Marshall Islands create National Marine sanctuary to protect pristine atolls

Researchers and the Marshall Islands government established a national marine sanctuary to protect the Bikar and Bokak atolls in the Pacific Ocean.

These remote atolls represent some of the most intact marine ecosystems remaining in the world because they are located far from human habitation. The Bikar atoll sits approximately 116 kilometers from the nearest inhabited land, while Bokak is about 385 kilometers away.

A team of scientists conducted a comprehensive ecological survey in 2023 to create a baseline for the area. They used submarines, underwater video, and deep-sea cameras to monitor land, sea, and sky ecosystems. The study found diverse life including 15 seabird colonies and hundreds of fish groups across different depths. The researchers identified 14 groups of fish never before recorded in the Marshall Islands and two species that might be new to science.

The government declared the 48,000 square kilometer area a sanctuary two years after the initial assessment. This move follows the Reimaanlok vision, a community-led conservation framework intended to protect resources for future generations. The researchers say these atolls serve as important reference systems to help scientists understand how healthy ecosystems function and how to restore damaged areas elsewhere.