Entanglement of monofilament fishing lines and coral death

This study examined the extent of damage by monofilament fishing lines on the cauliflower coral (Pocillopora meandrina) colonies at a popular cast fishing site in Oahu, Hawaii in March 1998. Sixty-five percent of coral colonies had fishing lines on their surface, and 80% of colonies were either entirely or partially dead. The percentage of entirely and partially dead colonies was positively correlated with the percentage of colonies entangled with fishing lines. Percent dead coral surface area was larger for colonies with fishing lines than colonies without fishing lines. In colonies with fishing lines, percent dead coral surface area was positively correlated with percent area with fishing lines. The high incidence of coral colonies with fishing lines and the three sets of significant results indicated destructive effects of monofilament fishing lines to P. meandrina corals. There is thus a clear case that reefs should be protected not only from the effects of excessive removal of fishes, but also from the effects of unsuccessful fishing that results in fishing-line entanglement on corals. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.