The Effects Of A Hawaiian Power Plant On The Distribution And Abundance Of Reef Fishes

The Kahe Steam-Electric Generating Station's thermal discharge induces a change in the species composition of fishes in those areas where the plume normally reaches the bottom. This shift appears to be related to an increase in benthic algal standing crop which may support the large numbers of fishes, primarily Acanthuridae. The species composition of fishes in the deeper reef areas greater than 7 meters depth! differs from that of shallower nearshore stations. The fish fauna of areas adjacent to large rocks, such as jetties, differs from that of reef areas. The thermal plume of the power plant induces a marked increase in fish standing crop directly at the outfall, due primarily to the increase in the numbers of herbivorous species, Fish standing crop estimates for the Kahe Point reefs generally agree with such estimates from other Hawaiian reef areas, ranging from 45O kg/hectare (400 pounds/acre) nearshore to 1960 kg/hectare (l75O pounds/acre) on the deeper reefs, This includes the area directly adjacent to the plant discharge, where the biomass was estimated to exceed 5600 kg/hectare (5000 pounds/acre). Grant no. 04-3-158-29