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From: SUE TAEI
_: 5
Date: 01-08-10
Time: 14:46
Talofa from the Southwest Pacific
A nice story of new fish species from this region to end your working week- another one to add to your fish lists to see.
Josh and his team have worked with the CI MMAS programme for some time and increasingly their genetic connectivity work has shown that the coastal marine biodiversity, exampled by reef fish such as these, are unique to our region. It increasingly appears that the long held belief of widespread connectivity in the marine environment does not hold true for much of the biodiversity and that the coastal marine envrions of our islands should be considered as more special and unique in a similar fashion to islands terrestrial biota. We need more investment in this work – how unqiue are these biota in Niue? Cook Islands? French Polynesia, Tokelau…the pattern of uniqueness exampled by fish and corals is increasing but we have huge holes in geographic coverage across the Pacific Islands and Ocean region
What does this mean?
For a start it gives us new argument for increasing investment in the special and unique biodiversity of islands – we are often in this part of the world held up as the poor cousins to our western neighbors based on numbers of species found. However such comparisons often overlook factors about the health and robustness of reef systems and the degree to which they are more pristine or intact. I will be using this argument in Brazil next week at the World Heritage meeting to gain support for the listing of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. We need to make more of this argument together with results such as Josh et al that this marine biodiversity is increasingly found to be unique.
Secondly in considering the development of MPA networks – clearly we also can’t rely on dispersal from across the ocean. Well designed and effective local MPA networks with though gone into transboundary linkages are impt to ensure we maintain this biodiversity. The work underway with the Two Samoa’s led by NOAA to complete a full EEZ based marine archipelago biogeographic assessment is an important example of new approaches starting to be used. The new Coral Reef Conservation Programme of NOAA recognizing the importance of the SW Pacific is another welcome initiative in the region.
Combined factors such as these should lead GEF and other marine conservation interests to recognize the uniqueness of island marine biodiversity and to correspondingly reflect this in investments. For example for a long time now the GEF investments in biodiversity have been 80:20 terrestrial: marine and island investments relative to global investments limited – its time to package more effectively the case for island conservation – including the increasingly recognized unique values found in our coastal waters. This is exactly the aim of why CI is investing in Marine Managed Area Science/Marine Science such as this project.
For all you fish list buffs – another one to add to the ID list and a nice story to relay to dive tourists….attaching a poster form earlier work by Josh et al that illustrates the importance of conserving island coastal marine areas.
Faafetai tele lava to Josh, Gerry, Doug et al and all those that helped this happen
Manuia le weekend
Sue Miller Taei
Director, Marine
CI Pacific Islands
Apia, Samoa
Last changed: 23-Jul-2011