From hendee@aoml.noaa.gov Wed Sep 30 07:45:01 1998 Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 09:55:26 -0400 (EDT) From: Jim Hendee To: coral@aoml.noaa.gov Subject: Reef Check Team Reports (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 12:23:13 +0800 (Taipei Standard Time) From: reefchck@ust.hk To: coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov, iyor-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov Subject: Reef Check Team Reports Reef Check Team Reports From Around the World - August 1998 In this report: Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Bonaire, Hawaii, Israel, PNG, Philippines, Tanzania, Japan, Columbia, Guam Reef Check 98 in Cayman Islands - Carrie Manfrino Kievman Our group of 12 divers completed Reef Check between July 1 and 4. We were fortunate to get enormous media coverage from the Cayman Islands Television Network (CITN 27). A brief report describing the plight of coral reefs and the Reef Check project was aired numerous times and I was interviewed on their Daybreak program. The reefs on Grand Cayman Island are under increasing stress for several reasons: 1. Tourism continues to grow and more hotels are being developed or expanded. 2. Dredging has just begun in the North Sound area which is fringed by a now popular reef. As I was flying off the island a large plume of muddy water was spilling toward the reef. Several more permits to dredge have been requested and were pending a decision when I left the islands in July. 3. There is talk in the legislature of changing some of the rules and regulations that govern the marine parks to allow line fishing in areas previously off limits. 4. Fisherman are using a new type of fishpot that is placed very near the fringing reef and that have a smaller mesh sizes than traditional Caymanian fishpots. 5. More and more mangroves are being destroyed by developers. Reef Check 98 in Hong Kong - Carmen Lee WWF Hong Kong is the local coordinator for this year's Reef Check in Hong Kong, and there are altogether 7 teams led by a group of enthusiastic divers who wish to participate in this event . A press conference was held on 28 July 1998, which was well attended by media reporters. The kick-off launch for Reef Check was at the Coral Beach of Hoi Ha Wan on 8 August 1998, with the generous support from Ocean Sky Diving Co. Ltd. The other 6 Reef Check sites are Ping Chau, Moon Island (Hoi Ha Wan), Bluff Island, Shelter Island, Nine Pins and Lemma, which will be surveyed this month. Reef Check 98 in Bahrain - K. Roger Uwate The Reef Check team in Bahrain has completed surveys on three different coral reefs. On Fasht Al Adhom, a shallow and a deep water site was completed. A new coral area was surveyed near Khwar Fasht (one survey). In addition, on 7/8/98, two transects were completed on Abul Thama. Abul Thama is considered by sports divers as the best coral reef in Bahrain. The two local English papers have already published stories on the Abul Thama surveys. In addition, plans are proceeding to produce a marine conservation poster. A local sponsor has agreed to fully support printing costs. The poster focuses on public participation in marine conservation activities (including volunteers helping in Reef Check). This poster should be finished in a few weeks. It will be distributed primarily to the various schools in Bahrain (when schools start next month). Reef Check 98 in Bonaire - Susie Westmacott Bonaire Reef Check participants have already taken part in the Marine Park's surveys in the past so we have a relatively experienced crew. As observers we are also including the newly qualified Bonaire Marine Park scuba kids. They have been trained by the Marine Park and are keen to become involved in our monitoring and survey work. Reef Check 98 in Maui, - Carl M. Stepath August 13 & 15, 1998 (A continued project of Clean Oceans '98) Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary, Kihei -Thur, Aug. 13; 6-8pm Coral Reef Ecology & Reef Check Preparations -Saturday, Aug. 15 from 8-10am, Reef Check Coral Reef Monitoring Welcome to this coral reef ecology workshop, and an opportunity to learn about coral reef monitoring. Divers and scientists at more than 300 locations around the world will examine coral reef health this summer. The sponsoring organization on Maui and Kauai is Save Our Seas. Professional and recreational divers, with knowledge of marine biology and at least one professional