Dr. Carlson analyzes coral settlement tiles used to assess the number and location of keiki corals throughout the Miloliʻi CBSFA.
Recently, MERC scientist Dr. Rachel Carlson talked story with community members on the critical role that the Miloliʻi Community-based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) plays in giving coral reefs the space and connectivity needed to sustain corals in South Kona. Rachel has just completed her first long-term study on the birth, movement, and settlement of keiki (baby) corals throughout the Miloliʻi CBSFA.
Rachel combined extensive field work with computer models of nearshore currents to determine that corals born in the northern CBSFA bays of Alika, Pāpā, and Miloliʻi migrate more than 80% of the time into other southern portions of the CBSFA, settling in bays such as Okoe, Kapua, and Manukā. The research proves that a considerable amount of coastline is needed under consistent marine management in order to generate the connectivity between reefs that will ensure the long-term survival of corals, which make up a huge portion of the reef habitat throughout the region. Mahalo, Dr. Carlson!
Be sure to click on the audio file above to hear her presentation!