Assessing reef damage from snorkelling tourists

KOROR – A study is underway in Palau to assess the damage of increased recreational use of coral reefs.

The Palau International Coral Reef Centre (PICRC) Research Team has started surveys at popular rock island snorkelling sites.

These surveys are part of a study to assess whether the increase in the number of snorkellers around Palau’s famous rock islands are impacting the shallow reefs.

The main objective of this project is to assess the impacts of snorkellers’ on the coral reef communities focusing on a few of the more popular and heavily snorkelled sites within Koror’s Southern Lagoon.

With the increase in the number of snorkel divers, as opposed to scuba diving tourists in Palau, the survey project has been initiated to determine if there is any negative impact on the shallow reefs, especially with the coral and fish communities.

All the snorkeling sites were compared to a similar area that was not heavily visited by tourists.

These similar sites were considered as the control sites in order to determine that it is in fact the visitors that are causing any changes rather than other factors.

The surveys conducted are focused coral community; fish abundance and diversity; and the behaviours of customers and tour guides.

“Conducting this project is very important because it can guide our actions to mitigate any negative impacts,” said PICRC Researcher Evelyn Otto

“In order for management actions to be effective, we need to have a good information. This research will aim to provide this information so proper management actions can be taken.”

Once the data are collected and analysed, PICRC will prepare a report of its findings and make them available for all the stakeholders involved.

PICRC’s mission is to guide efforts supporting coral reef stewardship through research and its applications for the people of Palau, Micronesia, and the world.