1. 2017 WIO Post-Bleaching Assessment Project
2nd November 2017
Mishal Gudka -
10th WIOMSA Scientific Symposium

2. Content Objectives Background Plan Activities and outputs
Data and analysis
Next steps

4. Objectives
Determine the extent of coral reef degradation in the Western Indian Ocean as a result of the 2016 coral bleaching event
To consolidate post-bleaching assessment methods and guidance for the WIO regional reef network
To capture and disseminate coral reef health data
To facilitate a meeting of regional stakeholders to share and present findings

5. Background 2016 - 3rd global coral bleaching event affected the WIO
IOC’s Biodiversity Project supported coral bleaching data collection for the GCRMN coral status report
Part of an initiative to enhance global efforts to assess the impacts of the coral bleaching event

7. Outputs and activities
Webinar conducted in July
Post-bleaching surveys September – October
Meeting of regional stakeholders - November
National assessment reports completed by December
Final report with regional synthesis - February 2018

8. Project Plan 2015/2016 WIO coral dataset (GCRMN coral status report)
Survey sites with pre-bleaching data
Communication with partners
Fieldwork funded in Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania
Data from institutions and organisations that independently collected post-bleaching data
Data summarised
Data-sharing agreement
Mention that one of the key targets was to ensure that long-term data was maintained – extra data point to time series for long term sites
Summary data
Updated WIO coral dataset with post-bleaching data

9. Data Coral reef data collected using standardized monitoring methods
Benthic
Quantitative 2016 bleaching
Fish abundance
Coral recruit
Coral condition

10. Analysis plan National and regional scales:
Trend (decline/increase) in levels over time
Comparison of pre- and post-bleaching levels
Live hard coral cover
Recruit density etc.
Percentage of coral that died
Percentage of bleaching recorded (at peak)

11. Final steps Conduct data analysis – national and regional levels
Write national assessment chapters
Write regional synthesis
Complete and publish final report
Dissemination of key findings

12. End
Photo credit: Julien Wickel