Agencies collaborate to treat coral disease

Lihue, Kauai – The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources this month called together a number of partners to address the ongoing Kauai black band coral disease outbreak.

This is the third meeting of the Kauai Management Response Team. The Response Team will review the latest data about the disease and consider management options.

“DAR is aware of the black band coral disease on Kauai and is actively implementing the Rapid Response Contingency Plan, which provides us with a framework to respond to these types of events. We are working together to coordinate research and management efforts,” said DAR Administrator Frazer McGilvray.

DAR has been supporting research being conducted by the University of Hawaii, U.S. Geological Survey, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to determine how widespread the disease is and whether any environmental factors could be contributing to the infections. So far, research has indicated that the disease is affecting three species of rice corals, genus Montipora, occurs predominately on the north shore, and it seems to be occurring in seasonal “hot spots” of infection.

Kauai DAR staff including aquatic biologist Don Heacock, will support the next stage of UH field work scheduled for this summer. The team is also launching an online resource — dlnr.hawaii.gov/reefresponse — which outlines the research and management team’s findings.

The public can support this effort by reporting any new coral disease outbreak observations to The Eyes of the Reef Network.

Look around when diving or swimming for signs of the Kauai black band disease outbreaks; take photos and send them to RRCPCoordinator@gmail.com. Make a report using the EOR Network “Coral Disease, Bleaching, and COTS” online report form. Do not collect samples or specimens.