Marshall Islands establish first National Marine protected area in Pacific

The Marshall Islands government declared a region surrounding the Bikar and Bokak atolls as the country's first national marine protected area. This territory covers approximately 48,000 square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean.

Marine ecologist Alan Friedlander and a team from the University of Hawaii conducted research to study the flora and fauna of the atolls. Using underwater cameras, diving expeditions, and a submarine, the researchers examined life in the water, on land, and in the air.

They identified 15 seabird colonies, 266 groups of reef fish, and more than 200 groups of fish from deeper layers or the deep sea. The team also found 15 groups of predators, such as sharks and mackerel. The researchers found that 14 of these groups had not been previously recorded in the Marshall Islands, and two might be entirely unknown species. Friedlander says these atolls serve as vital ecological reference systems.

Because humans have had minimal impact on these ecosystems, the findings help scientists understand what has been lost in other regions and provide basic knowledge for conservation and restoration efforts.