Final report, NOAA International Coral Reef conservation Program grant no. NA03NOS4630223, testing indicators of MPA management effectiveness in Kosrae, FSM

Testing indicators of MPA management effectiveness in Kosrae

Tupper, Mark H., 1964-

Raymundo, Laurie J.

Alicea, Eileen.

United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

Coral Reef Conservation Program (U.S.)

United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

Coral Reef Conservation Program (U.S.)

2006

The island of Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia is among the least developed of the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States. Approximately 7700 people live on Kosrae, which is 42 square miles in area. Many Kosraeans are reliant on the ocean for their livelihood. The island is surrounding by coastal mangrove forest and extensive fringing reefs. Kosrae's reefs and mangroves are considered some of the healthiest in Micronesia and support a small but growing diving and ecotourism industry (currently about 1000 visitors per year). However, recent coastal development and upland land use patterns have resulted in coastal erosion and degradation of the coastal mangrove ecosystem, placing the health of Kosrae's reefs at risk. Unfortunately, the Kosraean government does not possess extensive finances, manpower, or technical expertise. Thus, it is important that both institutional and community capacity be strengthened and integrated to ensure sound management of Kosrae's coastal resources. Over the past several years, Kosrae has begun to develop an MPA program that involves comanagement of coastal resources by local communities working in concert with state resource management agencies"--Intro.

Coral reef ecology

Coral reef fishes

Coral reef management

Corals

Habitat

Management

Marine parks and reserves

Monitoring

Population

Micronesia (Federated States)

Kosrae

CoRIS (Coral Reef Information System)

Professional Paper

The island of Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia is among the least developed of the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States. Approximately 7700 people live on Kosrae, which is 42 square miles in area. Many Kosraeans are reliant on the ocean for their livelihood. The island is surrounding by coastal mangrove forest and extensive fringing reefs. Kosrae's reefs and mangroves are considered some of the healthiest in Micronesia and support a small but growing diving and ecotourism industry (currently about 1000 visitors per year). However, recent coastal development and upland land use patterns have resulted in coastal erosion and degradation of the coastal mangrove ecosystem, placing the health of Kosrae's reefs at risk. Unfortunately, the Kosraean government does not possess extensive finances, manpower, or technical expertise. Thus, it is important that both institutional and community capacity be strengthened and integrated to ensure sound management of Kosrae's coastal resources. Over the past several years, Kosrae has begun to develop an MPA program that involves comanagement of coastal resources by local communities working in concert with state resource management agencies"--Intro.

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/522