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Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Coordinates:3°38′59″S172°51′27″W/ 3.64972°S 172.85750°W/-3.64972; -172.85750
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Phoenix Islands Protected Area
PIPA
PIPA represents one of Earth’s last intact oceanic coral archipelago ecosystems with reefs being what a reef might have looked like one thousand years ago.
Phoenix Islands Protected Area boundary outlined
LocationPhoenix Islands
Area408,250 km2
EstablishedJanuary 2008
Governing bodyRepublic of Kiribati
www.phoenixislands.org/index.php
TypeNatural
Criteriavii, ix
Designated2010(34thsession)
Reference no.1325
RegionAsia-Pacific
Enderbury Island, Phoenix Islands Protected Area

ThePhoenix Islands Protected Area(PIPA) is located in the Republic ofKiribati,an ocean nation in the central Pacific approximately midway betweenAustraliaandHawaii.PIPA constitutes 11.34% of Kiribati'sexclusive economic zone(EEZ), and with a size of 408,250 km2(157,630 sq mi), it is one of the largestmarine protected areas(MPA) and one of thelargest protected areasof any type (land or sea) on Earth.[1]The PIPA was also designated as the world's largest and deepest UNESCOWorld Heritage Sitein 2010.[2]

The PIPA conserves one of the world's largest intact oceanic coral archipelago ecosystems, includes 14 known underwaterseamounts(presumed to be extinct volcanoes) and other deep-sea habitats. The area contains approximately 800 known species of fauna, including about 200 coral species, 500 fish species, 18 marine mammals and 44 bird species.[3][4][1]In total it is equivalent to the size of the state ofCaliforniain the US, though the total land area is only 25 km2(9.7 sq mi).[5]To the north of the PIPA is the U.S. administeredPacific Remote Islands Marine National Monumentthat is currently the world's largest designated MPA.

History and administration

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See also:Protected areas of Kiribati
The Phoenix Islands Protected Area is a mostly uninhabited coral archipelago located within a globally biologically important area called thePolynesian-Micronesian hotspot.

The Republic of Kiribati, in partnership with the non-governmental conservation organizationsConservation Internationaland theNew England Aquarium,has formed the Phoenix Island Protected Area Conservation Trust (PIPA Trust).[6]In 2018, the New England Aquarium resigned as a partner and the Aquarium of the Pacific joined the PIPA Trust Board.

Management and protection requirements necessary to maintain the values of this MPA are reflected both in the current interim management measures and the recently approved management plan. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Zonation
  • Permits

The administrators of the reserve had been criticized for the amount of fishing they allowed prior to full closure on January 1, 2015.[7]As of Jan 1, 2015, all commercial extractive activities (includingtunafishing) are prohibited throughout the MPA. Only a small sustainable-use zone aroundCanton Islandallows for limited activities to support the resident population. In the PIPA Management Plan 2015–2020, which was implemented following a Kiribati government decision in January 2014, there is a total ban on commercial fishing within the PIPA boundaries. TheTerritorial Sea(to 12nm) and all lagoons of the 8 PIPA islands, (Kanton, Manra, Rawaki, Birnie, Mckean, Enderbury, Nikumaroro and Orona) to ensure there is no impact to marine and terrestrial species including habitats.[8]

In November 2021, it was announced that Kiribati government will terminate the protected area to boost tuna fishing.[9]

Natural heritage

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See also:Coral reefs of Kiribati
Tridacnagiant clams in the lagoon of Orona
Acropora cytherea
Favites pentagona

There are threeatollswith associated lagoons and perimeter coralreefsin the PIPA (Orona(Hull),Nikumaroro(Gardner), andKanton(Aba-Riringa)), and five low islands surrounded by fringing reefs (Manra(Sydney),Rawaki(Phoenix),McKean,BirnieandEnderbury), and also two submerged reefs (WinslowandCarondelet). The area contains seven main habitats: island, lagoon, coral reef, deep reef, sea mount, deepbenthos,and open ocean, which are all represented within the protected zone.[10]

