Conservation and community benefits from traditional coral reef management at Ahus Island, Papua New Guinea

Published source details Cinner J.E., Marnane M.J. & MCClanahan T.R. (2005) Conservation and community benefits from traditional coral reef management at Ahus Island, Papua New Guinea. Conservation Biology, 19, 1714-1723.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit some fishing and collection (including where restrictions are unspecified) Action Link

Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit some fishing and collection (including where restrictions are unspecified)

A replicated, paired, site comparison study in 2002 in six marine reef areas at Ahus and Onetta islands, Papua New Guinea (Cinner et al. 2005), found that protected areas that prohibited some fishing and collection had similar diversity and live coral cover compared to sites where fishing was unrestricted. Coral diversity and live coral cover were similar in protected, traditionally managed community (tambu) sites compared to unprotected sites (data as model outputs). Protected tambu sites had 60% higher fish biomass (205 kg/ha) compared to unprotected sites (127 kg/ha) and fewer fishing gear discards (data as models). Three traditionally managed (tambu) sites were compared to three sites of similar reef profile, current regimes, and wave exposure, which had no protective management or fishing restrictions. At each site, 10 m long transects (18/site) were positioned to cover the same aspect areas of reefs at 6 –8 m depth, and hard corals were identified to genus. Management and effectiveness were assessed via interviews and the recording of discarded fishing gear in transects. With 2–3 exceptions/year to fish for ceremonial food at tambu sites, spear and net fishing were prohibited and harvesting of invertebrates was severely limited, but line fishing was unregulated. Tambu areas (six sites; total 33ha) represented 6% of the available fishing area.

(Summarised by: Silviu Petrovan)