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FEBRUARY 1997 NEWSLETTERCASE STUDIES IN WORLD REEF MANAGEMENTA report describing successes and failures in the sustainable use of world coral reefs has found that while effective management can provide protection of the reef ecosystems, as well as promote economic development, most countries lack the right mix of essential elements. The literature study, "Successes and Failures of Global Reef Management" , was undertaken by the Cairns-based Reef Tourism 2005 project, with support from the Department of Environment, GBRMPA and the CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd. Report Authors Ms Robin Aiello and Nicki Hungeford say in their executive summary: "Scientific research and coral reef management literature is often difficult to obtain without access to specialist facilities and materials. Reef managers generally have ready access to pertinent publications for their perusal, whereas the marine tourism industry does not. "There is also a noticeable lack of literature written by tourist operators. The majority of literature concerning the marine environment and its management is written by academics and environmental managers. "This report, therefore, is a report designed particularly for the marine tourism industry. It uses non-scientific lay-terms where possible, and an easy-to-follow outline style. "How to achieve this balance is the recurring question that continues to face management agencies worldwide. Historically, marine resources were considered to be nearly unlimited with depleted or degraded habitats expected to regenerate even under continued impact. In some cases reef users simply relocated to another reef after resources were depleted. "With the realisation that reef environments, and the animals within are finite, many governments responded by establishing marine parks. In most cases this was a reactive response to control over-exploitation of diminishing economic resources such as fisheries and materials that were being mined (coral, limestone, etc.). "Globally, coral reefs are believed to be at risk of severe degradation. Some scientists estimate that 10% are already extinct, with another 30% seriously threatened. In Australia we are lucky that our reefs, at present, are generally in good health. Since the Great Barrier Reef lies a distance offshore, and the population along Queensland's coast is still relatively small, land-based impacts seem to have less effect than in those countries whose reefs lie close to heavily populated coastlines. "Very little can be done to prevent or alter natural impacts, but there are a variety of options for managing human uses and impacts. "Human impacts may arise through alterations to the "pre-existing natural system by removing biological or physical resources or by introducing physical, chemical or biological factors that distort processes that maintain the system" (Kenchington, 1990). "Coral reef research, and the awareness of effects of human impacts, is relatively recent. Researchers need more time (1) to identify which impacts are harmful in the short versus long term, (2) to determine the long term effects of these impacts, and (3) to isolate environmental considerations that are most important for maintaining a healthy reef. "In areas where impacts are already occurring, it has been shown that extra care needs to be taken in balancing development and conservation considerations to allow recovery. In some cases management has adopted the Precautionary Principle, in which caution is taken in the absence of environmental information. This should be a universally accepted policy until further research provides better insights. "Since marine tourism has become a main marine resource user within
the past decade, marine park management agencies need to manage not only
the resources within the park, but also the tourism operations and reef
visitors that use the park. "All aspects of a region (biological, geographical, political and social) must be considered during the development of an appropriate and effective management plan. Methods used successfully in one part of the world, or on one reef, do not guarantee equally successful results in another. "Successful reef management includes the following elements:
"In different parts of the world, the lack of one or more of these elements has led to inadequate protection and preservation, which in turn, has led to the destruction of the resource upon which the economic welfare of the area is based." |
