Six Ways To Protect Hawaiian Coral: Among Oldest Living Things

Research at Stanford University has revealed that coral off Makapu’u on Oahu’s southwest coast, is much older than previously believed.  Gold coral (Gerardia) found there may in fact be more than 4,000 years old.  These corals have stood place in the central Pacific long enough to store a vast history of change in the ocean.

Threats to coral reefs:

Stanford’s Brendan Roark, said that the growth of old coral is so slow that any harvesting is unsustainable.  The coral is also at risk from deep-sea trawling and long-line fishing.

Scientists predict that over half the world’s coral reefs may be gone within 30 years. Here in Hawaii, and around the world, they are in imminent danger from threats including global warming, harvesting, pollution, and unsustainable fishing, among other things.

Coral reefs support about one quarter of all marine life, and are associated with 1 million total species of plants and animals.  Their value is as global as is the danger to them.

Here are things that you can do to help protect our coral:

1. Use only physical barrier type sunscreens.  Besides, they’re better for you too.
2. Don’t buy coral jewelry or souvenirs.  Even Tiffany agrees that old (red) coral, is too precious to harvest or wear.
3. Eat only sustainable seafood.  That will ensure that fish stocks are maintained and overfishing is eliminated.
4. Do not touch, disturb or remove marine life from its habitat or shells.
5. Do not step, touch or stir up sediment on or near coral.
6. Educate yourself and others.  Read about NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program, and check out the Coral Reef Alliance.