AN ASSESSMENT OF THE STATUS OF THE CORAL-REEFS OF PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA

Papua New Guinea's coral reefs are of global significance in extent an d diversity. They are ver poorly studied. The primary human uses are s ubsistence and artisanal commercial fisheries. While the reef fishery resources are underutilized on a national scale, localized overfishing has occurred where there has been access to cash markets. PNG reefs a re thought to be relatively undisturbed, but there are insufficient da ta for objective assessment of their status. Major threats include sed imentation due to forestry, agriculture and mining, and damage from bl ast fishing. Mining has caused reef damage in at least one location, a nd mangrove deforestation is accelerating. Eutrophication and other po llution may be a problem in localized areas, especially near urban cen tres.