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SEA Writer EYES ON OCEANIA

ISSUE 2 , 2026

Contents: Issue 2, 2026

Introduction

Jovita Prabakaran

pp. 5-7

Author Biographies

Lucas Liu

8-9

Regions of the South Pacific Map

Daniel Tian

10-11

“The Valley of Giants”

Jovita Prabakaran

14-18

“The Climate Change Crisis Across the Pacific Islands”

Lucas Liu

19-21

“Climate Change”

Lucas Liu

“The Problem of Offshore Industries”

Ethan Tang

24-28

“Trapped in a Net: The Unknown Threat to Manta Rays”

Owen Drudy

29-32

“Machine Learning Revolution in Pacific Tuna Management”

Joshua Liu

33-36

“Too Hot to Hatch: How Ocean Warming Could Reshape the Future of Pacific Tuna”

Daniel Tian

37-40

“‘Environmental Conservation” and Other Loopholes the United States Uses to Militarize the Pacific Islands”

Teddy Glass

41-46

Demilitarization Advocacy Flyer

Teddy Glass

“Matchmaking Whistles and Their Owners”

Sarah Park

48-50

“Beneath the Reefs of Polynesian Blue”

Sarah Park

“The Fate of the Flocks: How Plastic in Remote Island Birds

Seoyool Kim

52-58

“Pearl of the Eye”

Seoyool Kim

“Marine Vulnerability to Human Activities”

Josephine von Frankenberg

60-63

“At the Edge of the Pacific: How a Tiny Atoll Is Helping Save Green Sea Turtles”

Mahana Tapea

64-68

“At the Edge of the Pacific”

Mahana Tapea

Reveals Conservation Priorities”

“Corals at Risk in the Republic of Kiribati”

Anthony Tung

70-72

“A Map That Listens”

Ella Carter

73-74

“What Can You Do to Help Oceania and Support its People?”

Sarah Park (co-designed by Ella Carter)

76-77

Behind the Scenes: Meet Our Interviewed Experts and Guest Speakers

Seoyool Kim

80-82

Coda

Seoyool Kim

83-84

“The writers for SEA Writer state that none of the included images or articles have used AI in their creation and the that the entirety of this edition is human-made. The artificial formulation of thoughts eliminates the human experience of mindful creation through writing and art. Generative AI is proven to be harmful to the environment, using millions of gallons of water (EESI 2025) to cool data computers for no practical use other than the replacement of the human mind. These are truths SEA does not stand for and states a zero use policy of generative AI for the writers and artists involved in this SEA Writer issue.” --Grace Farinella C’327

ISSUE 2, 2026

Introduction

The Sea Education Association (SEA), based in Woods Hole, MA, USA, offers ocean studies programs for undergraduate, gap year, and high school students.

“SEA Quest” is a three-week online seminar for high school students. This summer’s 2026 program focused on environmental communication and Oceania. This magazine is the capstone of the seminar.

The Pacific Ocean faces urgent threats, but it also holds answers. This three-week seminar brought thirteen students directly into conversation with the experts, leaders, and researchers working to protect it. Stationed in the central Pacific and framed around the challenges threatening Pacific Island nations, the course centered on marine conservation, climate change, and science communication, offering an immersive exploration of both the scientific and cultural dimensions of ocean health. Students engaged with core scientific concepts while examining how these issues affect real communities. We studied coral reef decline and the mechanisms of bleaching, ocean acidification and its cascading effects, plastic pollution and its pathways through ocean currents, and the governance frameworks—marine protected areas and exclusive economic zones—designed to manage these crises. We traced Pacific settlement and voyaging histories, understanding how indigenous knowledge systems have always guided sustainable ocean stewardship. This blend of science and cultural perspective shaped how students understood conservation itself. The seminar functioned as a college-level seminar, with expert lecturers bringing real-world dimension to every discussion. Herehia Sanford brought expertise in conservation and traditional leadership from French Polynesia. Kelley Anderson Tagarino offered grounding

Our first speaker for the course was Herehia Sanford, a marine naturalist guide and cultural ambassador from Mo’orea, French Polynesia (Moorea Moana Tours; Brice Gills)

in Pacific oceanography and sea level dynamics. Captain Chris Nolan, a retired U.S. Coast Guard officer, addressed the governance challenges of protecting remote waters from illegal fishing and exploitation. Cindy Knapman from Hawai'i Sea Grant demonstrated how communication reaches Pacific Island communities. Dr. Shreya Yadav spoke on conservation and reef ecosystems, emphasizing indigenous ecological knowledge in modern conservation policy. Dr. Kara Lavender Law exposed

students to microplastic distribution studies and the modeling tools tracing debris across ocean currents. Molly Powers-Tora, based in Aotearoa New Zealand and Fiji, brought expertise in community programs and science communication, demonstrating how research connects meaningfully with island communities. Richard King, visitor professor at Sea Education Association, guided students through the essentials of science communication, teaching them how language shapes public

understanding and how technical research becomes compelling narrative. His instruction proved transformative, showing students that translating complex science for general audiences demands both rigor and artistry. This skill in communication became central to the course. Students analyzed how marine science is reported, examined storytelling techniques from personal narratives to data-driven investigations, and practiced conveying scientific urgency and possibility in ways that resonate.

The underlying lesson was simple but profound: conservation isn't only about data. It's about how we tell the story.” The underlying lesson was simple but profound: conservation isn't only about data. It's about how we tell the story. Each student selected a peer-reviewed scientific study related to the Pacific Ocean and transformed it into science journalism. This assignment challenged them to translate complex research into clear, engaging narratives—applying communication strategies studied throughout the seminar. The topics reflected diverse expertise: ocean governance, marine species conservation, climate impacts, community resilience. The result is a collection of pieces showing what happens when

rigorous science meets compelling storytelling. This issue of SEA Writer aims to inspire understanding of the Pacific Ocean by sharing stories that blend science, culture, and conservation. Through student voices and the insights of experts who dedicate their careers to ocean protection, it reveals both the ecological richness of the region and the urgent challenges it faces. As the seminar itself demonstrated, the ocean's future depends not on data alone, but on how we communicate its story to inspire action. "The ocean is not just a resource to manage," one expert noted, "it is a community to listen to, protect, and learn from." —Jovita Prabakaran

Cover Art: Josephine von Frankenberg Original Canva Template: Zuzanna Witek Graphic Design and Copy Editing: Ella Carter Editors: Teddy Glass and Richard King

Issue 2, 2026

sea quest authors Josephine von Frankenberg is a rising ninth grader at Fairfield International Academy in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Growing up on an island, she is always by the sea and marine ecosystems. Josephine has also been dancing for shows and competitions since she was three. She is always curious to learn more about islands and their marine animals. She volunteers at beach cleanups and helped clean and fix her community after Hurricane Melissa.

Ella Carter is a rising junior at Dover High School in New Hampshire. She is passionate about international environmental policy, law, and conservation. She volunteers at local organizations that educate children about ocean conservation and is working to help create her school's “Envirothon” team, which applies ecology knowledge to real-world environmental issues. Owen Drudy is a rising freshman at Biotechnology High School. He wants his community to do more for marine life and volunteers at beach cleanups.

Teddy Glass is an upcoming sophomore at Winchester Thurston High School who is dedicated to civil activism and preventing climate change. At his school, he is a club leader who helps organize volunteer opportunities, both inside and outside of his school, to help increase sustainability in his community.

Seoyool Kim is a rising junior at Riverside STEM High School who loves environmental chemistry and engineering and is passionate about plastic pollution, coral maintenance, and ecostewardship. She aims to become a research engineer who helps discover, innovate, and build a sustainable and prosperous future.

Josh Liu is a rising senior at Darien High School, focusing on marine biology and different ways to protect and conserve the environment.

Jovita Prabakaran is a sophomore high school student in Dunes International School, passionate about marine ecosystems, conservation, and sharing stories that connect people with the natural world. Through science journalism and creative communication, she hopes to inspire greater curiosity and action toward protecting our oceans. Ethan Tang is an upcoming sophomore at Prospect High School who loves the environment. He is right now trying to find better ways to increase recycling at his school.

Sarah Park is a rising senior at Raleigh Charter High School who loves learning about preventing harm to marine environments and their inhabitants. She has attended many camps, events, and programs centered around marine sciences and is always eager to learn more.

Mahana Tapea is an upcoming senior student at Lycée Paul Gauguin in Tahiti, French Polynesia, with a deep passion for marine biology inspired by a lifetime spent by the ocean. Driven by curiosity and a strong connection to the sea, she aspires to explore and protect the marine world.