The 2000 surveys (Obura, et al.)[11]in thePhoenix Islands(Orona(Hull),Nikumaroro(Gardner), andKanton(Aba-Riringa)), five low reef islands surrounded by coral reefs (Manra(Sydney),Rawaki(Phoenix),McKeanandEnderbury) identify that, at the time of these surveys, the reefs were in an excellent state of health, and free from the bleaching that has plagued reefs in other parts of the Pacific with no evidence of any coral diseases.[11]

The coral reefs of the Phoenix Islands were notable for their moderate Live Coral Cover (LCC) of 20-40% and evidence of high physical breakage of coral by wave energy on the southern, eastern and northern reefs of the islands, which create coral rubble in the lagoons and base of the reefs.[11]The dominant bottom cover of the lagoons was hard coral (36.0%), followed bycoralline algae(red algae) (18.0%), coral rubble (16.7%), turf and fleshy algae (11.6%) andHalimeda(greenmacroalgae) (10.4%). The dominance of coral and coralline algae indicates healthy reef ecosystems dominated bycalcifying organismsand active reef framework growth.[11]The effect of exposure to storms is indicated by the dominance trends with storm resistant encrusting/submassive forms in windward sites, its somewhat lower abundance at leeward sites and a corresponding increase in more delicate plate forms, and the dominance of the more fragile table and staghorn corals in protected lagoon sites.[11]Coral species diversity is higher on the larger islands of Nikumaroro, Kanton and Orona, which indicates the importance of the larger area of reef on these islands for support of biodiversity. Carpeting soft corals (SinulariaandLobophytum) were found at the bottom of the lagoons of Kanton and Orona, which are the only true lagoons in the Phoenix Islands.[11]

Crown-of-thorns starfish(Acanthaster planci),cushion starand other coral predators, such as the corallivorous snailDrupellaspp.,are found on the reefs of the Phoenix Islands, although there has not been any indication of destructive outbreaks of those predators on the reefs.[11]

Species of giant clam (Tridacna) occur in low numbers:Tridacna squamosa;Tridacna maxima;but notTridacna gigas.[11]

Two submerged reefs,WinslowandCarondelet,and at least 14 knownseamountstogether with open ocean and deep-sea habitat are an integral part of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). TheNew England Aquarium(NEAq),Boston University(BU),Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution,Sea Education Association(SEA), andSchmidt Ocean Institutehave carried out scientific research expeditions of these seamount habitats, which have been identified being rich indeep-water coraland biodiversity supporting a variety of oceanic pelagic species. PIPA has been identified as an important feeding and spawning site for the tuna species.[8][12]The dominant taxonomic group in the deep sea across all depths were theoctocorals,followed byantipatharians,scleractinians,and thenzoantharians.[12]

Impact of iron leaching from shipwrecks and anchor gear

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The PIPA is in a naturally iron poor region. The introduction of iron to this environment from shipwrecks and anchor gear, is linked to proliferation of turf algae andbenthic bacterialcommunities, and degraded ‘black reefs’.[13][14]Monitoring from 2000 to 2015 recorded the black reef originating at the 1929 wreck of theSSNorwich Cityon Nikumaroro progressing northward to sites 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) away.[15]The 2015 expedition to the PIPA recorded the presence of black reefs on five atolls (Enderbury, Kanton, Nikumaroro, McKean, Rawaki) and on Carondelet seamount associated with shipwreck debris. No recovery has been documented at black reefs observed between 2005 and 2015.[15][13][14]

Island restoration and biosecurity program

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Restoration goals in PIPA include eradicating non-native cats fromOronaIsland that are decimating bird populations.

