Statewide Reef Indicators

Statewide Reef Indicators

HIMARC assesses the condition of Hawaiʻi’s nearshore coral reefs through the synthesis of statewide ecological datasets from partners in the HIMARC ʻOhana. These monitoring efforts measure the composition of reef assemblages, including targeted fish populations and essential benthic organisms such as live coral and limu (algae).

See model predictions of coral cover and fish biomass by Moku across the Main Hawaiian Islands:

Learn more about the modeling process used to create these maps.

HIMARC’s Statewide Indicator Maps have been adopted by natural resource management agencies for implementation as a key tool for decision-making across islands.

Some ways these maps have been integrated into management:

Statewide Sustainable Herbivore Management Plan

Herbivorous reef fishes, such as uhu, kala, and surgeonfishes, support Hawaiʻi’s marine ecosystems by grazing on algae to maintain balance and foster healthy coral populations. To combat declining populations and protect reef resilience statewide, the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) launched the Sustainable Herbivore Management Plan. HIMARC supported this statewide initiative by providing DAR with data science from the Statewide Reef Indicators, needed to track herbivore populations and guide effective management decisions across the islands.

See the peer-reviewed publication here.

Holomua Marine Initiative

HIMARC Statewide Reef Indicator maps help provide context for the Holomua Marine Initiative. These maps are provided to Navigation Teams, which can help inform the overall management process. In 2023, the Maui Navigation Team reviewed earlier versions of these maps to create informed decisions around potential resource management through the Holomua program.