Status of coral reef and reef fish resources of Vanuatu, April 2000 for the Regional Symposium on Coral Reefs in the Pacific: status and monitoring resources and management, 22-24th May 2000, Noume, New Caledonia

Abstract

The coral reefs of Vanuatu contribute to rural incomes, nutrition, shoreline protection and, more importantly, self reliance for the people of Vanuatu. The total area of shallow water benthic coral communities is relatively small, approximately 408 square kilometres out of a combined land area of 12,190 square kilometres. Although there are many reefs of exceptional beauty in good health, a nation-wide survey in 1988 and more recent reports from coastal communities suggest there ar e signs of a decline in the abundance of key species and coral reef habitats. Sedimentation and eutrophication of the reefs are of primary concern in the urban areas as are climate change impacts and associated increases in sea surface temperatures. In geologic time and even during the last 50 years, periodic tectonic uplift and subsidence of islands have been catastrophic to Vanuatu's coral reefs and seagrasses when they were left permanently exposed to air