8/13/24 – Restoration of rare coral species continues – 5 years later
In June of 2019, two colonies of rare, endemic knobby finger coral (Porites duerdeni) were outplanted to Kāne‘ohe Bay off Moku O Lo‘e (Coconut Island) by the Division of Aquatic Resources Hawai‘i Coral Restoration Nursery (HCRN) team, after the 2015 and 2016 major bleaching events likely wiped out their original source colonies. On O‘ahu, this rare species is thought to be found almost exclusively in Kāne‘ohe Bay. The team at the HCRN used previously collected fragments of these colonies to rapidly grow new coral on concrete pyramid “modules” with the goal to outplant and restore this potentially locally extinct rare species.
Now, five years later, these coral colonies have grown significantly and fragments are being used as more source material for continued restoration efforts. New modules of P. duerdeni are currently being grown in the specialized aquarium tanks at the HCRN, optimized for growing large coral in a fraction of the time it would take to grow naturally.
An original piece of Porites duerdeni colony collected in 2015, prior to mass bleaching events.
Porites duerdeni coral modules in Kāne‘ohe Bay, 4 months post-outplant.
Porites duerdeni coral modules in Kāne‘ohe Bay, 5 years post-outplant.
To learn more about the Hawai‘i Coral Restoration Nursery, visit our website.