About Kiritimati Atoll
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The island’s population of approximately 5,500 (Kiribati National Statistics Office, 2012) is highly reliant on the reef’s resources for subsistence fishing, aquarium fish exports, and sport fishing tourism. The local fishery is artisanal, with fishers using hand lines, gillnets, and spears to fish on the reef along the coast and within the atoll lagoon.
Kiritimati’s population is increasing rapidly due to a population re-settlement program from the nation’s capital of South Tarawa to Kiritimati that was initiated in the 1980’s (Asian Development Bank, 2002). The program was an effort to reduce the population of South Tarawa, where very high population density (3,184 people per km2; Kiribati National Statistics Office, 2012) has led to environmental degradation. This resettlement program continues today, and in the 2010 census, over 90% of the people on Kiritimati identified themselves as having migrated to Kiritimati.
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Fishing is deeply rooted in the culture of the Kiribati people, the I-Kiribati, and the nation’s subsistence fishery produces nearly three times that of its commercial fishery, both in terms of weight and monetary value (Lovell et al., 2001). The I-Kiribati are estimated to have the highest per capita fish consumption in the world at 75.2 kg per person per year (Sugiyama et al., 2004)! High fishing pressure on the reef near the villages on Kiritimati has degraded fisheries resources in those areas (Sandin et al., 2008; Walsh, 2009). |
Kiritimati is also a sanctuary for seabird nesting and breeding. Over 18 species of seabirds congregate in this area including species of shearwater, tropicbirds, boobies, and frigate birds.
Awira, R., Friedman, K., Sauni, S., Kronen, M., Pinca, S., Chapman, L., Magron, F., 2004. Kiribati Country Report: Profiles and results from survey work at Abaiang, Abemama, Kuria and Kiritimati.
Kiribati National Statistics Office, 2012. Kiribati 2010 Census Volume 1 & 2. Secretariat of the Pacific Community. Statistics for Development Programme.
Lovell, E.R., Kirata, T., Tekinaiti, T., 2001. Kiribati Coral Reefs: National Status Report. In Status of Coral Reefs 2000 (pp. 61–91). Salvat, B. Papeete, Tahiti: Fondation Naturalia Polynesia.
Sandin, S.A., Smith, J.E., Demartini, E.E., Dinsdale, E.A., Donner, S.D., Friedlander, A.M., Konotchick, T., Malay, M., Maragos, J.E., Obura, D., Pantos, O., Paulay, G., Richie, M., Rohwer, F., Schroeder, R.E., Walsh, S., Jackson, J.B.C., Knowlton, N., Sala, E., 2008. Baselines and degradation of coral reefs in the Northern Line Islands. PLoS One, 3, e1548. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001548
Sugiyama, S., Staples, D., Funge-Smith, S., 2004. Status and potential of fisheries and aquaculture in Asia and the Pacific. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand.
Walsh, S.M., 2011. Ecosystem-scale effects of nutrients and fishing on coral reefs. Journal of Marine Biology, 1–13. doi:10.1155/2011/187248
Kiribati National Statistics Office, 2012. Kiribati 2010 Census Volume 1 & 2. Secretariat of the Pacific Community. Statistics for Development Programme.
Lovell, E.R., Kirata, T., Tekinaiti, T., 2001. Kiribati Coral Reefs: National Status Report. In Status of Coral Reefs 2000 (pp. 61–91). Salvat, B. Papeete, Tahiti: Fondation Naturalia Polynesia.
Sandin, S.A., Smith, J.E., Demartini, E.E., Dinsdale, E.A., Donner, S.D., Friedlander, A.M., Konotchick, T., Malay, M., Maragos, J.E., Obura, D., Pantos, O., Paulay, G., Richie, M., Rohwer, F., Schroeder, R.E., Walsh, S., Jackson, J.B.C., Knowlton, N., Sala, E., 2008. Baselines and degradation of coral reefs in the Northern Line Islands. PLoS One, 3, e1548. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001548
Sugiyama, S., Staples, D., Funge-Smith, S., 2004. Status and potential of fisheries and aquaculture in Asia and the Pacific. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand.
Walsh, S.M., 2011. Ecosystem-scale effects of nutrients and fishing on coral reefs. Journal of Marine Biology, 1–13. doi:10.1155/2011/187248