Vulnerability and Resilience of Hawaiʻi Coral Reefs to Human-Caused Threats

Hawaiʻi’s way of life depends on healthy oceans and coral reefs for food, cultural traditions, recreation, tourism, and protection from storms. In 2016, the State of Hawaiʻi launched the Marine 30-by-30 Initiative to effectively manage 30% of state waters for healthy coral reefs, sustainable fisheries, and local communities by 2030.

State officials are also seeking to better understand the vulnerability of coral reefs to climate change and their ability to adapt. The Lenfest Ocean Program is funding SymbioSeas and The Nature Conservancyʻs (TNC) Hawaiʻi Chapter to assess:

• Vulnerability and resilience of coral reefs to human-caused threats, including climate change;
• Adaptation potential of coral reefs over time to warming temperatures; and
• Relationships between herbivorous, or plant-eating, fish and coral reef condition.

Throughout, the research team will work the Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) to integrate project outputs, including spatial datasets, professionally designed maps and brochures, and peer-reviewed publications into the 30-by-30 Initiative and other planning processes.