Milner, Carol Currier, Katharine Kopcho, Blake Alling, Abigail A Status Report on the Coral Reef at Pulau Durai, Anambas Islands, Indonesia <div>The coral reefs surrounding Pulau Durai (located in the northwest of Indonesia in the Anambas Islands, South China Sea) were surveyed from 22 June to 5 July 2011 to provide baseline data on their biotic composition and condition. At each of four sites around the island, point intercept methodology over two 50 m transects yielded an average benthic cover of 26% live hard coral. The maximum live hard coral cover observed was 47% on the northern side of the island where fishing boats anchor overnight to seek shelter from the southwest monsoon. The minimum of 3% live hard</div><div>coral was observed on the west side, which is the inhabited area of the island and where there is the greatest amount of anthropogenic activity. A total of 38 hard coral genera and 115 fish species were recorded across all transects. The average biomass of fish per transect was 2135.5 kg/ha and the populations were mostly comprised of herbivores which correlated with the abundance of dead coral, algae overgrowth, and lack of predator fish. Crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) were present at all sites with</div><div>a maximum of 15 individuals sighted on both the North Shallow and South Shallow transects.In general, damage from anchors and destructive fishing practices have gravely</div><div>impacted Pulau Durai‟s reefs in the past. Present threats include continued anchoring, over-fishing and a current infestation of crown-of-thorns starfish, which are negatively</div><div>affecting the remaining health and abundance of living coral. Pulau Durai and its neighbouring island, Pulau Pahat, were declared a marine protected area in July 2011. Given the depleted state of this reef, it will be imperative to establish a “no-take” fishing area to restore the fish populations, ban anchoring on the reef to stop the destruction of coral, and if possible, remove the crown-of-thorns starfish.</div> Coral Reef;Pulau Durai;Indonesia;Marine Biology 2019-09-12
    https://smithsonian.figshare.com/articles/book/A_Status_Report_on_the_Coral_Reef_at_Pulau_Durai_Anambas_Islands_Indonesia/9762086
10.5479/si.00775630.591