Hawaii FEP - Western Pacific Fishery Council

totally sheltered from wave stress. Exposed areas, some with reefs containing greater than 50percent coral cover, were devastated by Hurricane Iniki, which resulted in mortality of up to 100percent (E. Brown, personal communication in Grigg 2002).The two most significant environmental problems affecting coral reefs on Maui are excessivefishing and increases in various species of invasive algae, which may be related to nutrientloading, periodic natural upwelling, the low abundance of urchins, or high fishing pressure onherbivorous fishes.Lanai: Virtually all of the reefs on Lanai are in a healthy condition, although those on thenorthern half experience episodic mortally as the result of sediment runoff (Grigg 2002; J.Maragos, personal communication in Green 1997). None of Lanai’s reefs seem to experiencepollution, although they all experience fishing pressure.The reefs of Molokai have been subjected to widespread and high fishing levels as well assedimentation, although other anthropogenic effects on these reefs appear minimal. There wasan outbreak of the starfish Acanthaster planci off the southeast coast in 1972, and an attemptwas made to eradicate the outbreak (Branham et al. 1972 in Grigg 2002). However, it appearsthat the starfish returned to their normal abundance level naturally over a period of severalyears.Molokai: The south coast of Molokai supports the longest fringing reef in Hawaii (~35 mileslong: J. Maragos, personal communication in Green 1997). The condition of this reef variesfrom poor to excellent; with much of the reef degradation associated with sedimentation due topoor land use practices (J. Maragos, personal communication).Kahoolawe: Kahoolawe was used as a military target for live firing and bombing for years,which resulted in high rates of sedimentation onto the reefs. The reefs are now in a state ofrecovery, since the bombing ceased in 1994. Interestingly, little ordinance can be found on anyreefs around Kahoolawe today, suggesting rapid overgrowth by coral and/or high accuracy ofthe military target practice.Hawaii: The island of Hawaii (the Big Island) is still geologically active. The reefs on thisisland are dramatically different on the windward and leeward coasts. Reefs on the windwardside (except in Hilo Bay) are controlled by wave stress, and are characterized by earlysuccessional reef stages (i.e., scattered coral colonies or thin veneers on basalt foundations:Grigg 2002; J. Maragos, personal communication in Green 1997). In contrast, rich coral reefcommunities exist along the sheltered leeward side of the island (Grigg 2002; J. Maragos,personal communication in Green 1997). However, Grigg noted that the reefs along the leewardshore are subject to severe storms with a periodicity of approximately 40 years, which mayexplain why fringing reefs are not well developed in this area. Human impacts have also hadsome effect on the reefs of this island. Reefs on the Hamakua Coast have been degraded bysugarcane waste waters in the past, while excessive fishing, aquarium fish collecting, andground water intrusion have caused serious human impacts on the reefs on the leeward coast.57