Daniel Tian is a senior high school student in Beijing who is closely concerned about environmental issues and continuously tries to bring changes to the community.

Anthony Tung is a rising Freshman student at Cate School in Carpinteria, California. His passion to learn more about marine science and environmental issues inspire him to bring change and awareness to his local and global communities.

Lucas Liu is going into sophomore year at John L Miller Great Neck North High School. He has a passion for writing, environmental science, and biology, writing for his school newspaper and for online platforms. He is eager to learn more about the environment and sustainability.

Map by Daniel Tian

As a class we watched the film Vai (2019), which depicts different women protagonists in eight different Pacific islands. This is a middle-aged “Vai” on American Samoa, called back home to lead a traditional funeral procession.

ISSUE 2, 2026

The valley of giants

Citizen scientists are helping researchers map the world's giant, centuries-old corals

ome coral colonies alive today were already centuries old when Christopher Columbus set sail across the Atlantic. Until recently, no one had tried to systematically find them. That is changing. A global citizenscience project called “Map the Giants” asks divers, snorkelers, and everyday swimmers to find and document coral colonies stretching at least five meters across, according to a paper published this year in the journal Nature Conservation. One of the largest giant corals ever documented, found off American Samoa years before the project existed, is over twenty-two meters wide, large enough that circling it with a tape measure takes more than two-thirds the length of a football field. "We would like to drive a change into the narrative surrounding oceans," Federica Marialuisa Siena, the paper's lead author, told SEA Writer. Siena helped develop and launch the project in January 2024 while a PhD student at the University of Milano-Bicocca. The idea itself belonged to her

by Jovita Prabakaran

An enormous coral found this year off the Maug Islands of the Mariana Archipelago (NOAA, 2026)

supervisor, Professor Simone Montano, who conceived the project and handed it to Siena to build. An unplanned global reach The project began as a local initiative, run out of a research center in the Maldives, an archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean, with the team expecting most reports to come from nearby waters. That assumption did not last long. By its third month, the website was receiving reports from oceangoers the team had never met, including one from Micronesia.

"We thought it would be easier for us to reach out to the Maldivian community," Siena recalled. In its first eighteen months, Map the Giants received 195 submissions from 22 countries, of which 133 were validated through a multi-step review process and added to the project's public online map. Why giant corals matter Most reef-building corals grow fast and don't live long. But some massive, boulder-shaped species grow just millimeters a year and can live for centuries. Researchers have documented individual coral colonies estimated at more than one thousand years old. Off American Samoa, one colony was so large that NOAA nicknamed the surrounding reef “The Valley of Giants.” That colony was never logged in Map the Giants's own database, since it comes from an earlier scientific

survey, and Siena said in a follow-up email that nobody has recently confirmed it or its smaller neighbors are still alive. Because they're so old, giant colonies can act like tree rings, recording centuries of ocean temperature and chemistry. Their long survival through past periods of ocean warming may also hold clues about which corals are more likely to endure future heat waves. Letting the public do the science Contributors can submit a rough size class, such as 5 to 10 meters or 10 to 20 meters across, along with photos, or, for more experienced participants, detailed measurements, health assessments and drone survey data. As Siena explained, the whole point is that people don't need a science background to contribute, just curiosity and a nearby reef. cont'd >

Every confirmed giant coral gets a pin on the project's public map, which anyone can browse to see where these colonies have turned up so far, most of them clustered around the Maldives. (Map the Giants, 2026)

by Jovita Prabakaran

Two of the giant colonies validated by the “Map the Giants” team: (a) Turbinaria sp. from the Maldives (left) and (b) Porites sp. from the Seychelles, 5.3 meters across (right) (Daniel Bichsel/Map the Giants).

Every submission gets checked first, then reviewed independently by two or three researchers who compare the photos against the project's criteria for what counts as a giant colony. When there's disagreement, the team talks it through until everyone's on the same page.

We don’t want to see only that reefs are dying. We want people to see something that has been around for a thousand years and is still here.”

confirmed both gaps have since closed, with the project's first Atlantic entry coming from the Caribbean and the Lakshadweep colony finally reported, too. With global reef temperatures already estimated to have crossed a key warming threshold, the paper's authors argue there's more reason than ever to document the ocean's oldest coral survivors. “We don’t want to see only that reefs are dying,” Siena said. “We want people to see something that has been around for a thousand years and is still here.”

About a third of the 195 reports received were ultimately rejected: sometimes because a colony fell just short of the five-meter threshold, other times because contributors never sent the follow-up details researchers asked for. Recognition as monuments The project isn't only about data. It also has a cultural goal: getting some giant colonies formally recognized as natural monuments, similar to the legal protections given to old-growth trees. At the time of the interview, two gaps stood out: no Atlantic reports, and a Lakshadweep colony Siena believed was out there but unreported. "We are waiting for somebody to actually submit it to us," she said. In a follow-up email, she

by Jovita Prabakaran

Further Reading Federica Marialuisa Siena, Alessandro Gabbiadini, Luca Fallati, Paolo Galli, and Simone Montano. "Map the Giants: A New CitizenScience Portal to Map, Study and Protect the Largest Coral Colonies," Nature Conservation 63 (2026): 127–151, doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.63.182923. Federica Marialuisa Siena, et al., "Mapping Monumental Corals through Citizen Science," Coral Reefs 45 (2025): 503–513, doi.org/10.1007/s00338-025-02688-9. "Map the Giants." Accessed July 2026. www.mapthegiants.com. Federica Marialuisa Siena. Interview by Jovita Prabakaran. July 2026.

ISSUE 2, 2026

The Climate Change Crisis across the Pacific Islands

mong the scattered islands of the Pacific, rapidly rising sea levels and tumultuous storms threaten the safety of human communities. Pacific nations are searching for climate solutions, aided by modern sciences and ancient Indigenous knowledge. The Pacific Islands are especially vulnerable to climate change. Many of their native communities live merely two meters above sea level, and ninety percent of the population live about five kilometers from the nearest coastline, which greatly puts their lives at the risk of flooding, erosion, and other environmental forces. These people and local ecosystems face the worst consequences of a rapidly warming planet. In past generations, the islanders have conceived their own methods of adapting to the climate. For example, they conduct traditional practices such as observing wave patterns, studying their surrounding ecosystem (animal behavior, in particular), and using Indigenous knowledge to predict and prepare

by Lucas Liu

Monitoring equipment used to collect weather and climate data on the Cook Islands (www.greenclimate.fund)

for harsh weather. This native epistemology has helped the people survive natural disasters long before advanced technology existed. In this particular study, the authors propose that the communities conflate both Indigenous and modern approaches to address the core issues of climate change. Reflected in our society, many conventional practices prioritize aggressive capitalism and exploitation. Companies care only for energy quotas, consumption rates, and the influx of profit while disregarding the harm done to the

cont'd >

Map shows differences in sea level across the world's oceans, with the greatest numbers occurring in the Western pacific region (Plange and Hollis, 2026; Ray et al., 2020)

environment. Western sciences and technological models can provide accurate data about future climate trends. Indigenous epistemologies “can provide an important heuristic for climate action in profiling unique and creative approaches to living with and mitigating climate risks.” In other words, firsthand experiences in the islands can further enhance specific preparations in affected villages and globally spread awareness about sustainability. Together, both perspectives can generate more effective climate solutions to protect the climate against detrimental human activities. In the implementation of this strategy, it is important to integrate all Indigenous practices and not

by Lucas Liu

unfairly prioritizing one view above others. Through this, scientists could better encourage local people to accept alternative disciplines and strengthen social connections between them and modern society.

Together, both perspectives can generate more effective climate solutions to protect the climate against detrimental human activities.” Indigenous knowledge is just as important to our cause as Western technology is to theirs. As of now, their methods are being used in our scientific research, providing scientists with a multitude of

worldviews to include in future approaches to climate resilience. With the ongoing acceleration of climate change, the Pacific Islands’ experiences provide valuable insight, knowledge, and awareness to the rest of the planet. In desperate times of crisis, the most utilitarian solutions do not come merely from computers and laboratories but also from traditions that have guided communities until the present day.

Further Reading Nii-K Plange and Simon Hollis, "Climate Resilience in the Pacific: Indigenous Learning for a More Sustainable Future," AlterNative 22, no. 1 (2026): doi: 10.1177/11771801251404810. Aarti Lila Ram and Eric Shahzar, “Land, Loss and Liberation: Indigenous Struggles Amid the Climate Crisis,” World Economic Forum (Feb. 9, 2024): www.weforum.org.

by Lucas Liu

ISSUE 2, 2026

“Climate Change” Turbulent waters sweep across the shore All they needed was a little warmth To overcome the soil and flora And invade human villages. Buildings erode away. Salt poisons the farmland and waters bring great decay To their sacred sites. All while Countless storms wander inland.

