TROPICAL MARINE FISHERIES AND THE FUTURE OF CORAL-REEFS - A BRIEF REVIEW WITH EMPHASIS ON SOUTHEAST-ASIA

Rapidly growing human population and economic inequities are placing i ncreasing demands on tropical marine fisheries. Coral reef fisheries c onstitute an important source of food and livelihood on a global scale . However, destructive fishing is a major cause of coral reef degradat ion and is often associated with Malthusian overfishing, a condition r elated to poverty and coastal crowding. Studies based on the Gordon-Sc haefer bioeconomic model indicate that for many coral reef areas, sugg est a return to optimal resource use will require a reduction of fishi ng effort by approximately 60%. Trawling for fish and shrimp has been the cause of widespread damage to coral communities on tropical shelve s. The precautionary principle and the code of responsible fishing are intended to reduce such problems. Coral reef fishery management is pr omoted in the International Coral Reef Initiative in its emphasis on i ntegrated coastal zone management. The scientific basis for the latter should be a primary focus of further scientific research.