Check out this video of the damage to the reef caused by the grounded USS Port Royal. Pulverized.
http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/15031/40/
New Video Shows Reef Damaged by Navy Cruiser
Written by Brooks Baehr – bbaehr@kgmb9.com
March 13, 2009 06:36 PM
Local divers have given KGMB9 viewers what the U.S. Navy and State Department of Land and Natural Resources have refused to supply. The divers took video of coral colonies pulverized by the missile cruiser U.S.S. Port Royal when in ran aground in February.
Kirby Fukunaga is an avid free diver. He frequently fishes off Honolulu International Airport’s reef runway. Fukunaga has documented the GPS coordinates of coral colonies just outside restricted military zones. Fish tend to congregate around the colonies making those spots fertile fishing grounds.
“There’s a lot a lot of flat grounds, but once and a while you come onto a really big reef structure where it holds all the fish,” Fukunaga said.
The Port Royal was stuck on the ocean floor there for more than three days. After it was pulled free Fukunaga and friends went fishing.
He told KGMB9 he was surprised to find the reef had suffered extensive damage.
“It didn’t look like coral, but I guess that was the coral. Just like rubble.” Fukunaga said.
Fukunaga said he is sure the bits and pieces of coral he was looking used to be a thriving coral cluster.
“Yea, I’m sure I got the right spot. I dive there all the time,” he said.
Coral is not rock or plant. Coral is an animal.
Kyle Nakamoto, who joined Fukunaga on a recent dive and video taped the damage, told KGMB9 coral has been killed and the ecosystem has been disrupted.
“In this situation wiping out the homes of a lot of fish. (They) have to relocate … find new homes. It definitely has an impact on the marine life,” Nakamoto said.
The Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club has made a formal request to the state for photographs, video, and reports documenting the damage, but Friday said it has yet to receive a reply.
“You have to remember that the state has an obligation to enforce the rules and restrictions about damaging coral reefs and we want to make sure they are doing their job,” said Robert Harris, Director of the Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club.
Harris said the state has fined private businesses for damaging coral reefs and he believes it should fine the Navy.
“I mean there has to be a deterrent. If someone damages our natural resources, we should go after them,” he added.
Shortly after the Port Royal was pulled off the reef the State Department of Land and Natural Resources announced plans to save as much coral as possible by re-attaching it to the ocean floor. A spokesperson told KGMB9 that work is far from finished.
The spokesperson said the state will seek compensation from the Navy.
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