UH faculty, alumni support public education campaign to protect herbivore fishes, coral reefs

A local ʻohana of like-minded ocean lovers, scientists, water enthusiasts and fishers launched Fish Pono—Save Our Reefs, a public education campaign with the vision of bringing awareness to the importance of replenishing herbivore fish populations to foster healthy coral reefs.

Five University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa faculty, staff and alumni are supporting this effort. 

Fish Pono scientific advisors include:

• Alan Friedlander and Kawika Winter of the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology,
• Mark Hixon of the School of Life Sciences, as well as
• Alumnus Randy Kosaki of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

Photography on the Fish Pono website was provided by:

• University of Hawaiʻi  alumnus Jeff Kuwabara, who directs the UH Mānoa Marine Option Program, and
• Waterman Keoki Stender.

When herbivores—our reef’s lawnmowers—such as uhu (parrotfishes), nenue (chubs), kala, kole, manini, other surgeonfishes and sea urchins are in low abundance, coral reefs are overgrown with seaweeds and begin to suffocate and die, according to UH. “These ever-important lawnmowers, especially the uhu, must be abundant and thriving for seaweeds to remain in check, our corals to survive and flourish, and our beaches to get their essential, desperately needed sand (uhu poop sand),” according to a UH news release.

“As our islands experience serious effects of poor water quality and climate change, including severe coral bleaching, a simple effort of giving uhu and other herbivore fishes a break, taking only what you need to feed your immediate family for that day, will save our coral reefs,” Kosaki said. “Scientists have found that uhu and important surgeonfishes are particularly overfished, and highly populated islands like Oʻahu are at less than 5% of their original herbivore fish abundance.”

Ongoing Fish Pono television and radio public service announcements feature well-known ocean enthusiasts, including:

• Navigator Nainoa Thompson of the Polynesian Voyaging Society
• Champion spearfisher Kimi Werner
• Waterman and ocean safety expert Brian Keaulana, and
• Bodysurfing champion Mark Cunningham.

The announcements were filmed around Oʻahu and offer testimony of the importance of saving coral reefs by saving the uhu and other herbivore species. The television and radio announcements can be found on the Fish Pono website.

“Herbivores allow corals to replenish and grow, and thus save our coastlines and coastal fishing for future generations,” Winter said.

Hixon added, “Coral reefs are extremely valuable to Hawaiʻi, providing subsistence and recreational fishing, coastal protection, surfable waves, tourism, medicines and spiritual connection.”