MARTIN

This reef has been surveyed extensively using manta tow since 1990. Reef-wide live coral cover has not changed significantly and is currently moderate (10-30%). COTS populations were at outbreak levels in 1998 and 1999, but no COTS have been seen during surveys since that time. This reef is currently classified as No Outbreak. No bleaching was recorded and White Syndrome Disease was present but only a few affected coral colonies were recorded during manta tow surveys in 2003.

This reef has been surveyed extensively since 1990. Coral cover has not changed significantly on this reef and is currently moderate (20-30%). While COTS populations have shown a steady increase over the last four years they have only been recorded at outbreak levels in two of these (1998, 1999). Surveys in 2000 indicate COTS are currently in decline and this reef has been reclassified as No Outbreak. No bleaching was observed on this reef during surveys in 2000. Coral cover on the intensive survey sites has not changed significantly despite low levels of bleaching in 1999 and increasing numbers of COTS. Cover of hard coral remains stable at approximately 24%. Cover of algae and soft coral has remained stable at 5% and 43% respectively. The hard coral community is reasonably diverse on this reef with cover of Acroporiidae, Pocilloporidae and Poritiidae all averaging approximately 6%. For large mobile species there are no consistent trends in abundance. Declines which were evident in 1999 in the families; Chaetodontidae, Serranidae, Lethrinidae and Lutjanidae, have stabilised. General increases in the genus Pomacentrus are largely driven by changes in P. moluccensis from 1994 to 1997. Numbers of Neopomacentrus azysron have been variable over time with a tendency to decline. Numbers of Amblyglyphidodon curacao peaked in 1998 befor a slight decline to 2000.

Martin (No. 14-123) is an inner shelf planar reef with an area of 10.1 sq.km. Last surveyed August 2002.







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