Invasive species of algae have posed a threat to the coral reefs of Hawaii for several years.  In a National Geographic article, University of Hawaii marine biologist Cynthia Hunter is quoted as saying “The algae invasion poses the largest current threat to the health of reefs in Hawaii“.  According to Hunter, thick coatings of algae can kill corals by blocking them from sunlight and fresh flows of seawater.  Algae also fill in the cracks and crevices that make coral reefs a safe haven for fish and other forms of marine life. Even larger animals such as sea turtles may be excluded from their normal resting areas.  But scientists are fighting back.  Using an underwater vacuum cleaner they have named the “Super Sucker“, biologists are removing tons of invasive algae that were killing the coral reefs, smothering sea grass beds and fouling the beaches of Hawaii.

NOAA.gov

Due to the delicate nature of coral reefs, the “Super Sucker” does not vacuum the reef directly.  Instead, divers remove the algae by hand and feed it into the the vacuum.  The vacuum tube “sucks“the algae and sea water onto a boat on the surface where  the contents are sorted, native species removed and returned to the ocean, and the algae is collected and bagged.  The algae is then used by local farmers.  The super sucker can remove up to 800 pounds of algae an hour thereby restoring hundreds of square feet of reef in a day.  Scientists have noted that once an area of reef is cleaned with help from the super sucker, native species seem to be able to keep the algae growth in check, as areas cleaned three years ago remain algae-free.

Below is a great video produced by The New York Times  about  the University of Hawaii’s Super Sucker project. Enjoy!

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