Coral Triangle Program

The WWF Coral Triangle Program
Scientists have identified an area called the Coral Triangle within the Indo-Pacific region – its boundaries defined by marine zones containing 500 or more species of reef-building coral. WWF’s Coral Triangle Program -- which includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste and Fiji -- is supporting the Coral Triangle Initiative.

The Initiative started at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in September 2007, where 21 world leaders endorsed a new proposal to safeguard the rich marine resources of the Indo-Pacific region for future generations. The “Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security” aims to bring together six governments in a multilateral partnership to conserve the extraordinary marine life in the region. The proposal was endorsed in the Sydney APEC Leaders' “Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development”. United States President George W. Bush welcomed this Initiative during the Summit.

The WWF Coral Triangle Program is working to support this Initiative, and ensure the health of the region’s natural treasures and the millions of livelihoods that depend on it. We are helping ensure that proper environmental, political and socio-economic management is put in place towards

• Sustainable coastal fisheries: One of the most lucrative and distinctive of the region’s reef-based fisheries is the live reef fish trade with an estimated value in 2002 of $810 million. WWF’s strategy seeks to replace destructive fishing practices with sustainable ones; reduce over-fishing of wild stocks, promote the uptake of best management practices and sustainable full-cycle mariculture; and promote sustainably sourced fish in restaurants in target Asian cities.
  
• Sustainable off-shore fisheries: The Coral Triangle is home to the world’s largest population of commercially-important tuna species, supplying 50 percent of global tuna production. Our strategy will seek to develop new approaches to channel some of the benefits derived back to tuna resource management in Coral Triangle countries; ensure ecologically based fisheries management that delivers equitable benefits to island communities; reduce illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing; implement incentives for sustainable fishing practices; and help inform and engage civil society on the importance, status and management of oceanic fisheries resources.
  
• Marine protected areas: Thousands of communities depend on seafood as their primary source of protein and income generation. To prevent the loss of biodiversity and prevent further fisheries collapse, well-designed and well-managed networks of marine protected areas and locally managed marine areas are essential. Our strategy will seek to establish mechanisms that provide long-term financial support for effectively managed marine protected areas and locally managed marine areas in the Coral Triangle.
  
• Protecting marine turtles in the Indo-Pacific: The Coral Triangle is home to six of the seven species of marine turtle but threats in the region are significant. In recognition of the crucial ecological role turtles play in maintaining the health and productivity of marine food chains, Our strategy will seek to protect turtles in critical nesting, foraging, and migratory habitats through the establishment of protected areas and the reduction of turtle bycatch through gear change and the promotion of best fishing practices.
  
• Reducing the impacts of climate change and tourism: Global warming is arguably the single biggest threat to the region’s marine productivity. WWF’s strategy will seek to promote an alliance of governments and the tourism/travel sector to actively support emissions reduction measures and implement adaptation measures to reduce the impact of climate change on the region’s coral reefs.