Post by Steve Sutton on Mar 22, 2010 10:43:16 GMT -5
Two Hawai‘i community environmental groups are planning projects to protect Hawai's coral reefs, using substantial donations as a result of a recent settlement for coral damage that was approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR).
The state’s Makai Watch Program and Malama Kai Foundation will share a $130,000 donation that was part of Makena Boat Partners’ settlement through an agreement with the Land Board on December 23, 2009, after its boat, the Kai Kanani, was found anchored on a damaged section of coral and live rock reef in 2007.
“As stewards of our finite and fragile marine resources, DLNR is pleased to support their protection through partnerships with community efforts such as the Makai Watch Program and Malama Kai Foundation,” said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson.
The Makai Watch Program partners will receive $70,000 in settlement funds to support the development of observation and compliance protocols for volunteers and DLNR-assisted trainings for current Makai Watch groups. Makai Watch is officially sanctioned by the State of Hawai's and works to restore and sustain Hawai'’s coastal resources through community involvement.
More information about the program can be found on the Division of Aquatic Resources website: hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/coral/coral_las_makaiwatch.html.
The Land Board also selected the Malama Kai Foundation (MKF) to receive $60,000 in settlement funds to be used to install 52 day-use moorings around the state.
The foundation was selected for two main reasons. First, Malama Kai’s successful procurement of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation federal grant funding to install 40 mooring buoys. Second, the board felt that additional funding would support the successful completion of the foundation grant and the installation of an additional 12 moorings added from the original project scope.
Malama Kai Foundation and its partners on each island utilize trained installers for all new moorings and will consult with state biologists prior to installation. Malama Kai will give first priority to the island of Maui and will work with its partner, the Maui Reef Fund, for installation of new day-use moorings identified for that island. Day-use mooring buoys are accepted around the world as an effective tool to reduce damage to coral reefs caused by anchors. The moorings eliminate the need to drop anchors on coral reefs by providing boaters with a safe, convenient means of securing their boats.
Although coral is fully protected by state law, boaters using anchors can inadvertently damage coral if the anchor drags, or if anchor chain or line scrapes the sea floor. Reference locations for day use moorings in Hawaii and Hawaii Administrative Rules for day use moorings, Chapter 13-257 can be found at the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation website at hawaii.gov/dlnr/dbor/bordayusemoorings.htm
More information on day-use moorings can be found on the Malama Kai Foundation website: www.malama-kai.org/.
The state’s Makai Watch Program and Malama Kai Foundation will share a $130,000 donation that was part of Makena Boat Partners’ settlement through an agreement with the Land Board on December 23, 2009, after its boat, the Kai Kanani, was found anchored on a damaged section of coral and live rock reef in 2007.
“As stewards of our finite and fragile marine resources, DLNR is pleased to support their protection through partnerships with community efforts such as the Makai Watch Program and Malama Kai Foundation,” said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson.
The Makai Watch Program partners will receive $70,000 in settlement funds to support the development of observation and compliance protocols for volunteers and DLNR-assisted trainings for current Makai Watch groups. Makai Watch is officially sanctioned by the State of Hawai's and works to restore and sustain Hawai'’s coastal resources through community involvement.
More information about the program can be found on the Division of Aquatic Resources website: hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/coral/coral_las_makaiwatch.html.
The Land Board also selected the Malama Kai Foundation (MKF) to receive $60,000 in settlement funds to be used to install 52 day-use moorings around the state.
The foundation was selected for two main reasons. First, Malama Kai’s successful procurement of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation federal grant funding to install 40 mooring buoys. Second, the board felt that additional funding would support the successful completion of the foundation grant and the installation of an additional 12 moorings added from the original project scope.
Malama Kai Foundation and its partners on each island utilize trained installers for all new moorings and will consult with state biologists prior to installation. Malama Kai will give first priority to the island of Maui and will work with its partner, the Maui Reef Fund, for installation of new day-use moorings identified for that island. Day-use mooring buoys are accepted around the world as an effective tool to reduce damage to coral reefs caused by anchors. The moorings eliminate the need to drop anchors on coral reefs by providing boaters with a safe, convenient means of securing their boats.
Although coral is fully protected by state law, boaters using anchors can inadvertently damage coral if the anchor drags, or if anchor chain or line scrapes the sea floor. Reference locations for day use moorings in Hawaii and Hawaii Administrative Rules for day use moorings, Chapter 13-257 can be found at the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation website at hawaii.gov/dlnr/dbor/bordayusemoorings.htm
More information on day-use moorings can be found on the Malama Kai Foundation website: www.malama-kai.org/.