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Status of Hawaii's Reefs
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| "With a few exceptions and despite changes in coastal land use, near-shore reefs around the eight main Hawaiian Islands are in relatively good condition. Coral reefs suffer from degradation related to human population growth, urbanization, and development. Major sources are ocean outfalls, urbanization, massive coastal recreational development (hotels, golf courses, etc.), and marine invasive species, especially macroalgae and the red mangrove. Previously, ranching, plantation agriculture, and military construction impacted reef condition. |
| There are strong indications of overfishing of the majority of fish and invertebrates. Recently there has been concern regarding the expanding live marine ornamental trade for home aquaria. Fishing pressure in heavily populated areas appears to exceed the capacity of these resources to renew themselves. The abundance of reef fishes in areas where fishing is allowed is substantially lower than in areas where it is prohibited. There are numerous no-take marine protected areas off Main Hawaiian Island shores; some of the larger ones have been shown to be effective in replenishing local fish stocks, but the rest may be too small to serve as ecosystem refuges. |
| For almost 10 years now, high nutrient levels and algal blooms have been recurring on reef flats off the southern and western coasts of Maui. Ship traffic, proximity of reefs to harbor entrances, and more vessel groundings have resulted in more oil spills. High concentrations of toxic chemicals have been measured in near-shore sediments and in the tissues of a variety of coastal marine wildlife." |
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source: The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2002. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administartion/National Ocean Service/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Silver Spring, MD. 265 pp.
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| Online References & Resources to Explore |
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