Ka Pili Kai University of Hawaiÿi Sea Grant College Program Vol. 27, No. 2 Summer 2005

Protecting Our Coral Reefs University of Hawaiÿi Sea Grant College Program

Vol. 27 No. 2 Ka Pili Kai is published quarterly by the Ka Pili Kai University of Hawaiÿi Sea Grant College Contents Program (UH Sea Grant), School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST). UH Sea Grant is a unique partnership of university, government and industry, focusing on marine 3 Talking Trash: NOAA Targets Marine Debris research, education and advisory/extension services. 6 Assessing the Vital Signs of Hawaiÿi’s Reefs Director: 8 Yellow Tang Studies Yield Insights for Big Island E. Gordon Grau, Ph.D. Associate Director: Management Issues Mary J. Donohue, Ph.D. 10 It’s the Little Things That Matter: What Can Periodicals postage paid at Honolulu, HI Postmaster: Send address changes to: Bacteria Tell Us About Coral Health? Ka Pili Kai, 2525 Correa Road, HIG 208 Honolulu, HI 96822 12 Nä mea like ÿole (Miscellany) (808) 956-7410; fax: (808) 956-3014 [email protected] www.soest.hawaii.edu/seagrant

Acting Communications Leader: Mary J. Donohue, Ph.D. Assistant Communications Leader: In this issue of Ka Pili Kai... Kerry Irish Ka Pili Kai Information Technology Specialist: , “things connected with the sea” highlights relationships N. Harold Richman, III, Ph.D. between people and our ocean environment. In this issue of Ka Pili Kai we turn our gaze towards understanding some of the work being Web/Multimedia Specialist: Ed Tamura done by UH Sea Grant to help protect the coral reefs of Hawaiÿi. Institutional Support: Craig Okumura In our lead article, Mary Donohue shares with us a major concern The University of Hawaiÿi was designated for coral reefs – a concern of particular note for the Northwestern a Sea Grant College in 1972, following the National Sea Grant College and Program Act Hawaiian Islands – that of the damage caused by marine debris. of 1966. We then have three articles authored by some of our UH Sea Grant Ka Pili Kai is funded by a grant from supported graduate students. Christopher Bird has spearheaded a the National Oceanic and Atmospheric collaborative effort to try to quantify what constitutes a healthy reef Administration, project M/C-1, sponsored by system – a tall order that is being made easier through computer the University of Hawaiÿi Sea Grant College Program/SOEST, under Institutional Grant No. modeling. Jeremy Claisse is working to improve our understanding NA05OAR4171048 from the NOAA Office of yellow tang natural history, which will lead to improved of Sea Grant, Department of Commerce. management strategies for this species. This issue is rounded out by The views expressed herein are those of the an article by Dan Reineman on his innovative work to assess coral authors only. systems using bacteria as bio-indicators of the coral’s physiological UNIHI-SEAGRANT-NP-06-04 health. Ka Pili Kai Editors: Mary J. Donohue, Ph.D. and Kerry Irish Kerry Irish, Assistant Communications Leader Layout and design: Craig Okumura

On the Cover: This green sea turtle was entangled in and subsequently released from a derelict fishing net. ~ Photos courtesy NOAA Fisheries. 2 Ka Pili Kai Talking Trash

NOAA Targets Marine Debris Fisheries NOAA

by Mary J. Donohue

awai‘i is widely known for its NWHI, contains a wealth of wildlife. Over appeal as a tropical paradise. Less 80% of all Hawaiian green sea turtles nest at Hwell-known is that Hawai‘i’s coral French Frigate Shoals, one small islet in the reefs are increasingly suffering from the NWHI. The nation’s most endangered seal, same threats facing coral reef ecosystems the Hawaiian monk seal, is found in these worldwide, primarily overfi shing and the waters. Over one million seabirds nest in the related problems of algal overgrowth and archipelago, primarily in the NWHI. These marine debris, including derelict fi shing include the majestic Laysan albatross; a mated gear. Marine debris has been identifi ed by pair will incubate and hatch their chick on the United States National Oceanic and these islands and subsequently take turns Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as making feeding trips to Alaska to provide the greatest human-induced threat to the for their waiting offspring. In addition, each Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), winter humpback whales return to the islands the world’s most remote and arguably most to calve in the safety of the shallow warm unique coral reef ecosystem. waters. The region’s fi sh and coral are equally stunning. Unfortunately, the negative effects The Hawaiian archipelago, which includes of marine debris affect organisms throughout the eight main Hawaiian Islands and 1,200 this ecosystem’s food web through entangle- miles of atolls and islets that comprise the ment, ingestion of plastic by naive animals,

