In 2010, pufferfish (Arothron hispidus) around the state were dying in large numbers. EOR members were quick to send in reports of dying fish giving scientists valuable information on how widespread and extensive the die-off was. (more…)
A group of divers on Maui have been ridding their reefs of unwanted garbage. Shawn Jezerinac, Lloyd Johnson, Bryan Sherman, Clayton, Bill Epplett, and Sharon Woloshen have removed almost 1000 lbs of discarded fishing line, weights, hooks, and other garbage. A big mahalo to these dedicated souls for working to make Hawaii’s reef healthy!
Thanks to Dr. Bruce Carlson for submitting this video!!
The Eyes of the Reef Reporting form might look a little intimidating at first, but it’s not really that bad, trust us! Your observations are very valuable to resource managers, so please take a moment to go though these images that were designed to help you understand what the form is asking. You can make a report any time you get in the water, whether you see bleaching or not – that is considered data too and managers want to hear about it! Thank you for your citizen science stewardship efforts! (more…)
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.
What is coral bleaching?
Coral bleaching is the loss of color from coral tissue allowing the white skeleton to show through.
Coral’s have an important relationship (symbiosis) with single-celled algae (zooxanthellae), which live in their tissues. The zooxanthella provides food for the coral and in return the coral provides a stable home for the algae. Most of the coral’s nutrition comes from the algae. Coral bleaching is the loss of color from the colony when the algae are expelled from the coral polyps and then the white coral skeleton is visible through the transparent coral tissue.
Why are our corals bleaching this year? (more…)
Mahalo Peyton for helping to care for Hawaii’s reefs!!
Peyton attended his first training with Eyes of the Reef about a year ago and he is now one of our EOR instructors!! Peyton has helped EOR tremendously by giving trainings and conducting outreach at many community events on Oahu. As a volunteer organization Eyes of the Reef depends on folks, like Peyton, to help promote coral reef conservation in Hawaii. Peyton hails from Charlottesville, VA, where he did graduate research in terrestrial ecology at the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Labs and was a member the UGA Institute of Ecology. He has held a variety of positions, including ecologist, Orange Co., VA, and environmental staff officer at the Army National Guard Environmental Office, Washington, D.C. As a volunteer, he has worked on a variety of projects for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and served as a Clean Water Captain, and trained Steward for CBF. He also was a trained Virginia Tree Steward. He is an active participant in REEF fish surveys and trained as a coral reef restorer with Coral Restoration Foundation. He currently works as a dive instructor at Dive Oahu. (more…)