I spent last week checking out how the turtles have fared after last March's tsunami (from a quake off Fukushima) devastated the lagoons and reefs of the west shore of Kona. I have seen more turtles and reef fish than ever this year. However the great schools of yellow tangs (some in the 1000,s) I could not find.

Hopefully they will recover in time. This also could be cyclical, with numbers of fish dependent on food sources, not the tsunami. A great drought has hit the west shores of Kona with limited fresh water springs and also limiting sources of food for the Tangs. They, like the green turtles, thrive on the interface between fresh water springs and the ocean. As well, sharks congregate in these waters as they are the Turtles number one predators. Humans are only incidental prey. At least in my years I have not been attacked by them, though they have gravely swam by me. 

I just returned this past month from Kona and the great schools of Yellow Tangs have not recovered. I do not know why, this may or may not be related to the Tsunami of last March from Japan. However, I will keep checking on their numbers across the various bays I know on the west coast of Kona.