marine scientist per team will monitor the reef at Kalepolepo. Scientists will be on hand to give explanations and answer questions, and validate the data. This continues work at Kapalua Bay in June on Maui, Anini in June on Kauai, Princeville in August on Kauai. As you probalbly know the first Reef Check in the world was held at Princeville Kauai in June of 1997 at the Clean Oceans Conference. We have continued the project to the best of our ability. Reef Check 98 in Israel - Zvika Livnat Down here in Eilat, Israel, recently we received a confirmation for the project science leader position from Dr Nanette E.Chadwick Furman, which is wonderful for the project. she is a very respected scientist and an expert on corals. This year all the volunteers for israel are marine biologists and diving instructors. We like to keep it in a professional level. we are still waiting for approval on budgets. (Ed. Note: Nan will be coordinating with our other Israel teams led by Joe Breman). Reef Check 98 in Papua New Guinea - Norman Quinn Dr. Norman Quinn, University of Papua New Guinea, is coordinating the efforts in Papua New Guinea. With the assistance of Dr. B.L. Kojis and local university students reefs in Oro Province, off Kavieng, and in the Central Province have been survey. Logistic assistance has been provided by local dive centers. None of the reef surveyed have been severely impacted by anthropogenic pollution. Subsistence fishing appears to be the most important impact on the fish populations of the reefs. Reef Check 98 in Frontier Tanzania - Damon Stanwell-Smith The volunteers have been trained in ReefCheck techniques, using both western and Tanzanian personnel. The sites have been identified and will be surveyed this week. In addition Jean-Luc has given a lecture/workshop to the SCUBA club of Dar es Salaam, as they were interested in participating in Reefcheck. Frontier has an ongoing marine research programme in Southern Tanzania, we have recently surveyed reef areas with as much as 70% coral bleaching. Detailed results are being collated, together with monitoring of recovery and overgrowth. We look forward to seeing the results of both ReefCheck 97 and this year's stirling efforts. Reef Check 98 in Japan - Mariko Abe Starting from Iriomote island (done by Underwater Creature Network), Japanese teams have finished the reefcheck survey at 5 points so far. Apart from Iriomote, Henoko (Okinawa mainland. by Love DugongNetowork), Ishigaki island(by Coral Network), Tokashiki island (Diving Base Teera), Miyake-jima(by Miyakejima sizen fureai tomonokai). Last year the number of participant groups was only two. However, over 10 groups will be finish the survey by the end of September. We think it is a great progress & ReefCheck 98' in Japan is going successfully so far. Reef Check 98 in Colombia - Nohora Galvis In Colombia, there is a lot activity related to REEF CHECK 98. Four events are planned to be developed : one at the end of August (Corales del Rosario) and three more in September (Santa Marta, San Andrés y Gorgona). It would be interesting sharing information about a list of species for the Eastern Pacific (Gorgona). Reef Check 98 in Guam - Sandra Romano Reef Check here went really well on Sunday. We had about 45 people who did 3 different sites. Everybody really got into it. I am working up the data now and will get it off to you next week- there are a few loose ends to tie up. It really is a good exercise for everyone- I think they have really learned a lot. Reef Check 98 in Palawan, Philippines - Sarah Curran Survey sites for ReefCheck are Port Barton (mid west Palawan), Honda Bay (Central) and Busuanga (northern Palawan). We have conducted surveys at 4 sites in Port Barton and will conduct surveys at Honda Bay and Busuanga this month. From visits to other sites including Port barton, there is a massive amount of bleaching occuring. At Port Barton, Honda bay and other areas in Mindoro we were finding sites with 70% bleached hard coralincluding soft forms, and almost all anemones are bleached . Water temperature is around 32 degrees even at 10 m. Regards Keith Kei Assistant Coordinator Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development Applied Technology Centre Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clearwater Bay Kowloon HONG KONG Tel: (852) 2358-6936 Fax: (852) 2358-1334 e-mail: reefchck@ust.hk web site: http://www.ust.hk/~webrc/ReefCheck/reef.html