Reef Check Hawaii

A great article about the other effects global warming and heat waves may have on coral reefs

Can’t Stand the Heat (Wave): Coral-Protecting Fish in Decline An extensive survey of the Great Barrier Reef finds that a spike in ocean temperatures in 2016 led to a fall in populations of parrotfish, which keep corals healthy and help them recover from bleaching events by eating harmful algae.

A great article on easy and impactful ways to reduce single-use plastic consumption.

You Can Help Turn the Tide on Plastic. Here’s How. Do these six pain-free things, and you’ll help reduce the impact plastic is having on oceans and other waterways around the world.

This would be great news for the oceans!

Starbucks is eliminating plastic straws from all stores CEO Kevin Johnson called the move a "significant milestone" in the company's sustainability efforts.

This would be absolutely amazing! The United States needs to catch up on groundbreaking and critical pieces of legislation like this.

Europe plans ban on plastic cutlery, straws and more A ban on 10 plastic items that account for 70% of litter in EU waters could be just three or four years away.

It becomes very easy to forget when you don't see it every day that there are many places in the world that look like these photos. Everyone should try to reduce their single-use plastic consumption today!

Everyone Is Applauding This National Geographic Cover But The Real Shock Lies Inside The Pages National Geographic magazine has just launched an informative and shockingly revealing campaign called Planet or Plastic? and it is something that we all need to see and learn from.

Hawai'i is paving the way for a more coral reef friendly future by passing the bill that will ban harmful substances in sunscreens! There are many great alternatives to these chemicals that still will protect you from the sun!

Here Are Some Alternatives to Reef-Damaging Sunscreen Harmful chemicals from sunscreen can leach into the ocean and damage coral. Here are some sun-blocking alternatives.

This would be a huge step in the right direction for Hawaiian coral reefs!

Hawaii May Be The First State To Ban Reef-Killing Sunscreens Studies show that chemicals in popular sunscreen brands are extremely harmful to coral reef.

This is a great cause that I think everyone, regardless of whether or not they currently or have ever attended UH Mānoa, should get involved in. Please sign this petition to ban plastic straws on campus!

https://petitions.moveon.org/p/L_8Ih_DuN2r99N

Sign the petition: University of Hawaii at Manoa campus Ban on Plastic Straws I just signed a petition to David Lassner: 500 million plastic straws are used and discarded everyday in United States. Approximately 18 million plastic straws are used and discarded every year in UH Manoa campus. Each straw is used for an average of less than ten minutes, but they can persist in th...

This is great news!

Samoa Adds to Pacific Conservation Legacy by Creating Shark Sanctuary The waters surrounding the South Pacific island nation of Samoa are prime habitat for nearly 30 species of sharks and rays, and today the government took a critical step toward protecting them. At a forum to celebrate the region’s history of strong shark conservation, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono...

This would be an amazing step towards reducing plastic pollution in the ocean!

Hold that plate lunch! Lawmakers consider statewide ban of popular foam containers Hawaii senators later this week are expected to vote on a bill that would prohibit the sale and use of polystyrene foam containers statewide.

This would be a great start to reducing ocean plastic pollution. More countries need to follow this lead.

Now plastic straws are banned Environment Secretary Michael Gove is set to announce a ban within months in a bid to stop the huge environmental damage the straws cause.

It is not too late to save coral reefs! At a recent showing of Chasing Coral right here in Hawai`i, guests Dr. Ruth Gates, Dr. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, and Dr. Jack Kittinger stated that the film represented a sense of "urgent optimism." We can still save coral reefs, but we must start now.

It’s Not Too Late to Save Coral Reefs Coral reefs are imperilled worldwide, but engaging new sectors in conservation could help us save these vital ecosystems.

This would be a huge win for not only coral reefs around Hawaii and the globe, but the entire planet, as well. We strongly urge everyone to follow the instructions provided by the Surfrider Foundation - Oahu Chapter to submit a written testimony by this Sunday, February 25th! Let's make Hawaii the first foam free state!

SB2498 being heard Monday 2/26, 10AM, the next Step in making Hawai’i the first Foam Free State. This is a public decision making hearing in room 229, which means that oral testimony from the public is not heard, but written testimony leading up to it is very important and needs to be submitted by Sunday. What does public decision making mean? Senator Chang was kind enough to connect with us on the phone yesterday and explained that in the Senate, the last committee essentially believes that the lead committee (the first hearing we had) was sufficient to have a public dialogue. However, showing up to watch the hearing and sitting in support still is important if you can be there on Monday - it just continues to show that we are engaged and care about this issue. If you have never been to a hearing at the Capitol it is also a great opportunity to see the process in action. Bringing your kids and introducing them to this process is a great way to introduce civics into their lives early.

Okay, so now what? We need lots and lots of written testimony. Follow the instructions below (or click the link in our bio) to submit via the capitol website. For those of you that already wrote a hearing request email, simply copy those beautiful pieces of personal dialogue into the testimony box and click support and boom, you have really made a difference in this. By clicking on the civics link you can also find sample testimony.

1) Log into https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/
2) In top right sign-in or register if you haven't already
3) Either click "submit testimony" in middle of screen, or search Bill # (SB2498) in top left
4) When SB2498 is added to dialogue click the "Get Hearing" button
5) Click Support, and fill in testimony box, or attach a document.
6) You seriously have made a difference
7) Now please share with 10 other people (create an account for everyone in your family if you like) and share via social media by copying these instructions.

Coral reefs are in serious trouble, but that doesn't mean that we can't still turn things around and save such a beautiful and vital ecosystem to the oceans, planet, and even human health and needs. Here are 10 incredibly beneficial things everyone could start doing now to reduce stressors on coral reefs from the International Society for Reef Studies

Ten Things YOU CAN DO to Help Save CORAL REEFS – International Society for Reef Studies Ten Things YOU CAN DO to Help Save CORAL REEFS In the International Year of the Reef - TAKE THE PLEDGE! Sign up to achieve these 10 realisable personal goals For the recently launched International Year of the Reef (IYOR2018) (http://www.iyor2018.org/) the International Society for Reef Studies (ISR...

A great and beautiful overview of coral reef ecosystems by National Geographic!

Coral Reefs 101 | National Geographic What are coral reefs? Coral can be found in tropical ocean waters around the world. But how much do you know about reefs and the tiny animals—polyps—that bui...

Awesome new research about the social structure and interactions of fishes on coral reefs. Just another reminder that we need to protect herbivore species like parrotfish if we want to maintain, healthy, resilient coral reef ecosystems!

Could fish social networks help us save coral reefs? Mike Gil spies on fish: using novel multi-camera systems and computer vision technology, the TED Fellow and his colleagues explore how coral reef fish behave, socialize and affect their ecosystems. Learn more about how fish of different species communicate via social networks -- and what disrupting....