The foundation of Kona’s underwater universe is its coral reef.
Researchers surveyed the reefs this month for the first time since Hurricane Walaka pummeled the region last year.The same hurricane also wiped a small island off the map. Both the island and reef are located in one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world.
Starting in 2021, the U.S. state of Hawaii will bar the use of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are thought to be harmful to coral reefs...The Pacific republic of Palau will be the first nation to prohibit the substances when their ban comes into force next year.
The practice of trawling has devastated seamounts around the world and scientists have generally believed that an ecological recovery was unlikely. However, in the case of the Seamount Chain, there is a glimmer of hope. Link to the full article below.
Man’s best friend could be Hawaii’s newest weapon in the fight against invasive species. Wildlife biologists are training dogs to sniff out some of the biggest threats to endangered species in Hawaii. The science is new, but it’s showing promising results.
After years of federally mandated protection, scientists see signs that this once ecologically fertile area known as the Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount Chain is making a comeback. Link to full article below.
