HI SR81

Hawaii Senate Resolution urges the U.S. Navy to take responsibility for eradicating invasive octocoral species (Unomia stolonifera and Capnella spicata) and other invasive species from Pearl Harbor waters, including West Loch, Middle Loch, and East Loch.

The U.S. Navy first reported octocoral presence near Pearl Harbor in late 2020, with surveys indicating the species was likely present before 2019 and has since spread to a much larger area.

Octocoral threatens Hawaiian coral reef ecosystems by rapidly growing and spreading as a "soft coral" that smothers native habitats, resulting in lower fish density and diversity in affected areas.

The resolution requests the Navy allocate resources for invasive species eradication and for cleaning, maintaining, and securing Pearl Harbor's shoreline.

A certified copy of the resolution is to be transmitted to the U.S. Secretary of the Navy.