Delta-15 Nitrogen values from all shores of Maui and benthic, algae, and urchin data from Kahekili, West Maui, 2007-2009 (NODC Accession 0068665)

The Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) established an
Herbivore Fisheries Management Area (HFMA) in front of Kahekili Beach
Park in West Maui that was effective on July 25th 2009. The basis
for the Kahekili HFMA arises from decadal benthic data (collected by
DAR and partners since 1994) that shows that coral cover has been
declining since 1999, whereas the abundance of algae has sharply
increased, especially the abundance of the invasive algae
Acanthophora spicifera. Thus the herbivore fish are more abundant to
help combat the algae.

Benthic transects were performed to assess the diversity and coverage
of algal and urchin species in the Kahekili area in 2008-2009.

To address the sources of the algal blooms, a seep sampling device for
water chemistry analysis and a macroalgae bio-indicators were used to
monitor the nutrient conditions. Fine-scale surveys were made in the
Kahekili HFMA and in Kihei in 2008 and 2009. Detection of delta-15
nitrogen levels were made all around Maui in the summer of 2007,
every mile in built-up areas and every five miles in remote areas,
for a total of 116 sites.