Annette BRECKWOLDT, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Germany
Yvy DOMBAL, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Germany
Catherine SABINOT, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Germany
Elodie FACHE, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Germany
The importance of coral reefs for Small Island States in the tropics has long been undisputed. Healthy and protected reefs help island systems thrive and survive. Reef passages link the open ocean to lagoon and coastal areas in coral reef ecosystems and are generally home to an exceptionally diverse and abundant marine life, hosting emblematic species and fish spawning aggregations particularly vulnerable to fishing. The social and ecological roles of reef passages provide multiple benefits for the islands and their peoples but remain understudied. Drawing from extensive and exploratory qualitative interviews with fishers, divers, and surfers along the coast of Grande Terre (New Caledonia), this study highlights the multi-faceted importance of these transfer spaces. It shows that local reef passages (1) are deemed ‘communication zones’, (2) have significant ecological and cultural roles, and (3) their protection is seen as a priority by at least some of its users. Reef passages therefore showcase a number of transboundary issues that need to be better understood. This understanding will be explicitly required for conservation planning, supporting fisheries and/or protecting marine biodiversity and culture towards achieving the international objective of protecting 30% of the Ocean by 2030.
Mots clés : Coral reef passages|New Caledonia|social-ecological roles|fishing|biodiversity
A103080AB