In addition to the open ocean environment of the whales, we need to understand the extent and health of our coral reef systems. Reefs are biological keystones. They play a vital role in maintaining the structural integrity of our islands. I hope the Sustainable Seas Expedition can promote better understanding of our reef areas, too. Coral reefs generate billions of dollars in tourism and are critical to the biological diversity of the greater Pacific Ocean.
Coral reefs are treasure chests for biotechnology products based on naturally occurring substances.
According to NOAA, almost 85 per cent of all coral reef areas under U.S. jurisdiction are in the Northwestern and main Hawaiian Islands. In the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, the acreage of reef is greater by far than the actual land mass above sea level. Major reefs surround Oahu, Moloka'i, Kaua'i and Maui. The report identifies the extent and type of reefs, and the local, state and federal groups that are working to understand the reef areas surrounding Hawaii. The report also identifies the growing problems that face reef areas from natural causes and from greater human use and extraction.