Author’s Note: This poem inspired by Nii-K Plange and Simon Hollis, "Climate Resilience in the Pacific: Indigenous Learning for a More Sustainable Future," AlterNative (2026): doi: 10.1177/11771801251404810.

by Lucas Liu

Navigating at sea. (photo by Kaipo Kī ‘Aha for the Polynesian Voyaging Society. For more on traditional Pacific navigation23 and knowledge, visit their website: https://hokulea.com.)

ISSUE 2, 2026

The Problem of Offshore Industries

hat is offshore plastic? Offshore plastics are plastics that are floating in the ocean caused by dumping trash into the sea--or at least it makes its way there, sometimes not with direct intentional dumping. In the recent study “The Offshore Blind Spot: In Situ Microplastic Emissions and Their Fate in the Marine Environment,” researchers, Weimin Yao, Yang Yu, Tianqi Yu,

Maria Pogojeva, and Lei Su, find out what the paradox of the “missing plastic,” people thinking that the ocean is a massive sinkhole which they can dump as much plastic as they want, and how offshore industries can affect plastic pollution. This study is important because it explains why having offshore industries is bad for the environment. Yet people don’t know that “The “missing plastic” paradox remains one of the most significant challenges in marine environmental

Divers working together to bring up the fish they caught in an offshore aquaculture net in the Pacific (NOAA)

by Ethan Tang

Image of a wind turbine at sea. It shows how microplastics are able to enter the ocean from rain and hail hitting the blades. (Ethan Tang)

by Ethan Tang

science. Background Several decades ago, people thought that you could dump as much trash into the ocean as you want without harming the life there. They used to think that offshore industries were good and there was no harm when you went deep-sea mining. From the 1950s to 1960s, people out at sea have been noticing that trash patches were floating around due to the gyre systems out at sea, but it wasn’t until 1997 where Charles Moore, an environmentalist and sea captain, discovered the well-known Great Pacific Garbage Patch floating in the North Pacific subtropical. People also believed

Even though we get green energy, there is still a cost of harming the ocean.” that wind farms in the ocean were a good thing, but little did they know that the blades on the turbines release glass fiber-reinforced plastic through surface erosion. The surface erosion on the wind turbines is caused by rain and hail hitting the wind turbines, causing microplastics to be chipped when hit. With this happening, wind turbines have been releasing tiny microplastics into the ocean, showing even though we get green energy, there is still a cost of

by Ethan Tang

Lines of wind turbines in the distance with a substation in the foreground. Wind turbines may be good in the ocean, but they can still release microplastics into the ocean. (Wikimedia Commons)

harming the ocean. From deep sea mining, when we extract metal from the sea, we release toxic fumes into the ocean. Mining vehicles can endure lots of damage, but the consequences are releasing microplastics into the ocean. The microplastics are caused from rocks or debris hitting the machines, causing microplastics to fall off. Literature Review There are six sectors of offshore industries: wind and marine renewable energy, deep sea mining and mineral exploration, offshore oil and gas industries, maritime shipping and global transport, offshore aquaculture and mariculture, and finally commercial fishing and pelagic fisheries. They used the terms ‘location, industry, and microplastics’ to help find the specific sectors. From the search they found 485 studies on offshore plastics, of which only 15 meet their require-

The image is how deep sea mining is able to release toxic gas and microplastics into the ocean. Deep sea mining is able to harm the ocean environment in many ways. (Ethan Tang)

by Ethan Tang

ment for offshore industries. To map the landscape and topography of the microplastics in the ocean, the researchers used software to find the major research topics they needed to research. The offshore activities from the microplastic levels were measured to log response ratio. Since the studies in total were all very small, the researchers couldn’t get just one single estimate, but they had to look at the results individually. They also believed that they would still need to research the topic more to get a better answer in general. In conclusion, the researchers found that to solve the missing plastic paradox, scientists would need to expand from land based research to the ocean also. This is due to having tons of plastic in the ocean going unnoticed. They found that the missing plastics are the plastics in the ocean, so expanding the land-based research that includes the ocean means that we can solve the missing plastic paradox. There has been an increase of offshore industries which can help increase the plastic in the ocean. Even though we are able to reduce carbon emissions from wind farms at sea, we would still need to solve the problem of the plastic from the turbine blades to a more environmentally friendly solution. Researchers in the study also believe that there should be studies on gradual surface degradation and the bulk fragmentation on the

by Ethan Tang

machines in offshore industries. Finally in this study, there should be more research on how to make stronger protective systems for the offshore industries to help decrease the plastic pollution.

Further Reading: National Centers for Environmental Information, “Marine Microplastics,” NOAA: www.ncei.noaa.gov. Huirong Yang, Guanglong Chen, and Jun Wang, “Microplastics in the Marine Environment: Sources, Fates, Impacts and Microbial Degradation,” Toxics 9, no. 2 (Feb 2021): 10.3390/toxics9020041. Weimin Yao, Yang Yu, Tianqi Yu , Maria Pogojeva, and Lei Su, “The Offshore Blind Spot: In Situ Microplastic Emissions and Their Fate in the Marine Environment.” Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (2026): doi.org/10.3390/jmse14121128

ISSUE 2, 2026

Trapped in a Net

The Unknown Threat to Manta Rays

ost sport fishing is done with a line and hook, but commercial fisheries use large nets to catch fish and unwanted guests. Bycatch is a major threat to manta ray populations, as these vulnerable animals are often unintentionally caught in commercial fishing operations. One promising approach to reducing this problem is the use of helicopters for aerial monitoring. By spotting manta rays from above in real time, helicopters can help fishing vessels identify areas where manta rays are present and avoid setting nets in those locations. This technology has the potential to reduce accidental manta ray bycatch while supporting more sustainable fishing practices and the conservation of these important marine species. As skipjack, yellow fin, and bigeye tuna move across the oceans in search of food, they are followed closely by manta rays. These manta rays feed on plankton and baitfish, which are also the target of tuna and the fish that tuna eat. While it is amazing to see how closely these animals are linked to each other, it

by Owen Drudy

Escorted by pilot fish, swims a spine tail devil ray (Mobula mobular), a species of ray that can caught in tuna purse seine nets. (Sarah Faulwetter/Wikimedia Commons)

can be quite difficult for tuna fishermen to separate the intended catch from the ray bycatch. This can lead to hefty fines as it is illegal to catch manta rays, and sell their remains. Bycatch is the unintentional capture of creatures in a large-scale purse seining nets. This is especially damaging to manta rays because their populations are already quite low. So to reduce the problem a few fishing ships have decided to try using helicopters to reduce this bycatch. These helicopters are

cont'd >

supposed to be able to spot the rays before the nets ensnare them and alert the fishing boats. A study led by Jennifer Waldo of Oregon State University tested how useful these helicopters really are. The researchers surveyed thirtythree people: ten who piloted helicopters and twenty-three who were part of the vessel’s crew. All of the helicopter pilots agreed that they were able to see the manta rays from their helicopters, but one person said that it would be difficult to communicate with the vessel.

Along with spotting the rays, around half of the interviewees believed that it would be easiest to tell the different species apart by their styles of breaching (height, flashiness, and frequency) from above. A few also said that it would be easy to spot them on a bright day, but that a cloudy day could reduce visibility for the pilots. One problem with using helicopters is that they can be very expensive to maintain. They have to be continuously refueled after every trip, and the boat owners have to

Diagram of a purse seining vessel showing the way that these ships catch tuna (Encyclopedia Brittanica)

by Owen Drudy

From a research plane in the eastern Pacific, photo of five schools of rays: (A) giant oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris), (B) spinetail devil ray (M. mobular), (C) sicklefin devil ray (M. tarapacana), (D) bentfin devil ray (M. thurstoni), and (E) pygmy devil ray (M. munkiana) (Siddharta Velázquez Hernández, Ocean Life Flights; Waldo, et al. 2024)

cont'd >

by Owen Drudy

pay for cleaners, as well as a pilot and crew. These costs can outweigh the rewards, and the company could end up losing money if the helicopters are not useful or if they break down.

