{"id":681,"date":"2012-09-24T17:53:21","date_gmt":"2012-09-24T21:53:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/?p=681"},"modified":"2012-09-24T17:54:08","modified_gmt":"2012-09-24T21:54:08","slug":"kitv-com-scientists-investigate-reports-of-a-massive-coral-deaths-off-kauai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/2012\/09\/24\/kitv-com-scientists-investigate-reports-of-a-massive-coral-deaths-off-kauai\/","title":{"rendered":"KITV.com: Scientists investigate reports of a massive coral deaths off Kauai"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\" By Catherine Cruz<\/a><\/div>\n
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http:\/\/www.kitv.com\/news\/hawaii\/Scientists-investigate-reports-of-a-massive-coral-deaths-off-Kauai\/-\/8905354\/16699168\/-\/item\/0\/-\/hetcuo\/-\/index.html<\/div>\n
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Rapid response team to try and determine extent of damage, cause<\/h2>\n
UPDATED\u00a09:54 AM HST Sep 22, 2012<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/hgroup>\n
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HONOLULU \u2014A mysterious coral die-off on Kauai\u2019s north shore is prompting a team of scientists to take a closer look at what may be killing large areas of coral reef.Marine biologist Terry Lilley has been monitoring and documenting Kauai’s marine environment for the last decade or more.<\/p>\n

This summer he was struck at how fast he was seeing something kill off what he estimates are millions of coral colonies.<\/p>\n

“Something is damaging the reefs in the whole part of the island so it has to be something relatively big,” said Lilley.<\/p>\n

Lilley contacted scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey who’ve determined the diseased coral is different from what killed coral heads in Kaneohe Bay last year.<\/p>\n

The Kauai outbreak is believed to be due to a type of cyano bacteria and fungus which has compromised the health of the reef, according to researcher Thierry Work.<\/p>\n

Work said he took samples from the reef earlier this month and will be back to collect more coral and fish to conduct toxicology tests.<\/p>\n

Lilley has sounded the alarm which he hopes will trigger action to get the disease in check, and prevent its spread.<\/p>\n

“We have a billion dollar industry tourist industry in Hawaii with snorkels who want to see the reefs. If we let them die on the north shore of Kauai, that\u2019s going to be a huge impact financially on the resources, and the money coming in,\u201d said Lilley.<\/p>\n

The Kauai resident is also concerned about what he saw on a recent dive where he documented evidence of diseased turtles and fish.<\/p>\n

“The other day at Annini, we counted eight turtles,seven of the\u00a0eight had eye infections,\u00a0two had noticable tumors and oneof the\u00a0eight, had its eyes missing completely,” Lilley said.<\/p>\n

The video he shot of a blind turtle knocking into the reef was what saddened and worried him.<\/p>\n

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