Five of the eight islands in PIPA are currently designated asImportant Bird AreasbyBirdlife International.Today there are 19 species of seabirds living on the islands. Many other seabirds migrate through PIPA, including shearwaters and mottled petrels from Australia and New Zealand. Prominent species include the endemic, endangeredPhoenix petrel.[16]

Some of the negative impacts of the introduction of non-native,invasive plants and animalsinclude the elimination of native seabirds and plants, particularly through the destruction of the eggs and young, and introduced plants taking over other plant life, modifying the natural island ecosystem. Plants and animals that have been introduced over time include Pacific andAsian rats,rabbits,cats, ants, pigs, dogs andlantana.[17][18]

Until PIPA was declared, the last comprehensive fauna surveys of the Phoenix Islands occurred in the 1960s. In 2006 a new survey was conducted to determine the extent of non-native pest species invasions on each island and the feasibility of a restoration program. From this work it was determined that pests - especially the feral rabbits onRawaki Islandand Asian rats onMcKean Island- should be removed from the Phoenix Islands.[17]

Sometime around the year 2002, Asian rats colonized McKean, apparently when a fishing trawler was wrecked on the island. The 2006 survey found that rat predation had virtually destroyed the once abundant populations of storm-petrels, blue noddles and other petrels and shearwaters.[18]Rabbits on Rawaki were competing for and generally damaging necessary resources for the birds, as well as trampling nests.[17]

As a first step towards biodiversity recovery on the islands of the PIPA, in mid 2008 rats and rabbits were targeted on McKean and Rawaki. In November–December 2009 a check of these islands by a science team indicated that the eradication programs were successful. The responses from the plant life and bird life were spectacular with the team finding that seabirds were nesting successfully on McKean for the first time in nearly 10 years. Meanwhile, on Rawaki the vegetation recovery has enabled birds like blue noddies to find suitable nest sites throughout the island. Even frigatebirds were nesting on the now recovering plants. These restoration efforts will enable populations of Phoenix petrel, white-throatedstorm petrel,and other important seabird populations to recover in the PIPA. A second eradication expedition was successfully executed in July 2011, with two additional islands of the PIPA, Enderbury and Birnie, targeted for pest removal. Both islands had populations of the non-native Pacific rat.

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  • Hydnophora rigida corals in PIPA
    Hydnophora rigidacorals in PIPA
  • Fish in Phoenix Islands Protected Area
    Fish in Phoenix Islands Protected Area
  • View of Masked Boobies
    View of Masked Boobies
  • Masked Boobies in Phoenix Islands Protected Area
    Masked Boobies in Phoenix Islands Protected Area
  • Juvenile Brown Booby in Phoenix Islands Protected Area
    Juvenile Brown Booby in Phoenix Islands Protected Area
  • Juvenile Booby in Phoenix Islands Protected Area
    Juvenile Booby in Phoenix Islands Protected Area
  • View of Phoenix Islands
    View of Phoenix Islands
  • Kanton Island, in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (Kiribati)
    Kanton Island, in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (Kiribati)
  • Enderbury Island, in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (Kiribati)
    Enderbury Island, in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (Kiribati)
  • McKean Island, PIPA
    McKean Island, PIPA
  • Chevron barracuda
    Chevron barracuda
  • Wildlife in Phoenix Islands Protected Area
    Wildlife in Phoenix Islands Protected Area

UNESCO World Heritage Site

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On January 30, 2009, the Republic of Kiribati submitted an application for the Phoenix Islands Protected Area for consideration on theUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)World Heritage List. This was the first nomination submitted by Kiribati since they ratified the Convention in 2000. On August 1, 2010, at the 34th session of theWorld Heritage Committeein Brasília, Brazil, the decision was made to inscribe PIPA onto the World Heritage List. It became the largest and deepestWorld Heritage sitein the world.