In the near future, the ray population could soar while bycatch falls from the top of mobulid threats.” To help combat the cons, helicopters are also used to spot tuna fish shoals. These pilots use a multitude of methods to find large amounts of tuna fish; one popular method is the “breeze” method, in which pilots look for places where the sea seems to be boiling. Some vessels have begun using drones in place of helicopters because they are cheaper and do not require the same level of maintenance. Another problem with helicopters is that communicating with the crew aboard the ships can be difficult. If the pilot does not update the captain as quickly as possible, the boat could still end up catching the mobulid, the family of rays that manta and devil rays belong to, making the helicopter's usefulness be for naught. While the use of helicopters and other aerial surveillance tools is still up for debate, the authors of "Bycatch Mitigation from the Sky…”

by Owen Drudy

believe: "There are limitations associated with the small sample size of this study due to a limited number of vessels currently using helicopters and limited access to this specific crew…Nevertheless, our analysis suggests helicopter crew may be more successful in sighting mobulids and are more likely to communicate information about mobulid sightings, creating new opportunities to reduce mobulid bycatch." This means that, in the near future, the ray population could soar while bycatch falls from the top of mobulid threats.

Further Reading Aquaculture Farm, “Big Net, Purse Seining Commercial Tuna Fishing...” (2024): www.youtube.com “Let’s Go Fishing - Tuna Boat Ops.” RotorPro (Aug 7, 2017): justhelicopters.com. Josh Stewart, “An Introduction to Manta and Devil Ray Bycatch” Save Our Seas Foundation (Sept 17, 2019): saveourseas.com. Jennifer L. Waldo, et al. “Bycatch Mitigation from the Sky: Using Helicopter Communication for Mobulid Conservation in Tropical Tuna Fisheries,” Frontiers in Marine Science 11 (March, 2024): doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1303324.

ISSUE 2, 2026

Machine Learning Revolution in Pacific Tuna Management Biological Drivers and Hybrid Neural Networks to Predict Tuna Aggregation

n the vast blue expanse of the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, millions of tuna move like silver ghosts through the dark, driven by invisible subsurface currents and ancient predatory instincts. Tracking these highly migratory apex predators has traditionally been a game of ecological guesswork, heavily reliant on the logs of commercial fishers who only go where the catch is guaranteed. However, a groundbreaking new study has introduced an artificial intelligence pipeline that allows scientists to peer up to 110 meters below the surface, predicting exactly where tuna will gather before a single net is ever cast. “By combining real-time acoustic sensors attached to drifting arrays with advanced spatiotemporal neural networks, we can now map the shifting biological centers of the open ocean with unprecedented precision,” writes Dr. Tianjiao Zhang, Lead Correspondence Researcher, and his team. For decades, species distribution

by Joshua Liu

An ocean Fish Aggregating Device (FAD). Most FADs use satellite tracking, and about 75% use sonar buoys to estimate the number of fish swimming underneath. (NOAA/International Seafood Sustainability Foundation)

modeling has struggled with severe sampling bias. Most decisions in fisheries management hinge on commercial fishing logbooks— records shaped by what fishers choose to do, not by any kind of unbiased scientific survey. That’s a real problem when you’re trying to map huge areas like the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, where skipjack and yellowfin tuna alone make up more than seventy percent of the world’s tuna catch. These tuna aren’t just swimming around; they play a major role in the ecosystem, keeping populations of their prey in check and moving

cont'd >

nutrients across entire ocean basins as they migrate. With the ocean heating up faster than ever, oldschool boundaries and static management just can’t keep up. Managing these tuna stocks takes flexible, up-to-date strategies that can respond to what’s happening in real time. To solve this, researchers turned to an underutilized technology: Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (DFADs). Deployed by the thousands, these floating structures attract vast schools of fish underneath them and are equipped with advanced satellite -linked echo-sounder buoys, providing a real-time, independent view of the deep pelagic food web. Published in Sustainability, a new study by Bo Song, Jian Liu, Tianjiao Zhang, and Quanjin Chen models

Pacific bigeye tuna landed in Hawaii (NOAA)

by Joshua Liu

tuna aggregation around buoys by navigating a complex, multi-layered matrix of depth-dependent environmental covariates. The team went through more than two million records from 415 smart DFADs, tracking everything between October 2022 and June 2023. They matched up acoustic biomass snapshots with tons of ocean data from the Copernicus Marine Service, looking at metrics like temperature, salinity, currents, and different biogeochemical layers below the surface. Before running everything through their neural networks, they used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to separate out the vertical profiles that were too closely linked. They then deployed a Random Forest algorithm to evaluate variable

Geographic Coverage of Drifted FAD Locations in the Pacific Ocean

Geographic coverage of recorded DFAD deployment sites across the Western Pacific Ocean study grid 10°S–10°N, 140°E–150°W (Song, et al., 2026)

importance, revealing a fascinating ecological truth: biological drivers vastly outweigh traditional physical properties. Marine primary productivity was identified as the dominant driver, accounting for 27% of predictive power, followed by chlorophyll-a concentration at 22% and dissolved oxygen levels at 18%. Combined, these three variables make up nearly 70% of the model's explanatory capacity, while openocean physical staples like temperature, salinity, and mixed layer depth contributed negligible individual power. "The innate behavioral attraction to a floating DFAD supersedes standard open-ocean physical rules,” the researchers explain. “Tuna are choosing these spots based on active feeding cascades and physiological oxygen boundaries rather than simple temperature preferences."

by Joshua Liu

To process this multi-layered environment over time, the researchers engineered a novel twostage hybrid model called CNNRNN-RF. First, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) operates as a spatial feature extractor, compressing the environmental data across the ten deep ocean strata into a compact vector. These spatial states are passed to a temporal pipeline comprising ten independent Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) —each dedicated entirely to tracking the unique time-series trend of a single depth stratum over a rolling three-day window. Finally, these temporal predictions are handed over to a Random Forest (RF) classifier, which performs binary sorting into high-yield versus lowyield tuna aggregation zones. The framework was rigorously evaluated using five-fold stratified cross-validation against standard

cont'd >

baseline models. The hybrid CNNRNN-RF model really pulled ahead of the pack. It hit 82.6% accuracy and an AUC of 0.830, both well above the mark for excellent classification. For context, the Random Forest alone managed 75.4%. The basic CNN clocked in at 68.2%, while a more complex Transformer model didn’t fare much better, landing at 63.7%. What’s even more impressive: the hybrid model cut false negatives by 65% compared to regular decision trees. It was especially sharp at identifying low-productivity zones.

win for efficiency, sustainability, and the health of our oceans.

In the end, it’s a win for efficiency, sustainability, and the health of our oceans.” What does all this mean out on the water? It means vessel operators can steer clear of wasted trips, blank sets, and needless fuel burns—which in turn slashes carbon emissions. But the biggest impact might be for conservation. With this approach, we’re moving beyond fixed lines on a map that don’t keep up with changing wildlife patterns. Instead, authorities can tap into real-time, data-driven grids, forecasting where breeding groups will show up. That way, they can quickly close off the right spots and protect at-risk species—like sea turtles and sharks—from getting caught as bycatch. In the end, it’s a

by Joshua Liu

Further Reading B. Song, J. Liu, T. Zhang, and Q. Chen, “A Hybrid Deep Learning Model for Predicting Tuna Distribution around Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices,” Sustainability 18, no. 5 (2026): doi.org/10.3390/su18052406. Q. Chen, T. Zhang, and L. Song, “An Enhanced Framework of STL-ConvLSTM for Spatiotemporal Habitat Reconstruction of Albacore Tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean,” Fisheries Oceanography 34, no. 2 (2025): e12680. T. Zhang, H. Guo, L. Song, and H. Yuan, H., “Evaluating the Importance of Vertical Environmental Variables for Albacore Fishing Grounds in Tropical Atlantic Ocean Using Machine Learning and Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) Approach,” Ecological Informatics, 84, 102810 (2024): doi.org/10.1111/fog.12701.

