Science blog: Monitoring coral reef ecosystems throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago

NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette docked at Ford Island © NOAA Fisheries / Ali Bayless

The Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center has been surveying coral reef ecosystems in the Pacific since the early 2000s. We collect data to assess how coral reefs vary over space and time.

We do this to inform the management of these stunning and important ecosystems, which are packed full of biodiversity and provide coastal protection, food, and livelihoods to millions of people worldwide. During this expedition, we will survey the Islands in the Hawaiian Archipelago—the main Hawaiian Islands and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and atolls. Follow our progress as we post photos of what we see at sea!

Coral Health

The coral team photographs the coral colonies along a transect off of Lana?i. Before taking pictues, they measure, identify, and note the health of colonies. This is the first island stop on our way to the island of Hawai'i. - photo © NOAA Fisheries / Courtney Couch

Team Effort

It takes coordination from a lot of people to get our survey work done. Here, the deck crew tends lines as the crew, scientists, and dive chamber operators load one of the small boats. Everyone pitches in to make sure our mission is a success! - photo © NOAA Fisheries / Kaylyn McCoy

Water Chemistry

Our ocean and climate change team deploys the `diel suite` instrument package in Papa Bay. These instruments measure the daily variability in oceanic temperature, salinity, pH, oxygen, water flow to assess environmental conditions on Hawai'i's coral reefs - photo © NOAA Fisheries, Hawai'i Marine Education and Research Center / Paul Cox

Camouflaged Predator

Titan scorpionfish - a master of disguise. This predator lies in wait of unsuspecting prey, and is an important component of the coral reef ecosystem. Its coloration and appendages blend in with algae around it, and sucks the prey into its large mouth! - photo © NOAA Fisheries / Taylor Williams

New Reef

Kilauea volcano's eruption created a lava flow out into the ocean, which then cooled and formed new land and reef. Our fish team had rare chance to survey this area. The substrate is composed of a steep slope of loose, cooled lava rocks and sediment - photo © NOAA Fisheries / Andrew Gray

Whitemouth Moray

Moray eels are common predators around Hawaiian Islands. Some speculate that eels are common due to a lack of competition – the data that we are collecting can help answer this question. This one looks menacing, but opening its mouth is how it breathes - photo © NOAA Fisheries / Kaylyn McCoy

Go Team!

Let leg 3 of our expedition begin! Over the next 14 days, we will dive around the islands of Kaua?i and Ni?ihau. Today, we conducted reef fish, coral, and oceanography, and climate change surveys around the south shore of Kaua?i. Go Team! - photo © NOAA Fisheries / Raymond Boland

Oasis on the Barren Bottom

As the divers survey the reefs around Ni'ihau, they encounter more rocks, boulders, and pavement than dense coral reef. Here, a few solitary Pocillopora grandis coral colonies serve as a welcome shelter for these butterflyfish and damselfish. - photo © NOAA Fisheries / Ari Halperin

Monk Seal Fly-by!

This large, male Hawaiian monk seal came up close to greet our divers as they started coral surveys on underwater slopes of Lehua Crater. Over the course of our 2 days at Ni'ihau, we spotted over 15 monk seals along the beaches of this `Forbidden Isle.` - photo © NOAA Fisheries / Mollie Asbury

Na Pali Coastline

Today was a special day on the water — we surveyed reefs around the Na Pali Coast. We find mostly rocks and boulders below water's surface. Fishes enjoy the shelter of boulders, while small coral colonies grow and claim their space on top of the boulders. - photo © NOAA Fisheries / Mia Lamarind

Damsel on Guard

These damselfish are often found guarding cauliflower-like coral heads. They dart in and out and chase away other fishes that come close — it's fun to watch. We can distinguish these fish by their bright blue eyes. - photo © NOAA Fisheries / Raymond Boland

A Rare Coral Encounter

Benthic divers found 2 colonies of Psammocora obtusangula, each only about 5–8 cm wide, each at different dive sites in Lana'i. This rare coral species sent scientist to ID guides to figure out what they saw. Divers remain alert for new and rare species. - photo © NOAA Fisheries / Brittany Huntington

Deploy the Intern!

QUEST Intern Mia Lamirand executes a textbook backroll into the waters off Lana'i to begin fish survey. The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center offers graduates of UH-Hilo QUEST Program the opportunity to join these expeditions - photo © NOAA Fisheries / Raymond Boland

Bashful Blenny

A spotted coral blenny (Exallias brevis) makes its home among branches of a Pocillopora grandis colony in shallow waters of Ko Olina. For this species of blenny, coral provides shelter and food. Spotted coral blennies feed exclusively on live coral tissue - photo © NOAA Fisheries / Mollie Asbury

Leaf Scorpionfish

Leaf Scorpionfish - photo © NOAA Fisheries