Reef and Reef Fish Monitoring in West Hawaiʻi

Our reefs are under increasing pressure from sediments, land-based pollutants, unsustainable fishing and climate change impacts, including rising sea levels and water temperatures, which are expected to intensify in coming years. The Nature Conservancy is collaborating with the Division of Aquatic Resources and communities to collect, analyze, and share coastal and marine data to inform marine management on Hawai‘i Island. Surveys will be designed to answer community-led research questions about fish populations, coral reef health, and climate impacts like coral bleaching). The Kai Kuleana Network of 15 organizations will be directly involved and this project will provides key baseline data that will be used to inform fisheries management and coral bleaching response in West Hawaiʻi.