Ka Pili Kai 3 abrasion of the living coral reef membrane by features. Convergence zones also aggregate fi sh snagged debris, or simply the destruction of the and plankton. Seals, turtles and other predators coral reef itself by nets that are repeatedly tangled seek out these abundant prey resources, placing and dislodged by wave and wind action. In addi- predators at risk from entanglement in ghostnets. tion, derelict fi shing gear from distant fi sheries Studies comparing ghostnets beached on remote may introduce hitchhiking alien species to our Alaskan islands in the Bering Sea to those from reefs. Longline or other monofi lament line is also Hawai‘i demonstrate nets from both sources share thought to facilitate algal overgrowth of coral on many characteristics, and in some cases are iden- which it tangles. tical. In essence, debris from around the Pacifi c Rim can ultimately be expected to arrive in the Hawai‘i is not only subject to fi shing gear lost or vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands. discarded in local waters, but from fi sheries oper- ating hundreds to thousands of miles away. This Ghostnets found on Hawaiian beaches and coral occurs because of Hawai‘i’s mid-Pacifi c location reefs represent the diversity of fi sheries operating and the ocean’s circulation patterns. As a result, in the Pacifi c Rim. Research has documented trawl marine debris, including derelict fi shing gear or net and seine net fi shing gear, gillnets, including ghostnets, are seasonally fl ushed out of areas of at least two 4,000 lb. high seas driftnets, as well heavy fi shing effort, such as the north Pacifi c and as plastic tubes from oyster farms and monofi la- eastern Pacifi c and concentrated in areas of sea ment nets used to prevent birds from entering surface convergence. Several such areas occur aquaculture tanks. Longline fi shing line is also near the Hawaiian Archipelago. A very large found, but less frequently than other gear types. convergence zone that occurs in winter just north Recently, fi sh aggregating devices (FADs) used by of Hawai‘i is known as the Subtropical Conver- the distant eastern Pacifi c tuna seine fi shery have gence Zone (STCZ). The extensive coral reefs of been identifi ed as a potentially large contributor Hawai‘i’s atolls and islands sieve out the debris to marine debris in Hawai‘i waters. These FADs entrained in the STCZ and similar oceanographic are composed of fi shing net fragments and other plastic or fl oatable material and are routinely swept out of the tuna fi shing grounds by ocean currents. When deployed, the FADs’ subsurface netting and ropes NOAA Fisheries NOAA may extend over 100 feet into the water column and span 36 feet at the surface. Tuna vessels may deploy 200 FADs per vessel each year. In addition, locally made and deployed FADs, particularly around the Island of Hawai‘i or the “Big Island” as it is known locally, are likely also contributing to the marine debris problem.

Due to the complexity and scale of the marine debris problem in Hawai‘i, NOAA is leading a Painstaking effort is taken to gently remove these nets so as to not damage the reef.

4 Ka Pili Kai A new publication by UH Sea Grant…..

Marine Debris in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands: Ghost Net Identifi cation

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) are tremendously rich in natural resources and are among the most pristine coral reef ecosystems on the Earth today. This two-disk publication summarizes the marine debris removal effort in the NWHI and includes information on ghost net identifi cation as well as a 15 minute video on marine debris in the NWHI.

To order a copy please contact the UH Sea Grant Communications Unit at [email protected] or (808) 956-7410. Cost is $10 and includes shipping and handling.

