Maui Ocean Quality Post-Fire and For the Future

Coastal communities like Maui’s rely on healthy marine ecosystems for fishing, tourism, recreation, and economic activities such as boating, diving, and beachgoing. After the Lahaina fire in August 2023, Maui locals and visitors alike have many questions about how that fire might impact the health of our immediate ocean environment. As the first instance of an urban fire located adjacent to a reef system, the Lahaina fire necessitates extensive study of fire impacts on ocean health. 

Ocean Quality Post-Fires

While some effects will take time to fully manifest, we are starting to see results from initial testing conducted in and around Lahaina in the months since the fires. Maui Nui Marine Resource Council just released a virtual talk on their preliminary testing to help us all understand what they’ve found so far. It is quite detailed and informative, so please check it out when you have time to watch along. If you want to skip ahead to the Q&A, that’s at 42:15.

Maui’s chapter of the Surfrider Foundation has also conducted extensive ocean quality testing. However, they have not yet published results. Learn more about their testing and follow them for updates here. 

In general, wildfires can lead to increased sedimentation and nutrient runoff into coastal waters. This can negatively affect water quality and coral health. Sedimentation can smother coral reefs, blocking sunlight essential for photosynthesis and disrupting the delicate balance of reef ecosystems. Furthermore, nutrient runoff can contribute to algal blooms. These can outcompete corals for space and resources, leading to coral stress and decline. 

Is It Safe To Get In The Water Today?

Coral health is vital to overall ocean quality in the long term. But, what about water quality for family beach days now? Check out Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force monthly testing for enterococcus bacteria. Enterococcus can indicate the presence of fecal material in the waters (from all sorts of mammals, including humans), and can be a good measure of possible contamination and immediately hazardous conditions. This type of contamination is most likely to occur with runoff after a rain event. So, this measure of water quality can have nothing to do with post-fire conditions, but can be exacerbated after a large fire. As a general rule of thumb, if the water is brown, turn around!

The Big Picture of Ocean Health

As one might guess, the fires were only an added stressor on top of already existing environmental and climate challenges for our ocean. A broad effort to monitor Maui’s coral health is a crucial endeavor that involves scientific research, community involvement, and conservation efforts aimed at preserving the island’s vibrant coral reef ecosystems. As one of the most biodiverse marine environments globally, Maui’s coral reefs provide habitat for numerous marine species, support local economies through tourism and fishing, and contribute to the overall health of the ocean ecosystem. However, these delicate ecosystems face various threats, including climate change, pollution, overfishing, and coastal development, necessitating vigilant monitoring and conservation initiatives to safeguard their future.

Scientific Research and Monitoring Programs:

• Coral Reef Health Assessments: Scientists and marine biologists conduct regular assessments of Maui’s coral reefs to monitor their health and resilience. These assessments involve surveys to document coral species diversity, abundance, coral cover, and the prevalence of coral diseases and bleaching events.
• Water Quality Monitoring: Monitoring water quality is essential for understanding the factors that impact coral health, such as nutrient runoff, sedimentation, and pollution. Monitoring programs measure parameters like water temperature, pH levels, nutrient concentrations, and sedimentation rates to assess their impact on coral reefs.
• Coral Bleaching Surveys: Coral bleaching, often caused by elevated water temperatures, is a significant threat to coral reefs worldwide. Monitoring programs track bleaching events, assess their severity, and study the recovery of corals post-bleaching to understand their resilience to climate change stressors.
• Coral Disease Monitoring: Monitoring programs also focus on documenting and studying coral diseases, which can weaken coral colonies and lead to widespread mortality. Identifying disease outbreaks and understanding their causes are crucial for implementing targeted conservation measures.
• Remote Sensing Technologies: Advanced technologies such as satellite imagery, aerial surveys, and underwater drones are used to monitor large-scale changes in coral reef health, detect coral bleaching events, and assess reef condition over time.

Community Involvement and Citizen Science:

• Community-Based Monitoring: Engaging local communities, divers, and volunteers in coral monitoring efforts is essential for gathering data across a wide geographic area. Community members are trained to conduct reef surveys, report coral bleaching events, and contribute valuable observations to ongoing monitoring programs.
• Citizen Science Initiatives: Citizen science initiatives empower residents and visitors to participate in scientific research by collecting data, documenting marine life sightings, and reporting coral health observations. These initiatives promote public awareness and stewardship of coral reefs. Many ocean quality nonprofit organizations have volunteer programs for local residents. 
• Educational Outreach: Educational programs, workshops, and outreach events are conducted to raise awareness about coral reef conservation, threats to reef health, and the importance of sustainable practices among local communities, schools, and tourists.

Conservation and Management Strategies:

• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Establishing and managing MPAs, such as marine reserves and sanctuaries, is a key conservation strategy for protecting coral reefs and marine biodiversity. MPAs provide refuge for coral species, support fish populations, and enhance ecosystem resilience. Honolua Bay, Molokini, and Ahihi-Kinau are important marine reserves around Maui. 
• Restoration and Coral Gardening: Restoration initiatives involve transplanting coral fragments, propagating coral species in nurseries, and implementing coral gardening techniques to enhance coral resilience and promote reef recovery after disturbances.
• Fisheries Management: Sustainable fisheries management practices, such as implementing size and catch limits, regulating fishing gear, and protecting key fish habitats, help maintain healthy fish populations that play a vital role in reef ecosystems.
• Pollution Control and Coastal Management: Implementing measures to reduce pollution, control runoff from land-based sources, manage coastal development, and promote sustainable tourism practices are critical for minimizing stressors on coral reefs and improving water quality.
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Addressing the root causes of climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and implementing adaptation strategies to help corals withstand warming seas and ocean acidification are fundamental for long-term coral reef resilience.

Collaborative Partnerships and Funding:

• Government Agencies: Collaboration among government agencies, such as the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Department of Environmental Management, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is essential for coordinating monitoring efforts, enforcing regulations, and implementing conservation policies.
• Nonprofit Organizations: Nonprofit organizations, such as Hui O Ka Wai Ola, Surfrider Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, and Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute, play a vital role in funding research projects, conducting outreach, and implementing conservation programs.
• Research Institutions: Collaborations with research institutions, universities, and scientific organizations provide expertise, funding, and resources for conducting in-depth studies on coral health, resilience, and restoration techniques.
• Private Sector Partnerships: Partnering with businesses, resorts, dive operators, and tourism industry stakeholders can support conservation initiatives through funding, sustainable practices, and eco-friendly tourism activities that minimize impacts on coral reefs.

Efforts to monitor Maui’s coral health require ongoing commitment, collaboration, and public engagement to address the complex challenges facing coral reef ecosystems. By combining scientific research, community involvement, conservation strategies, and collaborative partnerships, Maui can continue to protect its valuable coral reefs for future generations to enjoy and appreciate.