ISSUE 2, 2026

Too Hot to Hatch:

How Ocean Warming Could Reshape the Future of Pacific Tuna

una are often imagined as powerful adult fish crossing entire oceans. But before they become fast-swimming predators, they begin life as tiny larvae drifting through warm surface waters. A new study suggests that this fragile early stage may be where climate change hits some tuna species hardest. In their 2026 paper, “Tuna and Billfish Larval Distributions in a

Warming Ocean,” Hirotaka Ijima and Marko Jusup used historical larval survey data and species distribution modeling to examine where tuna and billfish larvae occur across the Pacific Ocean, and how warming seas may change those habitats. Their results show that climate change will not affect all species equally. Some may find new suitable areas, while others may lose important spawning and

The above image was created in Canva, beginning with the transparent tuna, background, and other visual elements, then Daniel used several of Canva’s AI-assisted tools for image editing and background creation. The design is inspired by the artwork of Athulya Pillai for Shreya Yadav’s article “The Fish in a Bamboo Flask” in Current Conservation (2021).

by Daniel Tian

nursery habitat. The study focused on nine species, including yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna, bigeye tuna, albacore tuna, Pacific bluefin tuna, swordfish, blue marlin, striped marlin, and sailfish. These species are ecologically important as large ocean predators and economically important for global fisheries. Tuna fisheries also support food security and coastal economies around the world. The researchers found three main patterns in larval distribution. Yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna, and

blue marlin larvae were spread widely around the equatorial Pacific. Bigeye tuna, albacore tuna, swordfish, striped marlin, and sailfish had more patchy distributions. Pacific bluefin tuna larvae were the most geographically concentrated, mainly appearing in the northwestern Pacific during spring and summer. Temperature was one of the most important factors. Larvae have a narrower temperature tolerance than adult fish, which means warming waters can strongly affect reproduction. The study found that

The migration patterns of different tuna species in the Pacific Ocean (Daniel Tian)

by Daniel Tian

for several tuna species, current sea surface temperatures are already rising above their optimal range in key larval habitats. Bigeye, yellowfin, albacore, and skipjack tuna are predicted to experience negative changes in larval density as the ocean warms. Skipjack tuna may be especially vulnerable. This is important because skipjack is one of the most heavily fished tuna species in the world. The study suggests that warming in productive areas north of Borneo may push temperatures

beyond what is best for hatching success for skipjack larvae, reducing local recruitment. Other research has also shown that temperature can affect skipjack tuna hatching success.

Fisheries management often focuses on adult fish and catch numbers. But if climate change reduces larval survival, future populations could decline before fish ever reach fishing age.” Not every species responds the same way. Pacific bluefin tuna may benefit in some northern areas where warming brings temperatures closer to the species’ preferred larval conditions. Swordfish larvae appear less sensitive to current warming trends. Some billfish species, such as blue marlin and sailfish, showed possible increases in larval production, although the authors caution that some of these results may partly reflect model limitations. The paper also shows that warming is not the only problem. Ocean acidification may create a second stressor for some species. Lower seawater pH was linked with reduced larval densities, which matters because acidification can harm fish development and survival. In other words, some tuna larvae may face a “double jeopardy”: water that is both too warm and too acidic. This research matters because fisheries management often focuses cont'd >

by Daniel Tian

on adult fish and catch numbers. But if climate change reduces larval survival, future populations could decline before fish ever reach fishing age. By mapping future larval habitats, scientists can help managers identify climate refuges, adjust protected areas, and make fisheries policies more responsive to shifting ocean conditions. The biggest message of the study is that there is no single story for Pacific tuna and billfish. Climate change will create winners, losers, and uncertain cases. For fisheries managers, that means static rules may not be enough. As larvae move, spawning grounds shift, and ocean conditions change, conservation strategies will need to move with them. Tiny fish larvae may be hard to see, but they carry the future of some of the ocean’s most valuable predators. If the Pacific becomes too warm for them to hatch and survive, the effects could eventually ripple through ecosystems, fisheries, and the communities that depend on them.

Larval tuna (OSU/Cedric Guigand, 2020)

Further Reading B. B., Collette, et al. “High Value and Long Life: Double Jeopardy for Tunas and Billfishes,” Science 333, no. 6040 (2011): 291-292, 10.1126/science.1208730. A. Y. Frommel, et al. “Ocean Acidification has Lethal and Sub-lethal Effects on Larval Development of Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares).” Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 482 (2016): 18-24, doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2016.04.008. K. Fujioka, et al. “Influence of Temperature on Hatching Success of Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis): Implications for Spawning Availability of Warm Habitats,” Journal of Fish Biology 105, no. 1 (2024): 105, 372-377, 10.1111/jfb.15767.

by Daniel Tian

ISSUE 2, 2026

“Environmental Conservation” and Other Loopholes the United States Uses to Militarize the Pacific Islands

ndigenous Pacific Islanders, for millennia, have considered the Pacific Ocean a pathway between islands, a way for people to migrate and create a unique seafaring culture that has allowed the spread of species and social customs. This usage of the Pacific Ocean has resulted in an interconnected system of islands that comes with the indigenous people’s understanding that whatever happens to one island, affects them all. In 1946, the United States began using the Marshall Islands as a testing site for nuclear weapons. The US government hoped to advance their knowledge of nuclear weapons as part of their race against the Soviet Union to create and amass powerful nuclear arsenals. The Marshall Islands were captured from Japan and turned into military bases during World War II. They were selected as a nuclear testing site because they were geographically isolated from more populous countries, reducing the risk of a major disaster. When approaching the Marshallese people,

by Teddy Glass

the United States’ military claimed that these tests were “for the good of mankind” and would help protect the world against potential wars. However, just as the indigenous people knew, the Pacific Ocean is a pathway, and the nuclear fallout from these tests spread with the wind and the ocean to nearby atolls, causing cancer hotspots and mass destruction of the environment.

In 1954, one of the first hydrogen bombs is tested on the Bikini Island Atoll as part of the Operation Castle series of nuclear tests. (Wikimedia Commons)

Even though the Cold War ended decades ago and the negative impacts of militarization are wellestablished, the United States continues to militarize the Pacific Islands, still under the promise of protection for the world and the

cont'd >

As photographed by Sylvia Frain, a traditional Micronesian canoe embarks on a voyage across the Pacific Ocean.

indigenous people that live on them. In response to these continued harms, Professor Tiara Na’puti and filmmaker, Dr. Sylvia Frain, have advocated for the rights of Pacific Islanders in recent years. In 2023, they co-authored an argument against the continuation of the militarization of US controlled Pacific Islands, which was published in Security Dialogue, a peerreviewed academic journal that focuses on theoretical and practical security studies. Na’puti and Frain explain that the negative impacts of militarization on the climate can be especially devastating when the US military is able to place themselves above environmental regulations and laws.

As the world’s largest polluting entity, the US military is wreaking irreversible havoc on the oceanic environments it purports to protect.” For example, in 2009 the US Supreme Court granted the military a “special” status when it comes to the implementation of federal environmental law since they are operating with the stated mission of global protection. This essentially allows the military to disregard environmental conservation standards. The US military has also bypassed environmental conservation standards through special land

by Teddy Glass

designations. The US government is allowed to declare an island and its surrounding ocean area a Marine National Monument (MNM), which is then supposed to be conserved and protected due to its unique marine environment. The US government, as with all nations globally, is also allowed Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) which are marine areas that extend two hundred miles from a nation’s shoreline where only that nation has the rights to harvest resources. While these may initially seem like beneficial policies for the Pacific Islands and their rare marine habitats, the US government maintains control of the EEZs and MNMs that they create for US territories, affording them the ability to militarize these areas regardless of their supposed protected status. “As the world’s largest polluting entity, the US military is wreaking irreversible havoc on the oceanic environments it purports to protect,” remarks Dr. Na’puti. One of the more destructive types of military bases being constructed in, for example, the Mariana Islands are live firing ranges. These firing ranges require around three hundred acres of native forest to be cleared. Even after the initial construction process, the active use of these military bases pollutes these islands Another, even more destructive, type of militarization is the testing of harmful technologies like sonars and explosives. The US government,

This poster contrasts actual postcards from the Pacific Islands with postcards created by Teddy Glass showing military testing that has taken place at the respective locations.

via the National Marine Fisheries Service, has granted the military permits to detonate 12,580 explosives. Paired with this are permissions to allow for the annual destruction of 81,962 marine mammals and six square miles of endangered reefs as a part of five years of explosives testing. Marshallese groups have hindered militarization by sailing their canoes

to military sites to prevent missile testing as a form of protest. Yet, these forms of individual resistance have not been powerful enough to prevent continued US militarization of the Pacific Islands to date. In a personal exchange with Dr. Na’puti, she shared with me that, “Individual action can make a huge difference, but it is strengthened by collective efforts to make a change cont'd >

by Teddy Glass

for peace and genuine security.” In the past few years, the collective effort of advocacy organizations has proved to be impactful. In 2021, The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the US Fish and Wildlife Service for allowing the United States military access to critical habitats in the Marianas as sites for testing and bases. The US Fish and Wildlife Service responded by agreeing to select a dedicated set of habitats for the conservation of rare plants and animals. In July of 2026, Blue Ocean Law, a Guam-based law firm dedicated to defending the Pacific Islands, filed an amicus curiae brief for a current legal case regarding the Air Force’s detonation and burning of waste munitions in Guam. In this case, activism group Prutehi Guåhan is arguing that the Air Force needs to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act by assessing the impacts of their actions on the environment and then attempting to reduce any negative effects. A deliberation on Prutehi Guåhan’s legal case has yet to be made. While these legal actions against demilitarization are promising, in our exchange, Dr. Na’puti pointed out that “The U.S. federal government must also make change. It is the US federal budget that provides massive investments in military industries, weapons and war with nearly full bipartisan support.”

by Teddy Glass

In order for change to be made, concerned constituents of the US Government must join this effort against militarization by making their voices heard to their representatives and advocating for their beliefs.

