The influence of protected area management on the status of coral reefs at Misali Island, Tanzania following the 1998 bleaching event in the western Indian Ocean

The reefs of Misali Island, Tanzania suffered serious coral mortality as a result of the 1998 coral bleaching event in the western Indian Ocean. Four years after this event, Frontier-Tanzania assessed reef substrate in Misali Island Marine Conservation Area (MIMCA) using scuba surveys. Substrate cover was compared between sites within and outside the nonextraction zone (NEZ) of MIMCA and recovery rates were estimated through reference to previous studies. Coral recovery at Misali Island following the bleaching event has generally been slow, but nonextractive management of MIMCA has enhanced coral recovery within the NEZ. The absence of fishing activities in the NEZ has sustained herbivorous fish populations and thus reduced algal overgrowth; however, outside the NEZ, diving and anchoring activities have caused further coral damage and led to increased levels of debris. Awareness-raising programmes could lessen these problems and the NEZ appeared to be well-placed to capitalize on nonmanageable factors that are thought to mitigate the effects of coral bleaching. In addition, the implementation of flexible zoning schemes could improve recovery rates after future bleaching events.