(HONOLULU) – Coral 'bleaching', a stress response caused by high ocean temperatures that makes corals appear white and can ultimately lead to their death, is reaching unprecedented levels across Hawaii. Serious concern has already prompted a response from state and federal agencies charged with protecting and monitoring the health of coral reefs and volunteer organizations are also now responding. DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) is supporting the first-ever Bleachapalooza; a grassroots effort that will bring volunteers together statewide to receive training on how to identify coral bleaching in their areas and how to report their findings to the Eyes of the Reef Network (www.eorhawaii.org).
Aquatic Resources
HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources, in partnership with Cascadia Research Collective and Hawaii Pacific University, has been awarded nearly $1.2 million dollars over three years from NOAA Fisheries to support the conservation and recovery of Hawaii’s endangered false killer whales.
(HONOLULU) – As predicted, coral reefs across Hawaii from Kure Atoll, the northernmost land feature in the Hawaiian Archipelago, to Hawaii Island are starting to feel the effects of coral bleaching. This is a result of coral sensitivity to rises in ocean temperatures as small as 1-2 degrees. Climate experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch program forecasted severe coral bleaching conditions for Hawaiian waters beginning in August and continuing through October. The warnings indicate that high ocean temperatures compounded by an El Nino event have a strong likelihood of causing mass coral bleaching across Hawaii. Last summer saw the first documented event of mass bleaching across the entire archipelago, and reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) experienced their third and worst reported mass bleaching event to date.
HONOLULU — The Department of Land and NaturalResources (DLNR) is pleased that the federal government has incorporated state input into new rules aimed at further protection for the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal, by focusing protection on areas most important forforaging, pupping and resting.
HONOLULU -- New fishing rules for the first-ever Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) in Ha‘ena, Kaua‘i, which Governor David Ige signed into law last week, take effect today. The rules are aimed to preserve and protect fishing practices that are customarily and traditionally exercised for purposes of native Hawaiian subsistence, culture, and religion.
(HONOLULU) - Governor David Ige has signed into law, the first ever Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) for Haena, Kauai. It was filed today. The result of years of discussions and collaboration between the Haena community and various stakeholders, this historic rules package gives the Haena hui an opportunity to protect its ocean resources, based on traditional fisheries management practices.
KAHULUI, MAUI – Skippy Hau, an aquatics biologist with the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) has dedicated much of his career to studying the life cycles and movements of fresh water fishes, shrimp, and snails. Carefully navigating the slippery stream beds and rocks of east and central Maui, Hau has collected reams of data on the movements of five fishes (‘o‘opu), shrimp (‘opae), and snails (hihiwai). “Often we think of taking from the ocean only, but historically people have depended on harvests from freshwater streams for sustenance as well,” Hau explains.
The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources unanimous decision to ban sea cucumber harvesting for 120 days was signed into law by Governor David Ige Friday evening. This video chronicles the entire board discussion and public testimony about the emergency rule making harvesting illegal; giving the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources the next four months to develop a permanent set of rules.
(HONOLULU) – The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR)approved a rule today to make it illegal to take any species of sea cucumber from Hawaii State waters for the next 120 days. This is in response to an investigation by officers of the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE), who confirmed that a new commercial fishery recently started. The investigation was supported further by public observations. Governor David Ige is expected to quickly follow the BLNR approval by signing the emergency administrative rules.
(HONOLULU) – The Department of Land and Natural Resources has been investigating and has now confirmed a new commercial fishery in which mass harvesting of sea cucumbers is occurring on both Oahu and Maui. Additionally, recent reports from the public confirm the harvesting of large quantities of sea cucumber on both Oahu and Maui. While taking sea cucumbers from the ocean is not against the law, any commercial harvesting does require a license.