University of Hawaii researchers have found abundant and diverse marine life in an area where seafloor mining has been proposed.

In a study published in Scientific Reports, scientists discovered impressive abundance and diversity among the creatures living on the seafloor in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, an area in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

The study, whose lead author is Diva Amon, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hawaii-Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, found that more than half of the species they collected were new to science.

Mining interest around the Clarion and Clipperton islands centers on high concentrations of polymetallic manganese nodules on the deep seafloor that are potentially valuable sources of copper, nickel, cobalt and manganese, among other metals.

The study showed that more animals live on the seafloor in areas with higher nodule abundance. Further, the majority of the diversity among large creatures also appears to be dependent on the polymetallic nodules themselves, and thus they are likely to be negatively affected by mining.

Green sources provide 40% of utility’s power

LIHUE >> Kauai’s electric utility produces 40 percent of its power through renewable sources and is on track to reach its goal of 50 percent by 2023.

The Garden Island newspaper reports the member-owned cooperative’s recent annual meeting covered past and current projects.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative expects new solar arrays and a biomass energy project to help 2016 greenhouse gas emissions fall below 1990 levels.

A project under development could account for 15 percent of island energy.

Chief Financial Officer Karissa Jonas credited renewable energy and lower oil prices with $36 million in customer electricity savings in 2015 compared with the year before.

A planning official said the utility will update its benchmarks under the state’s goal for 100 percent renewable energy.

The cooperative serves 33,000 Kauai customers.

Injured hunter taken from forest to local hospital

Kauai fire crews rescued a pig hunter who broke his leg Saturday near the end of Olohena Road in Waipouli.

The man, 25, had been hunting in the area at about 9:04 a.m. when he fell and broke his femur, Kauai County said by email.

Four crews and the Air 1 helicopter responded to the scene

The victim was lifted in a litter to a landing zone set up in a nearby clearing. From there he was transported via ambulance to Wilcox Hospital.

His condition is not known.