(LAHAINA, MAUI) – Three sophisticated sampling instruments are now gathering information from the ocean waters just off the coast of this fire-ravaged west Maui community. The devices, on loan from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), will collect data over time.
Aquatic Resources
(LĀHAINĀ, HAWAI‘I) – Preliminary water testing in the nearshore waters off Lāhainā are showing that physical parameters, like temperature, PH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen, are currently in normal ranges.
(HONOLULU) – Marine pollution is a very significant threat to marine life in the ocean. Abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing nets can ruin essential habitat like coral reefs, as well as entangle marine life such as turtles and humpback whales. The Protected Species Program with the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) would like to remind everyone to utilize its statewide marine debris hotline and reporting website.
(HONOLULU) – The Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR), on Friday, tentatively approved a proposed settlement by the Albert Trust parties only to pay the fine of $117,472 for the Nakoa boat grounding that damaged over 100 coral colonies and over 1,900 square yards of live rock just outside the Honolua-Mokulēʻia Bay Marine Life Conservation District, on Maui’s west coast.
(HONOLULU) – Open hearings will be conducted by the Division of Aquatics (DAR) on the proposed adoption of Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 13-78, establishing provisions for the Ocean Stewardship User Fee. The proposed new chapter will implement §187A-52, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, which requires all operators of commercial vessels, watercraft, or water sports equipment, that are required to have a commercial operator permit or commercial use permit pursuant to HAR §13-256-3, to collect a $1 ocean stewardship user fee from each passenger carried or customer served, and to transfer these fees to DLNR.
(HONOLULU) – This morning, at the 30th Annual Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference on Oʻahu, DLNR’s Edward “Luna” Kekoa received the 2023 Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance Outstanding Leadership Award for his contributions to community-based natural resource management and conservation in the state.
(KAILUA-KONA, HAWAI‘I ISLAND) – Sixty-pound cinder blocks placed in the ocean for a Hawai‘i Island canoe regatta last weekend caused a range of damage from minimal-to-significant to approximately 100 coral colonies in Kailua Bay.
(KAILUA-KONA, HAWAI‘I ISLAND) – The Founders Regatta hosted by the Keauhou Canoe Club was placed on temporary hold today, after the discovery of course markers on the coral reef which may have caused significant damage.
(HONOLULU) – Six, pyramid-shaped coral colonies are now growing on the rock a few feet below the surface at Hanauma Bay. The corals were grown at the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources’ (DAR) Coral Restoration Nursery on Sand Island for the very purpose of restoring colonies damaged by natural or human caused events.
(WAIKOLOA, HAWAI‘I) – The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) took down shark warning signs on Monday at ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay on Hawai‘i Island, following an apparent encounter over the weekend.