References

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  1. ^abRotjan, Randi (2014).Establishment, management, and maintenance of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. In: Advances in Marine Biology.Elsevier, Oxford Press.ISBN978-0-12-800214-8.
  2. ^"Phoenix Islands Protected Area".conservation International. 2020.Retrieved29 March2021.
  3. ^"Phoenix Islands Protected Area".UNESCO. 2020.Retrieved29 March2021.
  4. ^Pierce, R.J., and D. Brown (16 April 2008)."Phoenix Islands Restoration Project"(PDF).NZAID – PIPA.Retrieved29 March2021.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^Christopher Pala (2 October 2008)."Ocean wilderness is size of California".Cosmos magazine.Cosmos Media Ltd. Archived fromthe originalon 10 February 2014.Retrieved2013-06-07.The Phoenix Islands Protected Area will be the size of California, the first that protects tuna and other ocean-going fish and the first to get funding using market-based mechanisms.
  6. ^"History of the Phoenix Islands".Government of Kiribati. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015.Retrieved25 January2015.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^Pala, Christopher (2 September 2013)."Massive marine protected area is an even bigger sham - Kiribati boasts one of the world's largest no-fishing reserves, but its marine life is anything but safe".Earth Island Journal.Retrieved25 January2015.
  8. ^ab"The State of Conservation of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (Kiribati) (N 1325)".Kiribati Government. 2015.Retrieved29 March2021.
  9. ^Kiribati Terminates Giant Marine Protected Area to Boost Tuna FishingThe Maritime Executive,November 12, 2021
  10. ^"World Heritage Nomination - IUCN Technical Evaluation Phoenix Islands Protected Area (Kiribati) - ID Nº 1325".Kiribati Government. 15 May 2015.Retrieved29 March2021.
  11. ^abcdefghObura, D. O., Stone, G., Mangubhai, S., Bailey, S., Yoshinaga, A., and Barrel, R. (2011)."Baseline marine biological surveys of the Phoenix Islands"(PDF).Atoll Research Bulletin.589:1–61.doi:10.5479/si.00775630.589.1.{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^abSteven R. Auscavitch, Mary C. Deere, Abigail G. Keller, Randi D. Rotjan, Timothy M. Shank and Erik E. Cordes (13 February 2020)."Oceanographic Drivers of Deep-Sea Coral Species Distribution and Community Assembly on Seamounts, Islands, Atolls, and Reefs Within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area".Frontiers in Marine Science.7.doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.00042.hdl:1912/25560.{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^abObura, D. O., Mangubhai, S. (1 November 2018)."Silent killer: black reefs in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area".Pacific Conservation Biology.25(2): 213–214.doi:10.1071/PC18048.S2CID92277240.{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^abKelly, L. W., Barott, K. I., Dinsdale, E., Friedlander, A. M., Nosrat, B., Obura, D., Sala, E., Sandin, S. A., Smith, J. E., Vermeij, M. J., Williams, G. J., Willner, D., and Rohwer, F. (2012)."Black reefs: iron-induced phase shifts on coral reefs".The ISME Journal.6(3): 638–649.doi:10.1038/ISMEJ.2011.114.PMC3280131.PMID21881615.{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^abObura, D. O., Mangubhai, S. (2011). "Coral mortality associated with thermal fluctuations in the Phoenix Islands, 2002–2005".Coral Reefs.30(3): 607–619.Bibcode:2011CorRe..30..607O.doi:10.1007/S00338-011-0741-7.S2CID34350055.{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
  17. ^abcPierce, R.J., T. Etei, V. Kerr, E. Saul, A. Teatata, M. Thorsen, and G. Wragg. 2006.Phoenix Islands conservation survey and assessment of restoration feasibility: Kiribati. Report prepared for: Pacific Invasives Initiative, CEPF and Conservation International, SamoaArchived2012-05-25 at theWayback Machine.
  18. ^abPierce, R.J., and D. Brown.Phoenix Islands Restoration Project.16–23 April 2008. Accessed 28 August 2013.
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3°38′59″S172°51′27″W/ 3.64972°S 172.85750°W/-3.64972; -172.85750

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