The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and Arizona State University (ASU) have partnered to recover and transplant coral colonies from an old fish farm structure off Hawai i Island. After the fish farm pipe was relocated, conservation efforts focused on saving the mature coral heads. According to DAR, many coral colonies have been successfully moved back to their natural reef habitat or placed in controlled nursery environments for further research and growth.
As detailed by theDepartment of Land and Natural Resources website, the removal of these corals took three days. While the top corals could not be saved due to air exposure, the rest were carefully removed and either returned to the ocean or placed in the ko ako a Coral Restoration Nursery. TNC’s Julia Rose stated, “Opportunities like this are actually really, valuable, because the amount of time and effort and money that it would take to grow eleven years worth of coral that s on these offshore pens, is huge. Any amount of coral that we can save from these pens today, is so valuable. It s the biggest bang for the buck that you can get.
DAR’s Coral Restoration Coordinator on Hawai i Island, Zachary Craig, highlighted the importance of proper reef habitats for coral survival. He called the collection of mature corals one of the largest he’s seen on the island. Corals that couldn’t be returned to the ocean immediately were taken to the nursery, where they receive intensive care according to ASU restoration scientist Dr. Grace Klinges.
The coral heads not only help the environment but also support research to understand coral stress. Dr. Klinges emphasized the importance of collaboration in saving many of them, describing the effort as massive. These corals will be given the best conditions for rehabilitation, with the goal of returning them to their natural marine habitats.
Partnerships with commercial entities like Blue Ocean Mariculture have been crucial. CEO Dick Jones highlighted the company s commitment to preserving Hawai i’s ocean ecosystems, stating that providing reef samples from their net pens helps support coral regeneration. This collaboration shows how commercial and conservation efforts can work together for a sustainable future. Tyler Korte, Vice President of Marine Operations at Blue Ocean, expressed pride in directly contributing to the restoration of healthy reef systems, a key part of the coral recovery project.
Note: Thank you for visiting our website! We strive to keep you informed with the latest updates based on expected timelines, although please note that we are not affiliated with any official bodies. Our team is committed to ensuring accuracy and transparency in our reporting, verifying all information before publication. We aim to bring you reliable news, and if you have any questions or concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
Leave a Reply