Healthy coastal ecosystems are the foundation of life in our islands. However, rapid population growth and urbanization in coastal areas have destroyed large swaths of coastline, degraded coastal water quality, and placed substantial strain on coastal ecosystems. Since its inception more than 40 years ago, UH Sea Grant has been developing innovative approaches to protect coastal and nearshore marine habitats from further degradation and to restore and maintain these ecosystems.
The Economy Depends on Healthy Coastal Ecosystems
In Hawai‘i, the economy depends on healthy coastal ecosystems. Human activities along the coast are leading to water quality degradation, proliferation of invasive species, and a host of other challenges that need to be understood and addressed.
Fisheries: Loss and deterioration of coastal habitats has dramatically affected essential habitat for fish, causing a dramatic decline in fishery stocks. This is particularly important as per-capita fish consumption in the islands is more than twice the national average.
Recreation: Healthy coral reefs provide income through tourism and recreation. Local communities receive billions of dollars from visitor activities such as diving tours, recreational fishing, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. Here in Hawai‘i, it was estimated that tourism connected to coral reefs attracted as much as 6.7 million visitors and generated $11.4 billion annually.
Storm Protection: Healthy coral reefs safeguard coastal communities and buffer shorelines against waves, storms, and floods, which help prevent loss of life, property damage, and erosion.
A Source of Unbiased Information
Sea Grant emphasizes the application of science and collaborative problem solving for complex societal issues. Institutions and individuals throughout the region rely on UH Sea Grant to provide unbiased and fair services for some of the most complex marine-related issues. In addition, as part of a national network, UH Sea Grant has the opportunity to draw on the expertise of thousands of individuals from varying backgrounds to address issues affecting coastal communities on a local, national and global scale.
Ahupua‘a Management
In Hawai‘i and beyond our shores, coastal communities have rediscovered a traditional Hawaiian concept of natural resource management called ahupua‘a management. In ancient Hawai‘i, the island was divided into ahupua‘a, or wedge-shaped sections of the land from the mountain to the sea. UH Sea Grant has long-embraced this holistic concept and emphasized that the health of the entire watershed directly impacts the quality of our coastal and nearshore environment. Many of the projects seek to improve our understanding of coastal ecological processes and the impacts of natural and human-induced changes, which is fundamental to the management and restoration of coastal ecosystems and habitats.
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