large-scale cleanup of ghostnets in Hawai‘i and problem of marine debris through a guidebook is conducting, supporting or participating in on Hawai‘i’s marine mammals and turtles, high- numerous other regional marine debris mitigation lighting the problem of marine debris. In addition, activities. The ghostnet removal program, led by NOAA has provided funding for a marine debris NOAA Fisheries, in collaboration with the Univer- outreach coordinator to assist in the communities’ sity of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program (UH and agencies’ efforts in mitigating marine debris Sea Grant) and other NOAA, federal, state, and throughout the Hawaiian Islands. not-for-profi t organizations, has removed nearly 500 tons of ghostnets from the Hawaiian Islands. For more information please contact: Associated efforts spearheaded by UH Sea Grant Ms. Carey Morishige Extension Agent Christine Woolaway have estab- Marine Debris Outreach Coordinator lished a mechanism by which collected nets are University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program processed by Hawai‘i Metals Recycling, Inc. and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale delivered to the island of O‘ahu’s H-Power plant, National Marine Sanctuary which incinerates trash to produce electricity. Each 6600 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, #301 100 tons of ghostnet incinerated provides power to Honolulu, HI 96825 approximately 50 O‘ahu homes for one year. Phone: (808) 397-2651 ext. 256 Email: [email protected] Other NOAA supported marine debris mitiga- tion activities include a port reception feasibility Ms. Megan Broberg project on the Island of O‘ahu to explore the most economical and environmentally sound way for Marine Debris Public Affairs Specialist fi shermen to dispose of unwanted fi shing gear and NOAA Offi ce of Response and Restoration other potential marine debris; the targeted cleanup 1305 East-West Highway of a beach on the south shore of the Big Island Silver Spring, MD 20910 that is notorious for collecting copious amount of Phone: (301) 713-2989 ext. 179 ghostnets, and; outreach and education about the Email: [email protected]

Ka Pili Kai 5 Assessing the Vital Signs of Hawai‘i’s Reefs By Christopher Bird, UH Sea Grant supported graduate student

ealthy coral reefs are a Rodgers, Jokiel and I have reefs to be vastly different, but goal most of us strive been developing a computer is one habitat more important Hfor - a straightforward program - Comparing Indices than the other? It depends on benchmark for success in of Reef Integrity (CIRI) - that perspective. A National Parks research or conservation utilizes this database of reef Service manager at Kalaupapa, efforts. However, deciding vital signs to facilitate the Moloka‘i, is probably more what makes one reef habitat independent assessment of interested in how that reef more important, more pristine, reef health compares to or healthier than another and integ- other north shore can be a daunting prospect. rity. CIRI “Hawai‘i’s reefs are reefs, such as on Natural resource managers allows a characterized by Kaua‘i’s north are tasked with making manager to shore. On the such determinations when input data a broad diversity other hand, a considering the placement of from a reef of habitats and reef on the south coral reef reserves or when survey, and shore of Moloka‘i monitoring reef health. To compare comparing them is would be best help answer these questions, it to other a challenging task.” compared to east it is important to start by reefs in the Läna‘i. Environ- determining what the essential database. mental similarity components of a healthy reef Each reef is subsequently is just one relative are, in essence to be able to scored on a scale of zero to factor to consider when devel- quantify and measure what the 10, with the results plotted on oping an automated system to vital signs are. a satellite image of Hawai‘i, assess reef integrity. for easy interpretation. Ku‘ulei Rodgers and Paul Different managers and Jokiel of the Hawai‘i Institute Theory of Reef Relativity scientists also may disagree of Marine Biology Coral Reef about what aspects of reef Assessment and Monitoring Hawai‘i’s reefs are character- integrity are more important Program (CRAMP) have been ized by a broad diversity of than others. For example, systematically measuring the habitats and comparing them fisheries scientists may weight vital signs, or biotic integrity, is a challenging task. Reefs on fish parameters more heavily of reefs in Hawai‘i for many the north shore of Kaua‘i are than coral parameters. Or years. They monitor 46 param- pounded by winter swells and consider the perennial debate eters such as organismal and trade winds, while reefs on the on the issue of coral and algal substrate diversity, fish and east shore of Läna‘i are char- importance. It is well known coral abundance, and the rich- acterized by extremely calm that algae can overgrow ness of endemic species. water. Clearly, we expect these coral, especially in artificially NOAA Fisheries NOAA

