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Oahu’s marine protected areas do not adequately protect herbivorous reef fishes Marine protected areas (MPAs) around Oahu do not adequately protect populations of herbivorous reef fishes that eat algae on coral reefs. That is the primary conclusion of a study published in Coral Reefs by researchers from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST). There are over 20 species of herbivorous fishes and ten species of herbivorous urchins commonly observed on Hawaiian reefs. These species eat algae that grows on reefs, a process called herbivory, that contributes to the resilience of coral reefs by preventing algae dominance that can lead to overgrowth of corals.

United statesNoam altman kurosakiErik franklinEmily hendersonUniversity of hawaiiResearch professorHawaii institute of marine biologyHawaii division of aquatic resourcesMarine biology graduate programSustainable hawaii initiativeSchool of oceanCoral reefsEarth scienceStudy senior authorAssociate research professorHawaii institute