In Hawaii, a coral reef infection has biologists alarmed

[rrasco]

A mysterious growth has been spreading under the waters of Hanalei Bay and elsewhere on Kauai's north shore. It's killing all the coral it strikes, and scientists can't stop it.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-hanalei-bay-20121127,0,4893429.story

http://www.trbimg.com/img-50b44e99/turbine/la--na-hanalei-bay.01.jpg-20121126/600

[koa25]

Cyano? They are just over feeding... that does suck though. Great. All the reefs in hawaii die off right before i get there.

[alton]

Robert do you know if this area is in the protected unfished area of Hawaii? It seems they are quick to blame overfishing, when a bunch of Hawaii is protected from fishing?

[alton]

I searched after I posted and found this
http://www.tombarefoot.com/info/Kauai_Beaches_Glass_Beach_Kauai.html

[rrasco]

Well, if you have read about any of the issues surrounding Hawaii, other than this, they've been blaming fishing and the aquarium trade for the destruction of the reef fish populations. There has been a lot of chatter back and forth, Snorkel Bob being a big proponent, but all the data I have seen does not support their views. Numbers actually show populations are up.

I think certain fish are protected from commercial collection, but I do believe unless a species is endangered or protected, the locals catch them all the time.

[jvene1]

Have they tried a freshwater dip? :p