An alarming threat to the red organ pipe coral Tubipora musica and suggested solutions

Eighteen sites along the southern Egyptian Red Sea coastline were surveyed for the organ pipe coral Tubipora musica with reference to relative abundance of juveniles, adults, flourishing live, traces of recently collected, traces of older collected and dead colonies. The study was done using a 30-m long graded tape, throughout the period April 2004 to October 2004. T. musica is categorized as vulnerable according to IUCN (2001) as there is an estimated population size reduction of ≥50% over the last 10 years, based on the index of abundance and the decline in area of occupancy. Sites 3 (1 km south Dorry) and 5 (Northern Sharm El-Fokairy), having the highest traces of recently collected Tubipora, are characterized by a lot of fishing activity as well as being near the shore, indicating insufficient shore patrolling. Flourishing live Tubipora colonies were found in considerable amounts in Wadi El Mahara, probably because of the very strong waves breaking on the reef crest, the zone containing the Tubipora colonies, making it difficult to access for collection. Juveniles of T. musica were found to be flourishing and attaching to rocks, dead corals and rubble on the reef crest of Wadi El Mahara, an observation that can be used in farming and rehabilitating other reefs denuded of the species.