DLNR Dispatches

Introduced Tilapia Invade Napali Coast Shoreline

Thousands of blackchin tilapia have invaded near-shore waters in the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kaua‘i. Fishermen first reported seeing large schools of mostly juvenile tilapia over a two-week period. A team from the DLNR, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) conducted in-water surveys at the Nu‘alolo Kai section of the park and confirmed the reports.

Ka‘ili Shayler, a fish and habitat monitoring coordinator with DAR, said, “We first spotted