Stringent Protection for Maui Coral Reefs

The state of Hawaii takes the health of its natural resources very seriously. With innumerable visitors attracted to the natural beauty of these islands every year, it's no surprise that the unique and spectacular ecology here should be so well guarded. The protection of coral reefs in Maui and Oahu waters has been a hot topic in the news recently as a result of a few mishaps.

A Snorkel Charter lost one of its boats off Molokini due to a mechanical failure back in 2006, for which it was fined $396,000. The fine wouldn't have been so high if the salvage effort hadn't tripled the damage done to coral there. Over 1,200 coral colonies were damaged at this popular diving spot as a result of this incident. 

The most frequent cause of coral damage seems to be careless charters that illegally drop anchor right onto the reefs. Fines began for such activities in 2007. Prior to that, the state tried to be lenient by educating offenders on the reefs and requiring that they assist with the cost of the restoration. When it became clear that this method was not changing the conduct of tour operations, financial penalties were finally chosen to enforce compliance.

Tour boats are not the only entities responsible for damage. The U.S. Navy is as well. The state currently plans to sue the Navy over coral that was destroyed when a guided missile cruiser ran aground near Pearl Harbor back in February. 

While the fines may seem extreme to some, it is important to remember that tourism is Hawaii's No. 1 industry, and people do not flock here for night life or gambling. Visitors come to enjoy the pristine natural beauty that depends tremendously on the ecological health of the islands. This health is fragile, and it may not occur to those being careless with coral that they have destroyed in five minutes what took five hundred years to create.

Within the United States' jurisdiction, Hawaii is home to 84 percent of all coral. These reefs provide vital habitat for a myriad of species, many of which can be found nowhere else in the world. Coral also protects the shoreline during stormy weather and maintains the snorkel and scuba industries which attract so many visitors yearly to the islands. 

If you appreciate the greener parts of Maui, have a look at our stunning collection of Haiku homes for sale. There are some good buys among the North Shore homes for sale as well. If you need any real estate assistance, please email us at info@jimsandersrealty.com or call (808) 579-8255. Mahalo for reading and have a great weekend!