Maui Coral Reefs: 7 Ways to Help

Corals Need You

It is no secret that coral reefs are vanishing at an alarming rate. Worldwide, coral reefs only cover 0.015 percent of the ocean floor—roughly the size of France! Yet despite claiming this minuscule swath of seafloor, coral reefs support an impressive 25 percent of all marine life in the ocean.

Imagine 2 billion people relying on the landmass of France for survival! Indeed, coral reefs provide critical economic resources and food for animals. Coral reefs also protect coastlines from catastrophic weather events!

Several predictions exist regarding when coral reefs worldwide may experience their final collapse. National Geographic estimates that most coral reefs could collapse by 2100, warning that this could happen even sooner if humanity does not significantly reduce carbon emissions. Rising ocean temperatures due to climate change, sea-level rise, and slow geopolitical responses make it crucial for dedicated individuals to work towards preserving what remains of these vital ecosystems, often called the rainforests of the sea.

Current Coral Coverage in West Maui

For the sake of scope, let’s focus on the current state of Maui’s coral reefs. Then, we will highlight conservation efforts for the coral reef ecosystem and what we can do as individuals to combat our reefs’ rapid changes. According to ancient Hawaiian lore, the history of all life evolved from the coral polyp. Tiny coral polyps are the base organisms of an entire coral reef system, meaning Hawaiians have consistently recognized how vital corals are to the health of life on the planet.

Today, Hawaiian coral reefs are subject to various stressors. In particular, coral reefs in Lahaina, Maui, are declining due to many significant events: bleaching from rising ocean temperatures, sedimentation from land and coastline development, algae overgrowth from agricultural and waste runoff, overfishing, and massive tourism. As a result, the Department of Land and Natural Resources estimates that Maui lost a quarter of its coral reefs between 1999 and 2006.

Popular Maui diving and snorkeling sites such as Airport Beach in Kaanapali saw a shocking 33 percent decrease in coral coverage from 1995 to 2012. The coral reefs of West Maui’s famous Honolua Bay dropped a staggering 76 percent between 1995 and 2012!

Maalaea Bay in central Maui was the first example of a total coral reef collapse. The bay transformed from a healthy, diverse coral reef ecosystem to a degraded underwater desert in just a few decades. Fast-forward ten years, and we now see more coral reefs decline.

What will it take to save this valuable resource in the face of a growing island population? In 2002, the U.S. government estimated the value of coastal Hawaiian coral reefs at nearly $10 billion, with an average annual contribution of $364 million (Cesar and Beukering, 2004). This figure is likely much higher now, especially for Maui. Approximately 85 percent of this annual revenue is generated by tourism. However, fishing and surfing activities will follow suit if the reefs disappear. The loss of revenue on this scale would be catastrophic for the Maui economy and would cause permanent damage to the island’s best surf spots.

Ocean Conservation in Hawaii

The prognosis for Hawaii and the rest of the world seems bleak; however, people are fighting against the human impact on the marine environment.