This month, the Oʻahu DAR monitoring team began implementing Fish and Habitat Utilization surveys in Maunalua Bay
Blog
In September 2024, two DAR biologists embarked on a 24-day research cruise with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
DAR staff and contractors partnered with HIMB, TNC, and NOAA to identify and outline priorities for coral restoration statewide. Developed under the Hawaiʻi Coral Reef Strategy 2030, the Makai Restoration Action Plans address three priority goals: 1: bleaching, 2: coastal protection, and 3: fish habitat.
The “ʻIke Kaiāulu,” or “Community Knowledge,” video series seeks to tap into an understanding of the rich history of caring for 'āina.
The DAR West Hawaiʻi Coral Restoration Program has been able to begin its site-specific fieldwork, respond to requests to remove and transplant corals from man-made structures to nearby reefs, and begin testing nursery propagation techniques.
On October 5 DAR and State Parks, in collaboration with Wahiawa Fresh and members of the Wahiawa community, hosted “Day at the Lake” event at the Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreational Area.
Uku is a highly-targeted fish throughout Hawai‘i. As a federally managed species, there is an annual catch limit determined by stock assessment scientists using various fishery data sets. Due to the difficulty of estimating non-commercial catch of uku, a pilot study investigating the effectiveness of a supplementary mail survey will begin this winter.
To help prevent the introduction of non-native algae to the Hawaiian Islands, the DAR Aquatic Invasive Species Team partnered with federal, state, and private groups to test how invasive algae is spread via marine debris. Information from these experiments will be used to generate new policy to protect the Hawaiian Islands from current and future invasive species threats.
The Wahiawā Public Fishing Area is being impacted by low water levels, predation and competition by introduced predatory fish species, lack of habitat/shelter and food fish. The Division is responding.
Sharks don’t try to bite people very often, but when they do, DAR staff investigate in order to better understand shark behavior and enhance ocean safety.