Managing Marine Tourism & Land-Based Pollution and their Impacts on the Marine Environment. Athline M. Clark Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources

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1 Managing Marine Tourism & Land-Based Pollution and their Impacts on the Marine Environment Athline M. Clark Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources

2 25% of Hawaii s marine life is endemic

3 Tourism Impacts

4 Hawaii Tourism Overview 7 million visitors/year 1,000 ocean recreation businesses $700+ million in annual gross revenues Snorkeling/scuba diving 5th most popular among visitors from the West

5 Value of Marine Protected Areas as Economic Assets Hawaii has been setting scenic areas aside as MPAs for over 35 years Recommended by all facets of tourism industry Marketed as must see destinations Visitor is assured of a wildlife experience Sites represent the largest ocean recreation destination for that island Easily sold as an activity

6 Hanauma Bay MLCD Established acres

7 Hanuama Bay: million visitors/year Averaged 10-12,000 visitors/day 81 tour companies 1 busload of 42 passengers every 56 second Feeding fish up to 1/2 ton of bread/day

8 Hanuama Bay: Present 3,000-5,700 visitors/day (1million/yr.) Ban on fish feeding 21 commercial permits issued w/ only 6 persons/company No commercial operations on weekends or holidays Park closed one day/week Entrance fee ($5) and parking limits Mandatory visitor education

9 Value of Management Actions Hanauama Bay generates over $37 million each year; it pays for itself Visitors generally go to 2-to3- additional sites during their stay Residents dive at about 10 sites/year Cumulative annual effect of improved behavior = 10.4 acres of reef undamaged statewide

10 Additional Management Actions to Consider Rotate opening and closing to visitors Regulate activities Limit access Disperse use

11 Non Tourism Related impacts to a Tourist Based Economy

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13 Impacts of Degraded Waters Compromise human health Close beaches Decrease water clarity Increase nutrients leading to algae blooms Smother stationary bottom-dwelling organisms Harm other marine life, attract harmful marine life Increase toxic contaminants entering the food chain through sediment-bound pollutants

14 Cost of Degradation Each year reefs along Maui s Kihei coast generate $34 million in gross sales Over $20 million is lost each year due to impacts of algae blooms Annually, these blooms decrease hotel and rental income and the County must pay to clean the beaches Degradation = damage to the economy

15 Hawaii s Local Action Strategy to Address Land-Based Pollution Threats to Coral Reefs Feds: EPA, NRCS, FWS Hawaii: DLNR, DOH, CZM LAS written by TetraTech EM, Inc. under EPA contract

16 Purpose of LBP Local Action Strategy Document, consolidate, and share ongoing efforts to address land-based pollution threats to coral reefs in Hawaii Identify new priority actions and funding Improve coordination and collaboration between federal and state agencies responsible for pollution prevention and coral reef management in Hawaii

17 Goal: Reduce LBP to improve water quality and coral reef ecosystem function and health Obj. 1 Obj. 2 Obj. 3 Reduce pollutant loads Improve understanding of links btwn. pollution and coral reef health Increase awareness of pollution prevention statewide

18 Collaborative Planning Process Formation of Steering Committee Stakeholder Workshops and Meetings (Maui, Molokai, Oahu) Identification of Goals, Objectives, and Priority Ahupua`a (Molokai, Maui, Kauai) Focus Group Meetings with Stakeholder Groups from Priority Ahupua`a with Steering Committee Information and Data Compilation and Review Draft Local Action Strategy Steering Committee and Stakeholder Groups Review and Comment U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Review Review and Monitoring Final Local Action Strategy and Updates

19 Criteria for Selecting Ahupua a Evidence that pollution impacts reef health Community and landowner support Ongoing local land management and pollution control Baseline data on reef

20 Action Ahupua a Honolua, Maui sediments, coral decline Kawela-Kamalo, Kamalo, Molokai sediments Hanalei, Kauai Hanalei, Kauai sediments, bacteria

21 Synthesis of data on coral ecosystem health & stresses Honolua ahupua a, Maui Parking lot and wastewater design carrying capacity

22 Analyze 10 yr coral data set Hanalei ahupua a, Kauai Upgrade beach restrooms Replace cesspools BMPs for taro Livestock exclusion fences

23 Acknowledging Our Cultural Roots From the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant Hanau ka uka ko `ako `a Hanau kana, he ako `ako `a, puka Born the coral polyp Born of him a coral colony emerged

24 Mahalo!