An explosion of sea urchins threatens to push coral reefs in Hawaii ‘past the point of recovery'
The turquoise water of Hōnaunau Bay in Hawaii, an area popular with snorkelers and divers, is teeming with spiny creatures that threaten to push the coral reef 'past the point of recovery,' new research has found.
Sea urchin numbers here are exploding as the fish species that typically keep their populations in check decline due to overfishing, according to the study, published last month in the journal PLOS ONE. It's yet another blow to a reef already suffering damage from pollution as well as climate change-driven ocean heat waves and sea level rise.
Kelly J. van Woesik, a researcher at the North Carolina State University Center for Geospatial Analytics and a study author, first noticed unusually high numbers of sea urchins on snorkeling trips. 'I knew there was a story to be told,' she said.
She and her fellow researchers used data from scuba surveys and images taken from the air to track the health of the reef.
'We found on average 51 urchins per square meter, which is among the highest recorded densities on coral reefs anywhere in the world,' van Woesik said.
Sea urchins are small marine invertebrates, characterized by their spiny bodies and found in oceans around the world. They play a useful role in preventing algae overgrowth, which can choke off oxygen to coral. However, they also eat the reef and too many of them can cause damaging erosion.
In Hōnaunau Bay, the coral is already struggling to reproduce and grow due to ocean heat and water pollution, leaving it even more vulnerable to the erosion inflicted by sea urchins.
Its rate of growth has plummeted according to the study.
Reef growth is typically measured by the amount of calcium carbonate — the substance which forms coral skeletons — it produces per square meter each year.
The reef in Hōnaunau Bay is growing 30 times more slowly than it did four decades ago, according to the study. Production levels were around 15 kilograms (33 pounds) per square meter in parts of Hawaii, signaling a healthy reef, according to research in the 1980s.
Today, the reef in Hōnaunau Bay produces just 0.5 kg (1.1 pounds) per square meter.
To offset erosion from urchins, at least 26% of the reef surface must be covered by living corals – and even more coral cover is necessary for it to grow.
Gregory Asner, an ecologist at Arizona State University and study author, said what was happening in this part of Hawaii was emblematic of the mounting pressures facing reefs throughout the region.
'For 27 years I have worked in Hōnaunau Bay and other bays like it across Hawaii, but Hōnaunau stood out early on as an iconic example of a reef threatened by a combination of pressures,' he said, citing warming ocean temperatures, pollution from tourism and heavy fishing.
The implications of coral decline are far-reaching. Coral reefs are sometimes dubbed the 'rainforests of the sea' because they support so much ocean life. They also play a vital role protecting coastlines from storm surges and erosion.
'If the reef can't keep up with sea-level rise, it loses its ability to limit incoming wave energy,' said van Woesik. 'That increases erosion and flooding risk of coastal communities.'
Kiho Kim, an environmental science professor at American University, who was not involved in the study, said the findings highlight the fragility of reef ecosystems under stress.
'Dramatic increases in any species indicate an unusual condition that has allowed them to proliferate,' Kim said. That imbalance can undermine diversity and reduce the reef's ability to provide essential ecosystem services including food security and carbon storage, he told CNN.
Despite the challenges, researchers emphasize that the reef's future is not sealed. Local groups in Hōnaunau are working to reduce fishing pressure, improve water quality and support coral restoration.
'These reefs are essential to protecting the islands they surround,' van Woesik said. 'Without action taken now, we risk allowing these reefs to erode past the point of no return.'
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Forward-looking statements This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of, and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our plans to develop and commercialize our product candidates, including BGE-102 and our APJ program, the timing and results of our planned clinical trials, risks associated with clinical trials, including our ability to adequately manage clinical activities, the timing of our IND filing for BGE-102 or our APJ program, our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals, the clinical utility of our product candidates or their ultimate ability to treat human disease, the expected timeline for completing proteomic analysis, anticipated analytical results and the potential for identifying novel therapeutic targets, and general economic, industry and market conditions. These forward-looking statements may be accompanied by such words as 'aim,' 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'forecast,' 'goal,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'might,' 'plan,' 'potential,' 'possible,' 'will,' 'would,' and other words and terms of similar meaning. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements, including: our ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize our product candidates; the timing and results of preclinical studies and clinical trials; the risk that positive results in a preclinical study or clinical trial may not be replicated in subsequent trials or success in early stage clinical trials may not be predictive of results in later stage clinical trials; risks associated with clinical trials, including our ability to adequately manage clinical activities, unexpected concerns that may arise from additional data or analysis obtained during clinical trials, regulatory authorities may require additional information or further studies, or may fail to approve or may delay approval of our drug candidates; the occurrence of adverse safety events; failure to protect and enforce our intellectual property, and other proprietary rights; failure to successfully execute or realize the anticipated benefits of our strategic and growth initiatives; risks relating to technology failures or breaches; our dependence on collaborators and other third parties for the development of product candidates and other aspects of our business, which are outside of our full control; risks associated with current and potential delays, work stoppages, or supply chain disruptions, including due to the imposition of tariffs and other trade barriers; risks associated with current and potential future healthcare reforms; risks relating to attracting and retaining key personnel; changes in or failure to comply with legal and regulatory requirements, including shifting priorities within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; risks relating to access to capital and credit markets; and the other risks and uncertainties that are detailed under the heading 'Risk Factors' included in BioAge's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 6, 2025, and BioAge's other filings with the SEC filed from time to time. BioAge undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or Chris Patil, media@ IR: Dov Goldstein, ir@ Partnering: partnering@ Web:
