Aquatic Invasive Species

July-September

Invasive Algae Management and Coral Restoration:

• The AIS team outplanted 22,815 urchins to Kāneʻohe Bay as part of continued efforts to mitigate invasive algae. Read more about urchin outplanting as a part of the Cape Flattery Settlement Restoration project here.
• Continued to assist the DAR urchin hatchery with urchin broodstock collections, spat counts, and harvesting.
• The AIS team monitored 52 coral modules outplanted by the Hawaiʻi Coral Restoration Nursery. Modules are monitored on a regular basis over the 5-year period following outplanting.
• Attended a forum on coral restoration in Waikīkī with DAR, NOAA, and UH.
• The Kapalāma Trustee 2023 report was completed and submitted to the Department of Transportation.
• Held Flattery Trustee Board meeting to update members from DAR, NOAA, and USFWS on the status of invasive algae within Kāneʻohe Bay and strategize future management efforts.

 

Intra-agency collaborations:

• Members of the AIS team traveled to Kauai to assist with annual fish and habitat surveys.
• Provided boat support to Kendall Tucker for mooring line surveys at Turtle Canyon in Waikīkī.
• Attended a Maui emergency response meeting.
• Attended the DAR-wide Strategic Planning Workshop.

Rapid Responses:

• The AIS team investigated a report of a grounded sailboat by the airport runway. Potential damage to reefs is assessed following groundings.
• Responded to a report of manatee mudflower (Micranthemum glomeratum) found in Nuʻuanu stream by Ginger Pond. The AIS team plans to conduct further distribution surveys.
• Took samples from marine debris washed ashore by Kualoa Ranch. Specimens were sent to the Bishop Museum. The debris was removed by the Hawaiʻi Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.

Partner agency collaborations:

• Provided boat support to Morgan Winston for her PhD study using SFM and Fish Surveys.
• Continued to help USFWS with mapping surveys of Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi.
• Worked with Mālama Maunalua to plan for further urchin caging studies within Maunalua Bay.
• Led biosecurity experiments and participated in surveys of nuisance alga Chondria tumulosa conducted in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
• Oversaw the offload of marine debris returning from the monument as a part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project.
• Collaborated with CGAPS, DoD, Bishop Museum, USFWS, NOAA, UH, and colleagues from DAR on the Unomia infestation within Pearl Harbor.
• Participated in Oʻahu post-storm response planning.
• Provided support for Thierry Work to help identify an unknown coral disease in Turtle Canyon.

 

Outreach:

• Members of the team traveled to Kauai to assist in DARʻs Taʻape Fishing Tournament. They communicated and provided outreach materials to fishermen who participated, as well as provided assistance in removing otoliths for life history studies of Taʻape and Toʻau for Tim Grabowski at UH.
• Presented to over 100 students at Castle High School on the work done by the AIS and BWBF teams.

Staff Updates:

• The AIS team hired 3 Fisheries Technicians IV (Lev Gerstle, Ciara Branco, and Kate Gonzalez).
• Two new placements (Landon Keller and Sydney Cook) have started through the Kupu Conservation Leadership Development Program. The Kupu members will assist both the AIS and BWBF team with the management of ballast water and biofouling, and monitoring, outreach, and remediation of invasive species.