The effects of damage to hard corals by snorkelers on the outer reef flat at Hurghada, Egyptian Red Sea

Abstract

Abstract The impacts to corals by snorkelers on the outer reef flat of island fringing reefs off Hurghada, Egyptian Red Sea were investigated. Community composition and occurrence of damage between sites frequented by snorkelers and control areas were compared using the line intercept transect method at four sites frequented by snorkelers and two control areas where no snorkelling occurred. Partially dead coral colonies and coverage of rubble were significantly greater, and coverage of living hard coral significantly lower at some sites frequented by snorkelers compared to controls. The abundances of some coral growth forms were also found to differ between the control sites and areas frequented by snorkelers. The findings suggest management of the most heavily used sites and initiation of longer-term studies to establish long term biological effects.