Aquatic Invasive Species

October-December

Invasive Algae Management and Coral Restoration:

• The AIS team outplanted 20,797 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 conducted monitoring for 156 coral modules outplanted by the Hawaiʻi Coral Restoration Nursery, as well as assisted with the initial outplanting of 24 models at the Kakaʻako outplant site. Modules are monitored regularly over the 5-year period following outplanting.
• Completed structure for motion (SfM) of the Kakaʻako coral outplant site as part of efforts to create large-scale imaging for the Kapalāma Terminal Expansion Project.
• Conducted annual SNAP survey to monitor invasive algae in the Waikīkī Marine Life Conservation District.

 

Intra-agency collaborations:

• Assisted the Oʻahu Monitoring team with shoreline fishing surveys.
• Assisted Kim Peyton and other members of the Oʻahu Monitoring team with cast net sampling and fish identification.

 

Rapid Responses:

• Completed surveys of Reef 8 in Kāneʻohe Bay in response to reports of non-native Montipora foliosa.
• DAR collaborated with the U.S. Navy and other federal agencies after a U.S. Navy aircraft overshow the runway at Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi. Dive teams worked to complete assessments of reef damage following Navy plane and righted 180 corals as part of restoration efforts. Read more here.

 

Partner agency collaborations:

• Continued to help USFWS with mapping surveys of Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi.
• Participated in the Hawaiʻi Coral Bleaching Collective.
• Worked with Mālama Maunalua to launch a Tripneustes gratilla caging study in Maunlua Bay. Learn more about the collaboration here.
• Toured H-Power facilities to better comprehend biosecurity related to Chondria tumulosa.
• Continued to collaborate with CGAPS, DoD, Bishop Museum, USFWS, NOAA, UH, and colleagues from DAR on the Unomia infestation within Pearl Harbor.
• Conducted a site visit for a forming community-based management group in Ko Olina interested in stewardship of local marine resources.

 

Training and Conferences:

• Attended a Coral ID workshop held by Doug Fenner, author of Corals of Hawaiʻi.
• Attended the 3^rd Hawaiʻi Coral Restoration Symposium.
• Attended the 2023 University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Research Symposium.
• Attended the Wildlife Spotter: Invasive Species Ambassador Training.

 

Outreach:

• Attended the Radford High School Career Fair in collaboration with Kupu and presented to over 100 students.
• Tabled for ~200 students at the Waipahu High School Career Fair.
• Tabled at the Castle High Exploration Fair for over 1,000 students.