Each winter the reefs along the north shore get battered by storm surf. Ever notice there are very few coral reefs compared to what's found along protected coasts?

Look at the Kona coastlines and in areas like Kaneohe Bay. Large expanses of coral, the type that get wrecked by storm surf. They thrive because they don't experience that kind of disruption.

And then look at places like Hanauma Bay where hundreds of thousands of tourists walk upon anything that's less than chest-deep. Few corals there, too.

It could be said that the hundreds of thousands of snorkeling tourists do far more damage to Hawaii's reefs than the few dozen tropical fish fishermen ever could. Meanwhile, the tropical fish fishermen provide non-swimmers and others a chance to be introduced to what's down there. It is these kinds of educational opportunities that inspire the next generation to care for our ocean resources.