Coral Reef Fisheries Management

Coral reef fisheries support and sustain communities by providing food and income. In recent times many fisheries have become unsustainable due to population growth, emergence of export fisheries, and use of more efficient fishing equipment. Overfishing of high value species has been documented on nearly all U.S. inshore reefs, contributing to localized depletions of key species and changes in the ecological balance of coral reefs. Removal of predatory fishes may accelerate bio-erosion of corals by the invertebrate prey these fishes formerly held in check, while the removal of herbivores has been implicated in the overgrowth of corals by algae. In addition, certain fishing techniques and gear types have negative impacts on coral reefs and associated habitats.

The NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS) Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) maintains activities in the Caribbean and Florida, in the Pacific, and internationally. NMFS CRCP works to identify and understand the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of fishing activities and specific gear types, to enhance fishery management and coordination at local and regional levels, and to increase public awareness about fishery related impacts by:

• Understanding the health of coral reefs and associated species through monitoring, assessment, and research;
• Assisting states and territories in marine reserve zoning and designating habitat protection areas;
• Assessing the effectiveness of marine protected areas;
• Monitoring the effectiveness of coral reef restoration activities;
• Researching coral disease and supporting related management activities;
• Leading an interagency effort to remove derelict fishing gear in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands;
• Providing enforcement and monitoring trainings;
• Analyzing and organizing workshops to improve local management capacity and international standards on reef fisheries and trade in ornamental coral reef species; and
• Supporting national and international efforts to conserve coral reef species.

The Ecosystem Assessment Division also manages Coral Reef Conservation Grants to Fishery Management Councils and non-governmental partners.

Fishery Management Workshops:

Over the past two years, NMFS has supported regional and local workshops to allow island resource managers, fisheries educators,enforcement personnel, and fishers to identify successful coral reef fishery management approaches. These workshops provide a forum for participants to compare methods that have been successful, including regulations that have worked, effective enforcement, education to reach people who can really effect change, and to enhance communication between stakeholders and managers.

1. Caribbean Coral Reef Fisheries Management Workshop
2. Pacific Coral Reef Fisheries Management Workshops

Return to top.

To obtain Acrobat Reader, click .