Coral reefs worldwide, and particularly in south east Asia, are critical for species diversity, socio-economically for fisheries and for coastal protection. However, they are currently suffering directly from many anthropogenic impacts, such as overexploitation of reef fish stocks, use of destructive fishing methods (poisons and dynamite) and the utilisation of numerous types of fishing gear. We are also seeing deterioration in this marine environment through the indirect effect of pesticides, pollution from burgeoning coastal populations and uncontrolled development.

Recognition of the problems has lead to initiatives to effectively protect and manage coral reef ecosystems in the long-term and to provide a sustainable fishery for coastal communities. In the Tukang Besi islands, marine resources are still relatively rich but are suffering increasingly from human activities. Effective conservation of the coral reefs in the Wakatobi Park may therefore only be possible by the designation and implementation of fully protected reef areas.

Establishment of fully protected MPAs is a relatively recent development. They are seen as non-ambiguous ways to increase fish stocks, protect biodiversity and as a means of managing local fisheries. Although "no take-no entry" reserves have been proven to protect reef areas and fish stocks; effectiveness, actual functioning and the long term benefits have been little studied although increasingly such research is taking place in other parts of the world (Roberts & Polunin, 1991). In general, we can expect that reef habitat will improve, certain target species, if absent, will return to the site, the size and abundance of fish will increase, recruitment to outside areas may occur and there will be increases in availability of fish outside the MPA (Roberts & Polunin, 1994).

In the Wakatobi Marine Park a specific No Fishing Zone (NFZ) was designated in 2000 off Hoga Island. To determine whether this NFZ is going to be effective at protecting the reef fish resources in the local area we need to consider the processes leading to the promotion of fish abundance and production both within and outside the designated area. Therefore, it is essential to quantify how the fish, particularly those of local commercial and ecological importance, respond to the protected zone.

By protecting an area we need to consider its ecological importance to the fish. At a local scale we do not know how particular fish respond to the availability of protected resources and how this changes with species abundance and size. For example, for territorial species is their spatial distribution altered owing to changes in competition for territories within a protected area, as this is important for availability of habitat for new recruits and other species individuals? Are adjacent areas outside of the protected area utilised by target fish and are they more important for larger individuals with greater resource requirements? If so what is the extent of use and when does this occur as this will determine how susceptible the fish are to fishing outside the protected area.

Increasing our knowledge of such aspects will enable more effective management and enable improvement in siting other NFZs or possibly MPAs within the Wakatobi Park. In addition, this work will also be a basis for longer term monitoring in the Park, providing essential evidence to promote the continuation of the protected area to the local Bajo fishing community.

In order to move towards addressing the topics of the effectiveness and functioning of the NFZ at Hoga, a project has been running during July and August 2001 with the following objectives, some of which are aimed towards the longer term.

The objectives of the project were considered from two perspectives:

1. The direct effectiveness of the no fishing zone on fish abundance and size with a view towards the benefits for the local fishing community;
2. Other factors linked to the functioning and effect of the NFZ from a more ecological perspective.

The specific objectives were:

• To investigate target species changes within and outside the designated area.
• To determine how target coral reef fish utilise resources and habitat within the NFZ of Hoga Island.
• To determine how target coral reef fish utilise resources and habitat outside of the NFZ of Hoga Island.
• To determine the extent that species range within the adjacent reef systems and the extent of leakage to non protected sites.
• To investigate how far from a protected area the benefits of protection are apparent, if any.

In order to move towards addressing the topics of the effectiveness and functioning of the No Fishing Zone (NFZ) at Hoga we have been undertaking a series of surveys to provide a baseline data set on the following:

• Target fish families of importance to the local Sampela obtained through the Artisanal Fishery project.
• Underwater visual fish census for the target fish.
• Underwater survey of butterflyfish
• Distribution of territorial fish to determine competition for resources within and outside the NFZ.

Following a visit to the Artisanal Fishery project headed by Chris Majors, we sorted the available information into the most frequently caught fish families. Subsequently, we altered the standard protocol for visual fish census (English et al, 1997) to survey for the target fish families. The whole methodology required baseline habitat classification using a 20m line intercept transect (LIT) to determine the extent of benthic generic life forms and level and type of damage, if any. We then lay a 50m line marked off at 5m intervals along 5m and 10m depth contours. This was followed by a visual fish census of 2.5m either side of the line and 5m into the water column taking two minutes for each 5m of transect. Thus, it took 20 minutes to conduct the whole survey. We also conducted a 50m visual survey for butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) owing to their importance as indicators of reef health. Finally, we mapped the position of Behn’s Damselfish (Neoglyphidodon nigoris) territories within a 5m wide belt transect from 15m depth to the reef crest. We also conducted 5m LIT’s at 15m whilst using the other LIT data for 5m and 10m habitat classification. These data will allow us to look at competition for resources by these highly territorial and visually obvious fish on the reefs.

A project team with a core of 6 students and 4 assistants were extensively trained in the transect line census methodology to ensure standard replicable data were obtained and that the technique had minimum impact on the coral reef resources. In addition, we have completed a number of quadrat based surveys in the reef flats/lagoon, owing to strong fishing pressure. This data will provide an estimate of the seagrass and other benthic habitats that exist in these shallow water areas. We will then overlay information from the Artisanal Fisheries project on the location and fish species and sizes caught in these areas. Thus providing a baseline assessment of current habitat quality against which we can monitor any changes over time.

We also created an even stronger link with the Artisanal Fishery project to provide them with more detailed data on the length and weight relationships of the fish caught. This data will provide an indication of fish species status and produce relationships for the weight at length for individual species, a useful predictive fishery tool.

Finally, we set up an ad hoc record system to monitor any fishing activity either within the NFZ or at the edges.

All these data provide a strong starting point of standard baseline data set from which we can build upon and monitor any changes within and adjacent to the NFZ in the medium to long term, the most crucial time periods for protected area functioning.

To address the more ecological based aspects of the project, data on targeted species have been collected to determine the extent of use of resources such as territory size (if appropriate), feeding rate, horizontal and vertical movements within and outside the protected area at set times of the day. Similar data have been collected at sites considered far enough away to be outside the influence of the NFZ to act as a comparison. Initially, we concentrated on the visually dominant and highly territorial damselfish and the more widely ranging butterflyfish which are suggested indicators of reef health. In addition, stomach samples from damselfish have been obtained and preserved to allow subsequent baseline determination of the food eaten and frequency of food item eaten by fish.

Finally, we have taken fin clip samples from 21 specimens of Behns damselfish to assess genetic relatedness between the fish at sites that we have surveyed. The data analyses is to be undertaken by colleagues at the University of Liverpool who will first determine a genetic standard of microsatellite markers from a whole specimen and will subsequently assess genetice relatedness from the fin clippings. We expect to be able to determine if there is any connection between Damselfish individuals within and between two sample sites on either side of the NFZ.

English, S, Wilkinson C & Baker V (1997) Survey Manual for Tropical Marine Resources (2^nd Edition). Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville.

McManus, J (1988) Coral reefs of the ASEAN region: Status and Management. Ambio, 17 189-93.

Robert, C M & Polunin, N V C (1991) Are marine reserves effective in management of reef fisheries Rev. Fish Biol. Fish, 1, 65-91.

Roberts, C M & Polunin N V C (1994) Hol Chan: Demonstrating that marine reserves can be remarkably effective. Coral reefs 13, 90.