6 Ka Pili Kai nutrified waters. As a result, “...a subset of the reef parameters algal abundance is seen as a negative parameter by many can be used to calculate indices of coral researchers. However, a reef devoid of algae would reef health and integrity.” be characterized by lower diversity, which detracts from the biotic integrity of the reef. The decision of how much substratum occupied by with 46 parameters, many or little algae is required for each coral species - 100% indices of reef integrity are a reef to be healthy is highly cover by finger coral, Porites possible. Parameters can be subjective, and will be relative compressa, is considered to selected and weighted relative to each individual’s biases. be good. However, the cover to the concerns of a particular Consequently, the computer of all other coral species will manager. program’s assessment of reef be zero, and thus, will detract integrity must be flexible. from the index of reef integrity. The Future of CIRI As a result, it is necessary to Each reef vital sign can be adopt what I call the “Dow One of the major goals of weighted relative to its relative Jones Industrial” approach. The coral reef management is to importance on a scale of zero Dow Jones Industrial Average establish a common frame- (no importance) to 10 (most is based on a representative work for the comparison of important). Additionally, a sample of companies whose different reef habitats that parameter can be designated economic growth or decline incorporates a wide variety as positive or negative (such as are indicative of the greater of parameters. CRAMP algal percent cover). In devel- stock market performance. has compiled an extensive oping CIRI, we have deter- Applying this concept to the database of reef vital sign mined whether each factor reef, there are subsets of reef measurements and we have is positive or negative and vital signs that can be incor- been collaborating to make assigned an importance value. porated to obtain an index this information accessible However, if the end user does of overall reef health. Instead and useful in the management not agree with our system, the of incorporating the cover of of Hawaiian reef ecosystems. importance of each parameter each coral species into the The development of CIRI is can be user-specified. index, we incorporate coral one part of this effort, making diversity and total coral cover, scientific data more accessible The “Dow Jones Industrial” capturing both parameters of to those who need it. Future Approach interest relative to coral. The efforts will be focused on presence of a particularly rare collecting data from the North- Forty-six parameters of reef coral species may also be western Hawaiian Islands, integrity can be unwieldy. incorporated into the index. providing data for comparison In some cases, vital signs In this fashion, a subset of with pristine reefs as well as may inadvertently cancel the reef parameters can be those in the main islands. CIRI each other out. Consider used to calculate indices of is currently in the the percent cover of benthic reef health and integrity, and beta testing phase, but should be available by 2006. Christopher Bird is pursuing his Ph.D. in Botany in the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa.

Ka Pili Kai 7 Yellow Tang Studies Yield Insights for Big Island Management Issues

By Jeremy Claisse, UH Sea Grant supported graduate student

he Kona coast of the close 35% of the Kona coast Research Unit (HCFRU), led Big Island of Hawai‘i to aquarium collecting. by Dr. James Parrish, has Thas magnifi cent reefs been working on a yellow with a rich abundance of The creation of these MPAs tang life history project fi shes. For decades it has presented an opportunity developed to fi ll this large been a popular destination for collecting baseline data and important gap in our for residents and tourists prior to the cessation of understanding. Along with alike. An extensive aquaria collection and for fellow graduate students, commercial aquarium monitoring success. A six- Sarah McTee and Megan collecting industry has year study - the West Hawai‘i Bushnell, I am leading the developed here over the past Aquarium Project (WHAP))- fi eld research team for this two decades, with yellow has produced a wealth of project. tang, Zebrasoma fl avescens, data indicating that the comprising over 80% of the MPAs have been very positive Results from this study catch. In 2004 over 275,000 for all interest groups. can be combined with the yellow tang were caught, Fishermen found that their existing long term monitoring most for the home aquaria catches increased and the data to build fi shery models industry. community has seen that that may indicate why the yellow tang populations certain areas within the Kona As the industry developed, are stable or growing in all coast MPA network are being so did concern in the local surveyed areas - including more productive to enhance community that this activity both open and closed fi shing the fi shery than others. was having a deleterious sites. In turn, this could lead to impact on fi sh populations. breakthrough understanding As a result, marine protected While the WHAP monitoring of what constitutes effective areas (MPAs) were created project has generated MPAs and can be applied to specifi cally prohibit extremely valuable data on to MPA design around the aquarium collecting. fi sh abundance and size, the world. Developed by the Hawai‘i interpretation of this data Division of Aquatic Resources has been limited due to the Our project is focusing on in conjunction with the West lack of information available three main areas of yellow Hawai‘i Fisheries Council on the basic biology of yellow tang biology; movement, age/ (WHFC), these MPAs together tang. Beginning in 2003, the growth and mortality. with existing protected areas Hawai‘i Cooperative Fishery Movement “Yellow tang are important reef fi sh, not One goal of our project is to quantify how far yellow tang only for their aesthetic value, but also for move on any given day, at the signifi cant ecological role they play.” various stages in their life history and to understand

