MOP Project Ideas
Reef Monitoring

Eyes of the Reef

Website: eorhawaii.org

Eyes of the Reef is a community reporting network for coral bleaching, diseases, Crown-of-Thorns Seastars (COTS), and aquatic invasive species (AIS). This statewide network is the first tier of a rapid response protocol developed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and the Climate Change and Marine Disease Local Action Strategy, implemented by Reef Check Hawaii.

Activities: Students working with Eyes of the Reef can choose from a variety of activities. These include the Adopt-a-Coral program, coral health surveys, community trainings and outreach, and response to local reports of coral disease, bleaching, COTS, and AIS.

Sea Surveying, Training, and Response Squad (SeaSTARS)

Website: uhhmop.hawaii.edu/seastars

SeaSTARS is a scientific diving program for UH Scientific Divers who have completed the QUEST Field School. The main goals of SeaSTARS dives are to create a time series of certain parameters at specific sites on the windward and leeward sides of Hawai`i Island and to respond to current issues like coral bleaching or sedimentation from harbor dredging by collecting data on their effects.

Activities: Students working with SeaSTARS will perform ecological monitoring surveys using SCUBA and report on their findings.