Marine Scientific Assessment: The State of Curacao's Coral Reefs Part 1
This is the first part of the Marine Scientific Assessment The State of Curacao's Coral Reefs document. For part 2 click here, for part 3 here & for part 4 here.
CONTENTS
Introduction
Approach
Results
Benthic cover
Fish abundance
Water pollution
How are coastal waters used?
Discussion
Curaçao compared to other Caribbean Islands
Issues to be addressed to prevent further decline of
Curaçao’s coral and fish communities
Issue: decreasing abundance of reef building corals
Issue: overfishing
Issue: degraded water quality
Minor challenges related to ocean usages
Information not included in this report
Zone summaries
A path forward
Protecting and Restoring Marine Ecosystems
Improving Domestic Fisheries
Minimizing Water Pollution
Improving Ocean Governance
Financing a Sustainable Ocean Policy
Closing Note
Cited Literature
Appendix I: Methodology
Appendix II: Local concerns related to coral reef
conservation and responses
Climate change
Marine invasive species
Lionfish
Invasive seagrass
Threatened & endangered species
Corals
Fish
Sharks and rays
Sea turtles
Marine mammals
Inland bays: mangroves and seagrasses
Information about coral health and disease
Point vs non-point source pollution (septic seepage
through groundwater vs sewage outfalls)
Pro and cons of coastal fortification
(seawalls, breakwaters, etc.)
Invert data (Diadema , conch, lobster)
Information on pelagic fisheries
References