Rising Ocean Tempuratures are Killing Coral

DLNR and NOAA Ask for Help Dealing With Upcoming Coral Bleaching Event

■ Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch program indicates Hawai‘i’s coral reefs are entering a major bleaching event within the next two months, if not sooner.

Rising sea temperatures are likely to cause corals in Hawai‘i’s waters to bleach and even die. According to NOAA Scientist Jamison Gove, “Ocean temperatures are extremely warm right now across Hawai‘i. They’re about 3 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than what we typically experience. If the ocean continues to warm even further as predicted, we