Fijian coral reef damage and recovery from Cyclone Kina

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Early in 1993, Cyclone Kina struck the Fiji Islands, causing more than $100 million in property damage and damaging the coral environment as well. A few days after the cyclone, the most damaged reef was studied. The same reef had been studied 6 months before. This reef crest is dominated by Acropora. Comparison showed that 80-90% of the Acropora was torn from the outer reef and deposited in the inner lagoon. ... It is estimated that it will take a few years to 30 years for the reef to recover to pre-Kina conditions.

A study on damage caused to crustacean and finfish larvae during collection of Penaeus monodon (Fab.) postlarvae in the estuaries of Barguna, Bangladesh

A year round investigation in the estuaries of Barguna district revealed that for each Penaeus monodon postlarvae (PL), about 37 larvae of other shrimp species, 12 finfishes and 10 macrozooplankters are destroyed during the process of shrimp seed collection. Although abundance of P. monodon PL was not recorded throughout the year, a significant number of other shrimp spp., fin fishes including macrozooplankters are being damaged by the shrimp seed collectors. This indiscriminate destruction of aquatic organisms during P. monodon PL collection is serious threat to aquatic biodiversity.

Gill-damage in netted Tilapia mossambica Peters

Tilapia mossambica taken with gill-nets are often found with their gills damaged. Gill-filaments may be partly or completely lost; sometimes even the gill-arches are all missing (Plate IA). The operculum is usually undamaged but may have its posteroventral border slightly frayed (Plate IB). For comparison normal fish are shown in Plates IC and ID. Incidence of gill-damage increases rapidly with length of time the nets remain in the water; in the Parakrama Samudra a mere 2-3 hour interval between setting and lifting results in 5 to 20% of the fish being damaged.