Montserrat

Montserrat Montserrat, along with Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, is a United Kingdom Overseas Territory. They form part of the nation state of the United Kingdom (UK), but are not represented in the UK parliament and have an independent elected government. The UK is responsible for defense and international relations with some say in legislation. [1] After 350 years of dormancy, Montserrat became volcanically active in 1995, when the capital Plymouth was destroyed and approximately half the island became uninhabitable. Huge plumes of sediment entered the sea at several locations, and the effects on the reefs on the south and east of the island have been severe. Direct deposits of ash and waterborne sediment led to coral bleaching and an increase in coral diseases. The volcano has been quiet since March 1998. [2] Corals are found primarily as a series of scattered patch reefs ranging in depth from 2 m to 40 m. Reefs are most abundant off the west and north coasts, with additional reefs on the northeast and southeast. Runoff and steep topography probably limit the distribution of reefs around the island, particularly near ravine outflows that carry sediments. [3] According to the Reefs at Risk analysis, all of Montserrat’s reefs are threatened by human activities. The most pervasive threat is overfishing threatening all reefs. As a result of the steep topography of this volcanic island, all the reef were also found to be under threat from sedimentation from land-based sources. Coastal development was estimated to threaten over 90 percent, and marine-based pollution threatening three-quarters of reefs. Hurricane Hugo in 1989 caused extensive damage, particularly to larger branching corals, but there was no documentation of the impacts. Hurricane Luis in 1995 was also destructive. [4] The fisheries species groups traditionally exploited are the shallow-shelf and reef fish and coastal pelagics. Both groups have been moderately to heavily exploited and are unlikely to support increased exploitation. But the deep slope and bank fish are under-exploited and the status of the large pelagics is mostly unknown but is thought to be adequate to support further exploitation. The concentration of people in the safe area toward the north part of the island has had a serious impact on the marine resources of the area. Fishing effort has been particularly intensive there, and decreases in catches were noticed in 1997. [5] No marine protection can be contemplated, because the volcanic activity has disrupted government. [6] A number of sites have been identified as suitable MPAs but none have been designated. [7] [1] F. Gail & M. Watson, “UK Overseas Territories in the northeast Caribbean: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat” in Seas at the Millennium: An Environmental Evaluation. Vol 1 Regional Chapters: Europe, The Americas and West Africa. C.R.C. Sheppard, ed. (Oxford, UK: Elsevier Press, 2000), p. 616 [2] F. Gail & M. Watson, “UK Overseas Territories in the northeast Caribbean: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat” in Seas at the Millennium: An Environmental Evaluation. Vol 1 Regional Chapters: Europe, The Americas and West Africa. C.R.C. Sheppard, ed. (Oxford, UK: Elsevier Press, 2000), p. 617 [3] A.F. Smith, C.S. Rogers, and C. Bouchon. 1999. “Status of Western Atlantic Coral Reefs in the Lesser Antilles.” Proceedings of the 8th International Coral Reef Symposium, pp 351-356 [4] A.F. Smith, C.S. Rogers, and C. Bouchon. 1999. “Status of Western Atlantic Coral Reefs in the Lesser Antilles.” Proceedings of the 8th International Coral Reef Symposium, pp 351-356 [5] F. Gail & M. Watson, “UK Overseas Territories in the northeast Caribbean: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat” in Seas at the Millennium: An Environmental Evaluation. Vol 1 Regional Chapters: Europe, The Americas and West Africa. C.R.C. Sheppard, ed. (Oxford, UK: Elsevier Press, 2000), p. 617 [6] A. Smith et al., “Status of coral reefs in the Lesser Antilles, Western Atlantic,” in Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 1998 . C. Wilkinson, ed. (Townsville: Australian Institute of Marine Science, 1998), p.140 [7] A.H. Smith et al., “Status of coral reefs in the eastern Caribbean: The OECS, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, The Netherlands Antilles and the French Caribbean,” in Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000. C. Wilkinson, ed. (Townsville: Australian Institute of Marine Science, 2000), p. 328