A Collaboration of Scientists and Citizen Scientists to Collect Data on Shallow Coral Reefs Communities to Further Community-Based Conservation in Hawai‘i
This survey provided citizen scientists with an opportunity to experience the relatively pristine shallow water reefs of Nihoa in the NWHI and training in scientifically-rigorous methods for data collection. The comprehensive data collected on Nihoa fish populations allows for direct comparison with data from sites in the MHI.
Subject Tags
- Reefs
- Fisheries
- Community-based conservation
Introduction
This report summarizes a collaborative conservation science project conducted by The Nature Conservancy, citizen scientists, NOAA partners, and community organizations to document the condition of shallow coral reef fish communities around Nihoa Island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Using standardized timed-swim surveys at 36 sites during 2016, researchers measured fish abundance, biomass, species composition, and reef conditions. The study found that Nihoa supports substantially greater fish biomass and larger fish than reefs in the Main Hawaiian Islands, with communities dominated by apex predators such as barracuda, jacks, and sharks. Resource fish biomass was nearly twice that of comparable Hawaiian sites, reflecting the limited human impacts and protected status of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The project also engaged community members from Maui and Hawaiʻi Island as citizen scientists, providing hands-on experience in marine research and strengthening community-based fisheries management efforts across Hawaiʻi.
Suggested Citation
Minton, D., Amimoto, R., Caldwell, Z., Conklin, E., Lindsey, E., Lynch, H., Most, R., Murray, M., Nakachi, K., & Wiggins, C. 2017. A Collaboration of Scientists and Citizen Scientists to Collect Data on Shallow Coral Reefs Communities to Further Community-Based Conservation in Hawai‘i. The Nature Conservancy. Honolulu, HI. 24 pp.
TNC Authors
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Zach Caldwell
Global Dive Safety Officer
The Nature Conservancy
Email: zcaldwell@tnc.org -
Eric Conklin
Marine Science Director, Hawai‘i and Palmyra
The Nature Conservancy
Email: econklin@tnc.org -
Harry Lynch
Marine Field Operations Manager
The Nature Conservancy
Email: hlynch@tnc.org