Further Reading Atomic Heritage Foundation, “Marshall Islands,” ahf.nuclearmuseum.org. Tiara R. Na’puti and Sylvia C. Frain, “Indigenous Environmental Perspectives: Challenging the Oceanic Security State, Security Dialogue 54, no. 2 (April 2023): 115–136, doi.org/10.1177/09670106221139765 Michael Szabo, “Pacific Nuclear Testing: A HJistory of Nuclear Testing in the Pacific and the Successful Campaign to Stop It,” www.greenpeace.org.

Created by Teddy Glass, this flyer serves as an accompaniment for the previous piece, offering actions people can take to advocate for change.

by Teddy Glass

ISSUE 2, 2026

Matchmaking Whistles and Their Owners

fter sunset in French Polynesia, the ocean becomes particularly talkative. Beneath the surface, dolphins and other toothed whales use whistles and other vocalizations that help them communicate, remain in socialized groups, and coordinate activities. A new study led by Xavier JeanMarie Raick and other researchers used various underwater recordings within the French Polynesia region to calculate and analyze whistles produced by different odontocetes species. Researchers listened in on unique clicks, whistles, and burst pulses. It is crucial to decipher these signals to create a better idea of which species are present in French Polynesia. Understanding where and when these species are active could also provide useful clues for improving conservation efforts. Raick and his team used methods such as using the Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) process which utilizes autonomous recorders to record vocalizations from odontocetes in the area without disturbing their daily activities. This method is especially helpful because

by Sarah Park

Some of the islands the research team focused on during this project: Bora Bora, Tikehau, Rangiroa, and Moorea (Raick, et al., 2026)

traditional visual surveys have several limitations. Researchers can usually conduct visual surveys only during daylight hours, in good weather, and when animals are close enough to the surface to be visible. Since odontocetes–toothed whales and dolphins–are difficult to see when they are deeper underwater, the underwater recorders can allow scientists to detect animals even when they cannot see them. The authors therefore explain that “PAM appears to be a relevant comple-

ment to visual monitoring.” The data were collected in six islands: Bora Bora, Moorea, Teauaone Islet near Mangareva, Rangiroa, Rarioa, and Tikehau, at various depths (20, 60, and 120 m). Specifically, the whistles and other vocalizations the research team recorded using autonomous acoustic recorders connected to hydrophones, which are essentially underwater microphones made to catch these sounds. The equipment was placed vertically on a tripod and recorded for one minute every ten minutes. Altogether, the researchers analyzed a total of 6,324 one-minute acoustic files, representing around 105 hours of recordings. They manually searched the recordings for whistles using spectrograms, which display sound frequency over time. When the same whistle was recorded at several depths, the version of the highest signal-tonoise ratio was accepted. Additionally, the ROCCA classifier–a device that measures animal calls

to match them with a specific species in a database–was used to identify the vocalizations from various species, which extracts information from whistle contour or shape, which has proved to be effective in approaching diffraction patterns in species.

The study provides an early picture of which odontocetes species may be present around different French Polynesian islands and when they are most active.” Although ROCCA was a widely used tool in these areas of study, there were admittedly several limitations in using this approach, such as regional differences and an outdated database. Dr. Xavier Jean-Marie Sylvian Raick mentions in an online interview to SEA Writer: “There are several limitations to using the ROCCA system. First, we had to use a classifier developed for Hawaiian

Common bottlenose dolphin (left, NOAA) and melon-headed dolphin (Wikimedia Commons)

by Sarah Park

cont'd >

waters, whereas the cetacean community in Polynesia is different, even though many species are shared between the two regions. Second, there is geographic variation in whistle characteristics within the same species.” Dolphin vocalizations may differ between geographic regions, even when the species are the same. In addition, the Hawaiian database may need to be updated, meaning that some French Polynesian whistles may not match the program’s existing categories. The classifier focused on seven species known or expected to occur in the region that was focused on: short-finned pilot whales, melonheaded whales, false killer whales, pantropical spotted dolphins, spinner dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, and common bottlenose dolphins. Whistles that were identified as belonging to striped dolphins were left out due to the species not being known to live in French Polynesia. In conclusion, a total of 4,094 whistles were detected from the analyzed recordings and 2,260 whistles were kept, considering repetitions of whistles in different depths. After factoring out unclear observations as well as whistles that did not correlate with a target species from French Polynesia, researchers were able to decipher the remaining 900 whistles. The high amount of ambiguous data was most likely due to the ROCCA not originally intended for use in the

by Sarah Park

French Polynesia region. The researchers emphasized that the classifications were predictions rather than confirmed identifications and that the results “should be interpreted with caution.” With the highest whistle association with common bottlenose dolphin (58%), and the lowest with the melon headed whale (0.7%), researchers were able to establish an idea of particular species of odontocetes in various areas. Overall, the study provides an early picture of which odontocetes species may be present around different French Polynesian islands and when they are most active. Although a region-specific whistle database is still needed, Passive Acoustic Monitoring could help researchers study remote marine areas that are difficult to look over visually. By listening below the surface of such active waters, scientists and researchers can further learn and understand how these organisms use their habitats and how their populations change over time.

Further Reading Xavier Raick, Élise Cabanne, Charlotte Esposito, and Éric Parmentier, “Preliminary Insights into the Acoustic Presence and Diel Patterns of Odontocetes in French Polynesia from Whistle Detections,” Regional Studies in Marine Science 100 (July 2026): doi: 10.1016/j.rsma.2026.105142.

ISSUE 2, 2026

“Beneath the reefs of Polynesian Blue” Beneath the reefs of the Polynesian blue, Where sunlight glistens into a shifting hue the scientist listens, patient, still, To every arc, every lasting trill Not words, but whistles trace the air, Thin sliver lines of sounds laid bare, Each spike, each loop, each falling tone, Identifies the species using the wise hydrophone They map these calls, the shapes, their range, How patterns hold, yet slowly change, Some short, some sharp, some long and wide, Like unique signatures, the sea cannot hide After the sunset calm, the chorus grows As the resting sounds have woke up and rose, By night the rhythms shift again, Every note, sound, wave, and bend Though not all whistles sound the same, They are born from an ancestral frame, The island leaves a subtle mark, On every note that cuts the dark.

Author’s Note: This poem inspired by the research paper: Xavier Raick, Élise Cabanne, Charlotte Esposito, and Éric Parmentier, “Preliminary Insights into the Acoustic Presence and Diel Patterns of Odontocetes in French Polynesia from Whistle Detections,” Regional Studies in Marine Science 100 (July 2026): doi: 10.1016/j.rsma.2026.105142.

by Sarah Park

ISSUE 2, 2026

The Fate of the Flocks

How Plastic in Remote Island Birds Reveals Conservation Priorities

Kermadec petrel off Pitcairn Islands, November 9, 2018 (Courtesy of Hiroyuki Hanoi/Seabirding Japan)

urrently, about 8–11 million tons of plastic enter the ocean annually. It is a quantity greater than the weight of 100,000 blue whales, the largest animal on earth. It is a quantity equivalent to dumping an entire garbage truck of waste into the sea every minute. The numbers are staggering. Not only do thousands of marine mammals die of plastic each

by Seoyool Kim

year, but a shocking one million seabirds do as well. Therefore, it is crucial we identify the most at-risk species for conservation. This is precisely what a group of scientists led by Dr. Jennifer Lavers set out to do in the remote Pitcairn Islands of the South Pacific in September 2025. They documented the ingested plastics in Kermadec petrels (Pterodroma neglecta)

and compared the results to both historical data and neighboring bird species. Although the sample size was limited, the data showed consistent plastic ingestion rates in comparison to thirty years ago. This surprising consistency heavily contrasted with the increasing rates in nearby and closely-related species. Their findings not only provide data for conservation priorities but also suggest that one species’ plastic exposure may not indicate exposure risk to nearby or closely-related species. Setting Sail to the “Untouched” Paradise To conduct the study, the team set sail to the uninhabited Henderson Island and Oeno Atoll in the Pitcairn Islands. Dr. Lavers

explains to SEA Writer about arriving to the islands for research: “As you pull up, there's just this fog or smog of birds in the air wheeling about over the top of the island. And you think to yourself, oh, wow, this is going to be really special because there just aren't many places like that left in the world.”

