation of the situation on modern reefs and to establish
principles of more reasonable relationships between man and reef. These
problems have been discussed at the International Symposia on Coral Reefs
in Manila (1981), Tahiti (1985) and Townsville (1988). The active work of
scientists enables governments to take measures regarding reef protection
and the regulation of fishery on reefs. Laws have been enacted prohibiting
trade in corals and shells and restricting construction activity in reef areas.
Some states have organized national parks and reserves, which protect reef
environments and nature. The most successful in this respect were Australia
on the GBR, and the USA on reefs of the Virgin Islands. But many other
states are still passively witnessing the imperilment of resources on their
coastal reefs in spite of the alarming predictions of scientists (Japan,
421
been the main source of existence there providing 60-90% of necessary
proteins (Johannes 1977a). Their populations exploited reef resources
extremely carefully. Well-defined lots of reef and lagoon belonged to
responsible families. Neighbors or visitors could not fish in them. The family
took from its lot only the necessary amount of food. The head of the family
and the fishermen kept strict count of the stock of fish and never permitted
overcatch. Various taboos based on legends and religion controlled
undesirable fishing in particular zones of the reefs in definite seasons. The
chiefs of tribes looked after the stocks and watched over their use by their
peoples (Johannes 1977b, 1978b). Due to such a regulation of fishery the
reefs of Polynesia remained in a juvenile state for centuries despite a high
density of the aboriginal populations. This state of affairs was maintained by
subdivision of the reef area between responsible owners, and by the careful
handling of resources by users (Johannes 1978b, 1981b). These attitudes
fundamentally differed from the attitude of peoples in western civilizations
and in most other regions of S.E. Asia. According to the latter the fish
resources on marine shelves are not owned by anybody. So they could be
used by everybody, free for all to catch as much as they could. As this
coincided with market economy, it inevitably resulted in the devastation of
natural fish resources. It happened also many times in the history of world
fishery, that because of such attitudes of people and due to commercial
relationships, all attempts to control fishery from the side of state yielded
usually meagre results or needed immense efforts and expenditure (Parrish
1980).
At the beginning of the eighteenth century most countries and territories
of coastal reef areas and islands had been colonized by western countries.
The administration of the colonies by implanting christianity eradicated local
religious traditions and habits, which had preserved reef resources. As a
result, commercial fishery spread, replacing the traditional one. Such
developments soon led in many reef regions to the degradation of reefs,
overfishing of valuable species, and a drastic decrease in fish stocks, as it was
mentioned above.
The task of the scientific community in these circumstances is to make a
correct evaluation of the situation on modern reefs and to establish
principles of more reasonable relationships between man and reef. These
problems have been discussed at the International Symposia on Coral Reefs
in Manila (1981), Tahiti (1985) and Townsville (1988). The active work of
scientists enables governments to take measures regarding reef protection
and the regulation of fishery on reefs. Laws have been enacted prohibiting
trade in corals and shells and restricting construction activity in reef areas.
Some states have organized national parks and reserves, which protect reef
environments and nature. The most successful in this respect were Australia
on the GBR, and the USA on reefs of the Virgin Islands. But many other
states are still passively witnessing the imperilment of resources on their
coastal reefs in spite of the alarming predictions of scientists (Japan,