Live coral off Maui possibly damaged during artificial reef installation

www.honoluluadvertiser.com 3 Dec 09;

The Department of Land and Natural Resources has suspended the installation of concrete artificial reef forms while it investigates the extent of damage that may have been caused to live coral while crews were working to expand an artificial reef off Maui.

Yesterday, DLNR started submerging 1,400 concrete "Z" module forms to add to the artificial reef located a half mile off Maui at depths of 77 to 120 feet.

State biologists have determined that 2 to 3 percent of the submerged forms may have landed on live coral.

DLNR has begun an investigation into the extent of possible damage, and the factors leading to this incident.