8 Ka Pili Kai Danielle Jayewardene how this may change over to better estimate the ages

their lifespan. Using a fi sh of fi sh that are counted and Sarah McTee tagging method we can sized in monitoring surveys. identify individuals, and thus This information will also be far have followed certain fi sh useful to model yellow tang for over 14 months. populations more precisely and gain an understanding Juvenile yellow tang have of how long it should take been found to move very populations under protection little, with individuals seen to rebound. in the same location on the reef for months at a time. Mortality Initial results from recent work on adults - once Another important thought to roam widely over step in our research is large shallow reef areas - understanding how the lead us to believe that while numbers of newly settled they can perform long daily “baby” fi sh that arrive on the migrations (500m +) to night reef each year translate into resting sites, they probably reproductive adults. We are return to the same locations able to obtain estimates of A young yellow tang every day to feed. This type mortality by analyzing data (Zebrasoma fl avescens) of movement data can be from surveys of individually directly applicable to how to tagged fi sh and surveys of by WHAP both inside design the size and shape of untagged fi sh done on a and adjacent to protected an MPA. fi ne time scale during the summer settlement period. areas, this may produce Age and Growth This can also be compared a novel insight into how to mortality estimates from MPA’s function to restore or It has historically been the population age structure maintain fi sh populations. diffi cult to determine the age data we receive from our Such insight should of adult yellow tang based collections of fi sh we have contribute to improvement in on their size. Juveniles are aged, to give us reasonable the design and noticeably smaller and grow estimates of mortality in implementation quickly in the fi rst few years different areas. It has been of effective MPAs of life, and once they reach suggested that differences in as fi sheries adulthood their growth slows the types of available habitat management considerably. One aspect within each MPA could play tools. of our work is to age these a major role in differential fi shes by examining their survival of young fi sh. inner ear bone, or otolith, which we can section and The knowledge that this Jeremy Claisse is count growth rings to help project will produce is basic pursuing his Ph.D. in determine age of a fi sh. to understanding population Zoology in the College Through our otolith work we dynamics of an important of Natural Sciences have found fi sh we believe to group of fi shes under the at the University of be at least 29 years old. stress of fi shing pressure Hawaiÿi at Mänoa. on Hawaiian coastal reefs. His advisor is Once this part of the project Combined with the long term Dr. James Parrish. is complete, we will be able monitoring data produced

Ka Pili Kai 9 It’s The Little Things That Matter: What Can Bacteria Tell Us About Coral Health?

By Dan Reineman, UH Sea Grant supported graduate student

hat implications the exact mechanism or suite Corals, like many other do fi nely scaled of mechanisms which result in cnidarians, buffer themselves Wprocesses – cellular, coral bleaching at are not fully from their aqueous environment molecular, or genetic – have understood. with a very thin layer of mucous on ecosystems as a whole? In excreted from their exodermic many ecosystems this question A variety of natural and tissue and within this layer of has gone unanswered. At the anthropogenic stressors, from mucous is a thriving bacterial Hawaiÿi Institute of Marine elevated ambient temperature to community. These bacteria Biology (HIMB), we are actively nutrient enrichment, have been depend on the coral for their addressing this question by shown to stimulate a bleaching home, but whether the corals investigating the effects of fi ne response. Based on the presence rely on the bacteria is unknown. scale processes in coral reefs of and level of these stressors, Despite the novelty of this fi eld, Hawaiÿi. several predictions can be made some important discoveries about the health of unbleached have already been made for A quick look at a coral reef in coral and whether or not it can some coral species: bacterial Hawaiÿi shows a plethora of be expected to retain its algal populations in the coral mucous life: fi sh, algae, invertebrates, all symbionts. For example, we layer are distinct from the cohabitating in, on and above can expect that a coral colony bacteria living in the water the reef. A closer look at the subjected to water column adjacent corals themselves reveals the temperatures far “We“We hopehope to the coral. These symbiosis between the corals above a normal populations are and zooxanthellae. This obligate range will bleach. to documentdocument distinct among relationship allows coral reefs However, at the changeschanges in the different species to grow and thrive. Much recent present time, of coral and attention given to this symbiosis there is no single, coral’scoral’s healthhealth inin they are similar and to reefs in general, has simple and termsterms ofof shiftsshifts within different focused on its deterioration. This non-destructive individuals of the deterioration, commonly referred indicator of coral inin the bacterialbacterial same species. Most to as bleaching, occurs when the health besides community.”community.” intriguingly, the symbiotic pact between the two the presence bacteria are distinct organisms is breached, and the or absence of between affected algae or their pigments leave the its zooxanthellae and their and unaffected regions of corals’ tissue; but whether they pigments. Therefore coral, no an individual colony that is vacate voluntarily or are expelled matter its internal stress level, suffering from black band by their coral hosts is still appears superfi cially healthy disease, a common coral ailment. debated. Despite the high degree until the moment that the of mortality that can result from zooxanthellae are released from At HIMB, we are developing a the condition, at the cellular level its tissues. new technique for diagnosing

