{"id":3855,"date":"2025-09-09T00:41:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T00:41:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/3855\/"},"modified":"2025-09-09T00:41:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T00:41:18","slug":"in-2020-humans-suddenly-vanished-from-a-popular-bay-in-hawaii-what-happened-next-was-remarkable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/3855\/","title":{"rendered":"In 2020, humans suddenly vanished from a popular bay in Hawai\u2018i. What happened next was remarkable"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Covid-19 pandemic reached Hawai\u2018i\u2019s Hanauma Bay in 2020, the popular snorkelling site \u2013 which attracts nearly one million visitors every year \u2013 was closed almost overnight. It remained shut for seven months.<\/p>\n

The sudden absence of tourists created what scientists call a ‘natural experiment’ \u2013 it was a rare opportunity to study how quickly damaged coral reef ecosystems<\/a> can bounce back when human pressures ease.<\/p>\n

Monitoring changes to the reef\u2019s water quality and biodiversity, the researchers discovered that even a short break from tourism allowed this famous ecosystem to recover remarkably quickly. The study, led by researchers at the Hawai\u2018i Institute of Marine Biology <\/a>(HIMB), was published in the journal\u00a0npj Ocean Sustainability<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"HanaumaHanauma Bay is located on the\u00a0southeastern coast of Hawai’i’s Oahu island. Credit: Getty
\n\"HawaiianMap showing location of Oahu island within Hawai’i’s island group. Credit: Getty
\nA rare natural experiment<\/p>\n

\u201cHanauma Bay is normally a heavily visited site, but was completely closed to the public for seven months,\u201d says Aviv Suan, project manager in HIMB\u2019s Elizabeth Madin Lab.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe collected data on water quality, monk seal sightings, fish abundance, and fish behaviour before, during, and after the closure,\u201d adds Suan, who explains that this allowed the team to directly compare how the reef reacted to different levels of human activity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ecosystem responded in remarkable ways,\u201d says lead author of the study Dr Elizabeth Madin. \u201cThe water became noticeably clearer, endangered Hawaiian monk seals started showing up more often, and fish numbers increased.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the study, the percentage of days when Hawaiian monk seals were observed at the bay more than doubled during the Covid closure period, with the researchers suggesting human presence may disturb animal haul-out behaviour. Hawaiian monk seals are one of the most endangered seal species in the world and are endemic to the Hawaiian archipelago, making the increase in sightings particularly exciting.<\/p>\n

The team also noticed that fish behaviour shifted noticeably when humans weren’t around, with vital herbivores such as parrotfish grazing more actively, a behaviour that helps keep potentially harmful algae<\/a> in check.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese kinds of changes happened quickly, suggesting that everyday human presence can have a real and measurable impact on reef health,\u201d says Madin. \u201cIt\u2019s a powerful reminder of just how sensitive and responsive coral reef ecosystems are to our activity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"HawaiianAn endangered Hawaiian monk seal takes a snooze. The marine mammal is among the species to benefit from reduced tourism at Hanauma Bay during the pandemic closure. Credit: Fabien Vivier, Hawai\u2018i Institute of Marine Biology Marine Mammal Research Program
\n\"ParrotfishVital herbivores such as parrotfish became more active in grazing algae during Hanauma Bay\u2019s break from tourism. Credit: Don Loarie<\/p>\n

For conservationists, the results of the study reinforce how resilient coral reefs can be when given a reprieve from human pressures.<\/p>\n

\u201cHanauma Bay is one of the most iconic marine ecosystems in the state,\u201d says Suan. \u201cBy observing what happened when people were absent, we saw nearly immediate benefits for key parts of the ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the researchers, the study shows how limiting visitor numbers and promoting sustainable tourism, not just in Hawai\u2018i\u2019 but all around the world, could help preserve reef health without damaging local economies.<\/p>\n

\u201cPutting caps on the number of visitors to reefs \u2013 especially those that are currently unregulated \u2013 could help restore lost ecological function and ease human pressures while still maintaining access,\u201d says Madin.<\/p>\n

\u201cProtecting these ecosystems doesn\u2019t have to come at the cost of the economy. Yes, reef tourism brings in billions of dollars each year, both globally and here in Hawai\u2018i. In fact, research shows that many visitors are willing to pay more to experience healthier, more vibrant reefs. That means we can potentially reduce crowding and still support the tourism industry and everyone who depends on it \u2013 if we manage it wisely.\u201d<\/p>\n

More amazing wildlife stories from around the world<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When the Covid-19 pandemic reached Hawai\u2018i\u2019s Hanauma Bay in 2020, the popular snorkelling site \u2013 which attracts nearly…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3856,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[242,85,46,141],"class_list":["post-3855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-environment","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3855"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3855\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}