Hawaii FEP - Western Pacific Fishery Council

factors, control coral reef community structure in Hawaii. Most coastline areas in the state areexposed to the open ocean, and the reefs in these areas are frequently disturbed by waveinducedmortality. As such, the only significant buildup of reefs in the MHI is found in areasthat are reasonably sheltered from open-ocean swells and at depths that are not constrained bysea level. Such areas are typically restricted to embayments and areas sheltered from waveexposure by nearby islands. Examples include the Kona Coast of Hawaii, the south coast ofwest Maui, the north coast of Lanai and Kauai, Kaneohe Bay, Hanauma Bay, and Barber’sPoint on Oahu (Des Rochers 1992; J. Maragos personal communication). In most places, themodern Holocene reefs consist of only a thin veneer on top of the older Pleistocene reefs, whichsuggests that no accretion of living corals is taking place. Slow coral growth, low rates ofrecruitment, and sedimentation have also been proposed as factors that have contributed to theslow rate of coral reef formation in Hawaii (Friedlander 1996).In general, impacts related to anthropogenic factors such as point and nonpoint pollution tend tobe of most significance in wave-sheltered environments or in areas with high residence timesuch as embayments and lagoons (Freidlander et al. 2005; Grigg 2002). In cases in which theecology of reefs is under primary or dominant control by wave forces, the potential effects ofpollution may be less pronounced, except with respect to aesthetic values or water quality andhuman health (Grigg 2002). Friedlander (1996) and Grigg (1997) both noted that excessivefishing is a serious problem throughout the MHI. The Council will consider the existing andpotential future impacts on coral reefs when managing the coral reef fisheries included in thisFEP, as described in Chapter 4. However, impacts on coral reefs within waters not included inthe EEZ of the Hawaii Archipelago are not specifically included in management of fisheries bythis FEP, as described in Section 1.4. Grigg also found that each of the MHI is characterized byother specific and localized threats to coral reef health as described below.Oahu: Grigg found that Oahu, being the population center of Hawaii, ranks highest among theMHI in terms of coral reef resource problems and the need for better long-term management.Most of the open coastline of Oahu is fringed by coral reefs with low natural coral cover due towave action. The best reef development is found in embayments or shelter areas, such asKaneohe Bay or Hanauma Bay. Reef communities are generally healthy except for local areaswhere shoreline use is high or in some embayments where water circulation is restricted. Pointand nonpoint source pollution has degraded many of these environments. Although, the mostserious anthropogenic impact to coral reef ecosystems islandwide is overfishing it should benoted that the “overfishing” determination made in Grigg (1997) is not based on the criteriaspecified in the Coral Reef Ecosystem FMP or the MSA’s National Standard 1.Grigg reported that many improvements in coastal environments have occurred on Oahu inrecent years. All shallow nearshore sewage discharges have been replaced by deep-wateroutfalls, and better land management practices and the curtailment of dredging and fillingactivities have greatly reduced sedimentation problems to coral reefs island-wide.Maui: Most coral reefs on Maui are also under primary control of wave forces. Healthy reefscan be found off Honokowai on the western end and the stretch of coastline between Olowaluand Papawai off the south coast of West Maui. Both of these areas were sheltered from theeffects of Hurricane Iniki in 1992, and coral cover ranges from 50–80 percent (depth: 10–20meters). Other pristine reefs also exist at 30–40 meters in the Auau Channel where they are56