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STATEWIDE CORAL BLEACHING ALERT!
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have issued alerts regarding the record ocean temperatures in our state waters and the subsequent coral bleaching that is being observed. Unfortunately, these conditions are expected to last into November or December. With your reports and monitoring by scientists and Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), DAR and NOAA aquatic biologists are able to record the extent of the bleaching and subsequent recovery or mortality. For more information on the current bleaching alerts in Hawai‘i, visit NOAA coral bleaching website.
Thank you for reporting the coral bleaching occurring in your area. State aquatic biologists and scientists are monitoring reef conditions and compiling data. YOUR REPORT Is INVALUABLE and is providing much needed information. Please keep submitting reports as you see bleaching in new areas. To make a report, use the form links on the top of the EOR website.
Coral Bleaching Warning for Kona Coast
This morning, September 22, 2014, the NOAA Coral Reef Watch has issued a Coral Bleaching Warning for Kona Coast on the Big Island and Kahoolawe. Please keep your eyes open and report any coral bleaching to Eyes of the Reef.
We’re Connected!
Our Latest News column on our new website is now set up to feed directly into our Facebook page. Keep up to date on EOR news by liking our Facebook page and/or subscribing to our Latest News column right on our website.
Meeting of the Minds: Scientists Meet with DAR to Discuss Coral Disease On Kauai
The Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) convened an update from three scientists who have been studying the cyanobacterial infection that is currently affecting Montipora, or mound corals, on the north shore of Kauai that was originally reported by an Eyes of the Reef (EOR) volunteer in 2012. The intent of this meeting was to provide DAR biologists, managers, and education and outreach experts with accurate and up-to-date data information on the location and severity of the affected areas, research accomplishments, and future survey plans. This information will be useful as DAR helps to support additional surveying and water testing on the affected reefs this summer and continues to discuss management options.
What to watch for….
Pollution, climate change, and poor land use practices can create environmental conditions that foster coral disease and coral bleaching, support the spread of invasive species and threaten reef health. Detecting the early signs of any of these events on our local reefs requires a wide network of observers providing regular reports of conditions throughout the region. The Eyes of the Reef network has been designed to provide reliable reports on coral bleaching, disease, invasive species and changing reef conditions throughout Hawai‘i. (more…)
Become an EOR Member.
Becoming an Eyes of the Reef member is easy. Attend a training in your area and keep your eyes open. That’s it!
Hawaii’s reefs need you. Hawaii’s reefs span an enormous geographical area making it difficult for resource managers to detect the early onset of coral bleaching, disease, Crown-of-Thorn Seastars and and invasive species outbreaks. Reef users are essential in helping managers monitor reefs, providing the critical mass of ‘eyes on our reefs’ needed to detect and respond to events in a timely manner. (more…)
Members making a difference….
Eyes of the Reef members are an important part of the first tier of Hawaii’s Rapid Response Contingency Plan. In addition to acting as eyes on Hawaii’s reefs, our members are also helping in other ways.
Hawai‘i’s Coral Reef Strategy
EOR Members: first tier of Hawai‘i’s Rapid Response Plan
Trained Eyes of the Reef members are the core of a statewide early detection and monitoring network for coral bleaching, diseases, Crown-of-Thorn Seastars and aquatic invasives species. The Eyes of the Reef Network is the first tier of a rapid response protocol developed by the Division of Aquatic Resources, the Climate Change and Marine Disease Local Action Strategy and the Aquatic Invasives Species Local Action Strategy.
| About the Hawai‘i Coral Reef Strategy The Hawai‘i Coral Reef Strategy (HCRS) includes priorities from Hawaii’s six Local Action Strategies (LAS) and other program priorities. It was created after multiple interviews and workshops with resource managers, biologists, advisory groups, reviews of plans, and studies of comments from public meetings held around the state. The HCRS is the guiding document used by the Division of Aquatic Resources’ Coral Program. The coral program supports critical program support, planning efforts, community action, awareness-raising activities, and scientific research with direct management applications. Key outcomes of this work include greater capacity to enforce coral reef protections, increased understanding of the key threats to reef ecosystems at priority sites, and substantial progress towards implementing objectives of the HCRS including the LAS’s. |