As you pull up, there's just this fog or smog of birds in the air wheeling about over the top of the island. And you think to yourself, oh, wow...” Kermadec petrels belong to one of the most critically endangered seabird groups, the gadfly petrels (genus Pterodroma). Despite this, “We don’t really know a whole lot

Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve (Pew Charitable Trusts, 2016; Pitcairn Islands Tourism)

by Seoyool Kim

cont'd >

about Kermadec petrels anywhere in the world…and there were no plastic ingestion data for that part of the Pacific [Oeno and Henderson Islands],” explains Lavers. This is because the birds nest in remote areas, often on cliffs, and can be hard to sample. She continues that “some of the other islands that we work on are extremely heavily contaminated with plastic, even though they're some of the most remote islands in the world and nobody lives there… They have, you know, millions of pieces of plastic washed up on the beach.”

Alix de Jersey (left) and Jennifer Lavers (right) perform a lavage on a Sable shearwater (Ardenna carneipes) chick to flush out ingested plastics, 2025 (CNN Climate Archive)

flushing, in which they gently pumped seawater into the stomach through a tube and then invertedthe bird over a plastic container to collect displaced items. The team visually identified, dried, counted, weighed to the nearest 0.0001 gram, and then photographed the recovered plastics. Afterwards, they were sorted by color and type categories such as resin pellets, fragments, and more. The plastics were accurately distinguished from non-plastic particles due to their larger size (>1mm).

Beach of the uninhabited Henderson Island, visited only once a decade, 2017 (NBC News archive)

With the concern that plastic may be in the birds’ stomachs, they began their research. After random sampling, Lavers and her colleagues hand captured one bird on Henderson Island and twelve on Oeno Island and placed them in breathable cotton bags. The team collected ingested plastics greater than 1 mm in the stomach through a lavage, or stomach

by Seoyool Kim

Size and color of the ingested plastic fragments recovered from three Kermadec petrel fledglings on Henderson Islands and Oeno Atoll (September 2025), one square = one cm (Lavers, et al., 2026)

What are the Implications? This 2025 Kermadec petrel study found plastic in about a quarter of the birds, which was around the same amount of plastics found in a Kermadec petrel study thirty years ago. Although the petrel’s age class was not well documented in the previous study, these close results suggest that despite globally increasing marine plastic waste, the Kermadec petrel’s plastic ingestion rates have remained stable. The study then found a surprising contrast between the Kermadec petrel’s data and its neighboring Christmas shearwaters (Puffinus nativitatis). On Lord Howe Island, Christmas shearwater’s plastic ingestion increased from 79% to 90% in just four years (2007-2011), and over 60% of Henderson and Oeno island Christmas shearwater fledgings had plastics in 2025. Although these two species share a habitat and similar diet, Kermadec petrels mainly hunt above water through piracy [stealing food that other birds have eaten] or surface snatching, whereas Christmas shearwaters collaboratively hunt underwater through dive and pursuit tactics. Their differing foraging methods segues into how plastic exposure may change depending on the water depth and hunting method. In comparison to the Kermadec petrel’s stable intake over thirty years, the Christmas shearwater’s rapid plastic increase imply that specific diet preferences and

foraging methods may play a stronger role in plastic exposure than a shared environment. Similarly, the Kermadec petrel’s data contrasts with its closely related Murphy’s petrel (Pterodroma ultima) which had already had a 43% frequency of plastic in 1991. They too share a similar diet, but differ in distribution and foraging methods. While recent studies inferred that an unstudied species’ plastic exposure could be predicted by data from closely-related species or neighboring species, this study suggests otherwise. Why We Should Care This study finds that, contrary to common belief, factors other than genetic relations and proximity can impact plastic exposure, which opens a new perspective on how to infer plastic exposure in unstudied species. Additionally, the Kermadec petrels’ data gets “added into this pool of global data so that we can start to make those predictions and identify trends…like, we now know that shearwaters are one of the more at-risk groups,” concludes Dr. Lavers. She continues that you can use this information to “be more strategic with species you study and conservation interventions” as well as “provide guidance and inform policy.” One or two plastic pieces may not seem like a large concern, but consider how the Pitcairn Islands are remote, uninhabited, and cont'd >

by Seoyool Kim

Jennifer Lavers with a Christmas shearwater on Ducie Islands, 2024 (Luke Hosty, ABC News)

“Your generation, you have the right to a clean environment, you have the right to go to Oeno Atoll in 10 years or 20 years time and have that same sense of awe and wonder that I do with a smog of birds circling the island, and it smells like bird poo, and there's birds screaming in fourteen different languages.” - Dr. Jennifer Lavers 57

supposedly untouched. “The big plastics are really visually graphic, but it's the little stuff [microplastics] you can't see that we actually need to be really worried about,” informs Dr. Lavers. While hidden from our eyes, microplastics cause nutritional deprivation, plasticosis [scaring and tearing of tissue], and can leach into the bloodstream to cause stomach ulcerations, liver damage, reproductive effects, and, in some cases, death. Therefore, it is imperative that we gather data on plastic ingestion and conservation priorities. As the beaches of islands like Henderson Island show, these plastics arrive from our waste and will only continue accumulating. With efforts like the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations already being stalled, it is absolutely crucial that we make the best efforts we can to analyze, preserve, and protect these wonderful creatures. Further Reading Associated Press, “Henderson Island: 38M Pieces of Trash Washed Ashore From Pacific Ocean,” NBC News (May 16, 2017): www.nbcnews.com. “Global Plastics Treaty,” Global Plastic Action Partnership: www.globalplasticaction.org. J. Lavers, J. Christian, and A. Bond, “Low and Steady: Minimal Change in Plastic Exposure in Kermadec Petrels in the Remote South Pacific,” Marine Pollution Bulletin 227 (2026): doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119522. Craig Leeson, director, A Plastic Ocean (2016) (documentary, featuring Dr. Lavers and her team)

by Seoyool Kim

ISSUE 2, 2026

“Pearl of the Eye” Pearl in the ocean Pearl of the eye It's the smell of the beach It's the birds in the sky

It’s what we don’t see In secret they thrive Billions of fragments Infesting our lives

It’s their smog in the air It’s their noise and their stink It’s the rare of their lives That makes oneself think

Ulcerations Plasticosis, low Reproduction And death

Pristine and untouched It’s a gem in the sea But even these shores Are littered with greed

That’s just a taste Of the impacts at risk On this beautiful island Remote and unkissed

From far distant lands Our waste leaches out And poisons the map Of innocent routes

Oh, Pearl of the eye So pure and pristine But under the shell Your rot lays unseen.

It travels the sea, then Raids through the shores Of even the most Remote earthen floors Synthetic and strong It won’t disappear But looking like prey Its eaten, not feared Just one or two bits? It’s not a big deal But never forget The invisible beals

by Seoyool Kim

Author’s Note: This poem inspired by the research paper: J. Lavers, J. Christian, and A. Bond, “Low and Steady: Minimal Change in Plastic Exposure in Kermadec Petrels in the Remote South Pacific,” Marine Pollution Bulletin 227 (2026): doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119522.

ISSUE 2, 2026

Marine Vulnerability to human activities

arine megafauna play a vital part in this ocean because they have economic and cultural importance. Unfortunately, anthropogenic activities are threatening them. The Marine Megafauna group consists of whales, dolphins, sharks and rays, pinnipeds, and sirenians. An estimate of one hundred million sharks are being killed every year by humans. Our actions are putting animals in constant threat, and they may go extinct. Michelle VanCompernolle and a group of researchers wrote a paper on how marine megafauna are in danger from human activities.

coastal impacts, climate change, and maritime disturbances. IUCN (Union for Conservation of Nature) created a list of species that are threatened. This list of species includes turtles, seabirds, marine mammals, scombrids, and elasmobranchs. The IUCN Red List records the extinction risk of aquatic species. This system relies on three main things: Time, Scope, Severity.

