KAILUA-KONA — It’s been four years since the worst bleaching event in state history and according to scientists from The Nature Conservancy, coral reefs in West Hawaii are stabilizing and poised to recover.

Higher than usual ocean water temperatures in 2015 caused the first statewide coral bleaching event. TNC surveys revealed that an average of 60 percent of corals in West Hawaii bleached, with some reefs experiencing up to 90 percent mortality. Corals bleach under stress, and severe or prolonged stress can lead to death.

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For the last three years, TNC scientists have studied West Hawaii’s coral reefs to identify the most resilient.

“Bleaching events like what occurred in 2015 can overstress a coral reef to the point where it may never recover,” said Eric Conklin, director of marine science for TNC’s Hawaii program. “We surveyed over 14,000 coral colonies at 20 sites along the West Hawaii coast from Kawaihae to Keauhou and were thrilled to see that many of the area’s reefs have stabilized, which is the first step toward recovery.”

Surveys showed that many of the most resilient reefs are in remote areas with limited shoreline access and exposure to human impacts. These reefs had lots of corals and little or no coral disease, and there was evidence that new corals were beginning to grow.

The least resilient sites all had multiple “stressors,” including fishing pressure, land-based pollutants and runoff.

“Interestingly, the number of stressors affecting an area, not the severity of a single one, was the most important factor,” said Kim Hum, the Conservancy’s marine program director. “Reefs that are fighting the impacts of several stressors are more susceptible to temperature stress, making them more likely to bleach and less able to recover if they do.”

Surveys identified 25 coral species in West Hawaii. Lobe coral, also known as Porites lobata, one of the area’s most dominant species, proved to be the most resilient with only 50 percent bleaching in 2015. Cauliflower corals, also known as Pocillopora meandrina, were hardest hit with 98 percent bleaching. However, recent surveys show that cauliflower corals are beginning to recover.

“With more frequent and severe bleaching anticipated in the years ahead, there is a lot we need to do in West Hawaii,” Hum said. “We can make sure remote areas with few stressors stay that way, and we can reduce pressures from over-fishing, land-based pollutants and runoff in more populated areas.”

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Currently, only 6 percent of state waters, which extend out to 3 nautical miles, and 12 percent of nearshore waters to a depth of about 160 feet have some form of management.

The state has committed to effectively manage 30 percent of the nearshore marine environment by 2030. The results of these surveys will help determine where and how to invest to ensure that Hawaii’s most resilient reefs are protected.