NOAA Fisheries Image Gallery

Volunteers remove invasive algae in Hawai'i

Picture by: Hawaii Marine Algae Group Picture taken on: April 24th, 2004

The spread of invasive algae is one of the greatest threats to Hawaii’s coral reef ecosystems. In the absence of natural control mechanisms, such as fish grazing, disease, and competition, these alien algae species can quickly grow over and smother native reef communities. With NOAA funding, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai’i worked with volunteers who removed invasive algae by hand from these coral reefs.

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