HI SR17

Encourages the United States Navy to take responsibility for eradicating octocoral (Unomia stolonifera and Capnella spicata) and other invasive species from Pearl Harbor waters.

Notes that octocoral is a soft coral that rapidly grows and spreads without forming a calcium exoskeleton, quickly taking over marine habitats and smothering Hawaiian coral reef ecosystems.

Documents that areas dominated by octocorals have lower density and diversity of fish populations.

Requests the Navy allocate resources to eradicate invasive species from West Loch, Middle Loch, and East Loch areas of Pearl Harbor.

Directs transmission of a certified copy of this resolution to the United States Secretary of the Navy.