Presentation given during the 5th GEF Biennial International Waters Conference in Cairns, Australia (during the pre-conference workshop marine ecosystems, Global Change and Marine Resources). Clive Wilkinson

2. Without Coral Reef Monitoring
• Managers
are
effectively
in the
dark

3. Uses, Users – Trends & Attitudes
• Who & how they use (interact) with the resources
• Economic dependence on reefs
• Special focus on fishing – catches, markets etc.
• Attitudes to problems & management
• Tourism operators special case
• Likewise tourists need assessing

4. Asses Large-Scale Disturbances
• Storms, coral bleaching, COTS, disease etc.
• Based on methods for general monitoring – but
assess specific indicators (bleached, broken corals)
• Special methods developed in Caribbean AGRRA
• Need baselines / undamaged areas for comparisons
• This is the basis for assessing resilience &
resistance

5. Assess Human Impacts
• Main targets are fishing, water quality, coastal
development, tourism (development & activities)
Assess & Map Resources
• Modify standard methods or insert special measures
• Can be short-term & should have BACI plan if
possible

6. Performance Evaluation &
Adaptive Management
• A major value of monitoring – is it working!
• Use basic methods around specific questions &
activities
• The data are key to Adaptive Management

7. Education & Awareness Raising
• May be least appreciated cf data gathering
• Need to involve communities, fishers, local
government people & MPA staff
• Tourists & operators special group

8. Building in Resilience in MPAs
• Need monitoring to see trends, find the sites
• Status & Trends in Resources
• Uses & Users – Trends & Attitudes
• Asses Large-Scale Disturbances
• Assess human Impacts
• Performance Evaluation & Adaptive Management
• Education & Awareness Raising
• Regional & Global Networks

9. Monitoring Tasks on Coral Reefs
• Assess & Map Resources
• Status & Trends in Resources
• Uses & Users – Trends & Attitudes
• Asses Large-Scale Disturbances
• Assess human Impacts
• Performance Evaluation & Adaptive Management
• Education & Awareness Raising
• Building in Resilience in MPAs
• Regional & Global Networks

10. Monitoring Tasks on Coral Reefs
• Assess & Map Resources
• Status & Trends in Resources
• Uses & Users – Trends & Attitudes
• Asses Large-Scale Disturbances
• Assess human Impacts
• Performance Evaluation & Adaptive Management
• Education & Awareness Raising
• Building in Resilience in MPAs
• Regional & Global Networks