10 Ka Pili Kai coral health with funding from corals, both important reef this can only discriminate the University of Hawaiÿi Sea builders: Rice coral, Montipora between healthy and sick or Grant College Program. Based capitata, and fi nger coral, bleached and bleaching coral. on the precedents highlighted Porites compressa, a sensitive The bacterial assay we are above, we will investigate the and robust species, respectively. developing is also unique in that specifi city of bacterial species Samples of the mucous will be it has the potential to give us for their coral hosts and use taken at set time intervals after much more temporal resolution these bacteria as bio-indicators the application of the stress and than a visual snapshot. In the of the coral’s physiological subsequent decline of the corals’ future, we hope to sample health. By assaying the bacterial health. Aquarium samples will the mucous of a coral under community structure in the be compared to baseline data stress, but whose health state coral’s mucous at certain times which we will collect from is unknown, and based on an after the application of stress, colonies growing throughout analysis of the bacteria present, we hope to document changes Käneÿohe Bay. The makeup of predict the coral’s fi tness. Such in the coral’s health in terms of the bacterial assemblages in methodological shifts in the bacterial community these mucous samples will be improvements will composition. determined and we expect that be necessary if we these assemblages will change hope to effectively Only with recent advances as the condition of the coral manage coral reefs. in molecular biology and deteriorates, and that these genomics has this type of work changes will be symptomatic of become feasible. Techniques declining coral health. utilizing analysis of bacterial 16s ribosomal genes will allow One benefi cial aspect of this us to compare the exact make technique is that sampling of Dan Reineman is pursuing up of the bacterial community the bacteria in the coral mucous his Ph.D. in Oceanography at different times during a layer is non-invasive. It utilizes in the School of Ocean coral’s response to stressors in a blunt syringe to remove a tiny and Earth Science and its environment, specifi cally quantity of the mucous, but does Technology at the University temperature and nutrient not adversely affect the coral’s of Hawaiÿi at Mänoa. His increases. Initial work will tissue. The existing method advisor is Dr. Ruth Gates. be done in aquaria using two commonly used to diagnose common species of Hawaiian coral health is a visual survey; Sarah McTee

Finger coral (Porites compressa) is a common coral species in Hawaiÿi. Changes in coral bacterial levels due to environmental stress may be indicators to overall coral health.

Ka Pili Kai 11 Nä mea like ÿole

Help Us Do More Get Involved

veryday research and extension faculty f you’re on the Big Island of Hawaiÿi, here are Eof the University of Hawaiÿi Sea Grant Isome ways to learn more about our local reefs. College Program (UH Sea Grant) work toward improving our understanding and ReefTalk stewardship of Hawaiÿi’s coastal and marine Once a month UH Sea Grant extension agent Sara resources. But, we need your help to do more. Peck organizes an evening lecture that is free and With a donation to UH Sea Grant, you’ll open to any who wish to attend. Topics range from provide critical support to our research and the latest scientifi c discoveries to natural history of outreach efforts. Together, we can positively your favorite reef critters. affect how we care for our earth and impact what legacy we leave for future generations. ReefWatchers There are many ways you can make a dona- If you’re interested in learning more about tion and every gift truly makes a difference. Hawaiÿi’s reefs by getting your feet wet, Sara also Please help support our efforts by making organizes a group of dedicated volunteers who a tax-deductible donation today. For more monitor and record information about local reefs. information about ways you can support UH Volunteers are provided training and contribute to Sea Grant, please contact Travis Gray of the protecting our reefs by collecting data as part of a University of Hawaiÿi Foundation at (808) long term monitoring project. 956-8769. For more information please contact UH Sea Grant Mahalo! extension agent Sara Peck at (808) 329-2861.

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