THE CURRENT STATUS OF CORAL-REEF MANAGEMENT IN FRENCH-POLYNESIA

The current status of French Polynesian coral reefs is reviewed with r espect to the resources, both renewable and non-renewable, which are e xtracted from the reef areas. The various factors impacting on the ree fs such as sewage, land run-off, overfishing, industrial and agricultu ral effluent, and tourism are discussed together with any legislation controlling these activities. The three marine reserves and the protec ted species legislation are reviewed together with comments on the lat est planning initiative which potentially will allow an integrated app roach to coastal zone management to occur. Finally, the problems of th e lack of enforcement of existing legislation are discussed and the re al need for a more effective integrated management of the reefs. Curre ntly much of the economy of French Polynesia is largely dependent upon reef resources, such as tourism, fisheries and pearl culture and, the refore, the maintenance of 'healthy reefs' is vital, and yet little en forcement of even existing legislation appears to be occurring; this i s despite the reefs of French Polynesia being better known than many o ther reefs in the South Pacific.