What are some of the threats putting marine megafauna in danger? Professor VanCompernolle and her research team identified these threats through a matrix of at-sea threats and then cross-referenced them with other threats measured on the geographic ranges. Their final list consisted of four categories: all types of fishing,

by Josephine von Frankenberg

The oceanic whitetip shark’s entry in the IUCN Red List (www.iucnredlist.org)

VanCompernelle, et al.,’s assessment of IUCN Red List extinction risk status of 256 species: bony fishes, cetaceans, elasmobranchs (sharks/rays), flying birds, polar bear, penguins, pinnipeds, sirenians, and turtles. CR=critically endangered; EN= endangered; VU=vulnerable; NT=near threatened; LC=least concern; DD=data deficient (2024)

Professor VanCompernolle and her team state that The IUCN Red List impact scores in spatial risk assessments for marine megafauna remains challenging because the IUCN Red List threat designations are often provided only for broad categories. To achieve the research for the science paper, Michelle Vancompernelle and the research team contacted more than six hundred science experts to contribute as co-authors of the paper and help them with their vulnerability framework. Many experts had contributed to this paper, the list taking three pages in

by Josephine von Frankenberg

the study of those who contributed. The networks that were contacted involved Animal Borne Ocean Sensors, MegaMove, IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), and Birdlife International. These experts listed other threats that species might have vulnerability, and to see if those threats affected at a local or regional scale and not globally. How did they calculate the vulnerability? They used bootstrapping to determine an average score with 5% and 95%. (For example, if an expert provided a score of 3 with very high

cont'd >

“What Lies Beneath the Surface”

by Josephine von Frankenberg

certainty, that score of 3 was copied four times in the data file; after that they used bootstrapping to get 1,000 samples from random scores from the full list.) Then they determined which score was most common for each sample to generate 1,000 scores. Then they found the most common of those scores to find the final score.

[The study] was complicated but efficient and the outcome was proof that really many marine megafauna are in danger.” Their results included 105,245 species-threat scores. Which is guided to the evaluations of vulnerability scores for 5,759 species. In conclusion, marine megafauna are vulnerable to many anthropogenic activities and some are on the verge of extinction. The research done in the paper “Vulnerability of Marine Megafauna to Global At-sea Anthropogenic Threats,” by Michelle VanCompernolle and many others, was complicated but efficient and the outcome was proof that really many marine megafauna are in danger.

Further Reading Michelle VanCompernolle, “Vulnerability of Marine Megafauna to Global at-sea Anthropogenic Threats,” Conservation Biology (2026): doi.10.1111/cobi.70147 .

by Josephine von Frankenberg

ISSUE 2, 2026

At the Edge of the Pacific How a Tiny Atoll Is Helping Save Green Sea Turtles

undreds of kilometers from the nearest populated island, Rose Atoll rises only slightly above the Pacific Ocean. This small ring of coral, located in the waters of American Samoa, is easy to overlook on a map. Yet despite covering less than one square kilometer of land, it plays an outsized role in the survival of one of the Pacific’s most iconic marine species: the endangered

green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). Every nesting season, female turtles of all species return to the same beaches where they hatched decades earlier. Guided by instincts that scientists are still working to understand, they emerge from the ocean under the cover of darkness, dig nests in the sand, and lay hundreds of eggs before disappearing back into the sea. Weeks later, tiny hatchlings race

Green turtle hatchling on the beach after it emerges from its egg on Rose Atoll (Wikimedia Commons)

by Mahana Tapea

Samoan Archipelago with sanctuary units identified (National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa)

toward the waves, beginning a journey that may span thousands of kilometers across the Pacific Ocean. For decades, researchers have monitored this remarkable cycle at Rose Atoll, one of the most protected and least disturbed coral reef ecosystems in the South Pacific. Because human activity is minimal, the atoll offers scientists a rare opportunity to study sea turtles in an environment that remains close to its natural state. In a recent study by Shawn Murakawa and colleagues, the authors write: "Understanding the abundance of nesting females, hatchling production, and migratory movements-three of the most basic

biological data needs for this species group-is imperative for population assessment." Their study builds on more than thirty years of monitoring to better understand the status of Rose Atoll’s green turtle population. Using longterm nesting records and tagging data, the researchers examined whether conservation efforts have helped the population recover and what challenges still threaten its future. The results offer encouraging news. The researchers describe the findings as "positive signs for the resilience of this nesting population.” Although green sea turtles remain listed as endangered globally, the nesting population at Rose Atoll has remained stable over time, making it one of the region’s most important breeding sites. This stability suggests that decades of habitat protection and careful management have created a refuge where turtles can continue to reproduce successfully. However, the study also highlights that conservation is far from complete. Green sea turtles face threats throughout their lives, many of which occur far beyond the boundaries of protected areas. Juveniles and adults migrate across international waters where they encounter fishing gear, marine pollution, habitat degradation, and the growing impacts of climate change. Protecting nesting beaches alone is no longer enough; safeguarding cont'd >

by Mahana Tapea

Green turtles’ life circle and their voyaging directions in the Pacific Ocean (Mahana Tapea)

migratory routes and feeding grounds is equally important for the species’ long-term survival. Rose Atoll demonstrates both the power and the limits of conservation. While strict protection has preserved one of the Pacific’s healthiest turtle nesting sites, the future of these animals ultimately depends on international cooperation across the ocean they call home. The researchers attribute much of Rose Atoll’s success to decades of protection. Murakawa hopes the research encourages continued monitoring of the atoll. “The current data is still very limited, and ongoing

by Mahana Tapea

annual collection is essential to make the dataset more robust,” she told me. She also believes the study highlights the importance of Rose Atoll not only for American Samoa but for the entire Central South Pacific, encouraging stronger collaboration with places such as Fiji and New Caledonia. Designated as part of the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument in 2009, the atoll has been largely shielded from coastal development, heavy fishing, and tourism. Unlike many nesting beaches across the Pacific, its shores remain quiet, dark, and undisturbed— conditions that are essential for

nesting females and vulnerable hatchlings. Long-term monitoring has also been key. Since the early 1990s, scientists have tagged thousands of nesting turtles, allowing them to identify individuals that return to the same beaches year after year. These records reveal an extraordinary level of site fidelity: females often return to the very beach where they hatched, even after spending decades traveling across the Pacific Ocean. Yet the turtles’ story extends far beyond the atoll itself. Adult green turtles migrate thousands of kilometers between nesting beaches and feeding grounds, crossing waters managed by different nations. Along the way, they face many dangers. Climate change presents an additional challenge. Despite these threats, the researchers found an encouraging result. “Nest excavation evaluations suggest that hatching survival remains high, contrary to expectations of higher mortality rates due to the high nest temperatures in American Samoa,” she told me. This suggests that, for now, Rose Atoll continues to provide favorable nesting conditions despite its warm climate. Although, rising sea levels threaten to erode the narrow beaches where turtles nest, while increasing sand temperatures can affect hatchling survival and even influence the sex of newborn turtles. Because turtle sex is determined by

incubation temperature, warmer nests tend to produce more females. Over time, an imbalance between male and female hatchlings could affect the species’ ability to reproduce.

Conservation must extend across the Pacific, requiring cooperation between countries to protect the habitats these remarkable animals depend on throughout their lives.” For the researchers, Rose Atoll offers both hope and a warning. Its protected beaches demonstrate that conservation measures can help endangered species recover. At the same time, the turtles’ vast migrations remind us that no single protected area can ensure their future. Conservation must extend across the Pacific, requiring cooperation between countries to protect the habitats these remarkable animals depend on throughout their lives. The findings from Murakawa and colleagues show why long-term scientific research matters. A single field season can reveal only a snapshot of a population, but decades of monitoring allow scientists to detect trends that would otherwise remain invisible. At Rose Atoll, that sustained effort has revealed a rare conservation success story: an endangered population that has remained stable because its cont'd >

by Mahana Tapea

nesting habitat has been carefully protected. The study also highlights an important lesson for conservation across the Pacific. Protecting one nesting beach is only part of the solution. Green sea turtles spend most of their lives far from the shores where they hatch, relying on healthy coral reefs, seagrass beds, and open-ocean migration routes that span thousands of kilometers. Their survival depends not only on local management but also on international cooperation to reduce bycatch, protect marine habitats, and address the growing impacts of climate change. Although Rose Atoll occupies less than one square kilometer of land, its significance reaches far beyond its shores. For scientists, it serves as a living laboratory where decades of research continue to improve our understanding of endangered sea turtles. For conservationists, it offers evidence that protected areas can make a measurable difference when combined with long-term monitoring and sound management. In a rapidly changing ocean, places like Rose Atoll provide more than a refuge for wildlife. They remind us that conservation is a long-term commitment, built on patience, careful observation, and collaboration. As green sea turtles continue returning to these remote beaches generation after generation, they carry with them a message of both resilience and responsibility.

by Mahana Tapea

Their future—and the future of many marine species—will depend on whether the protections that have succeeded at Rose Atoll can be sustained and expanded across the Pacific.

Further Reading “Endangered Green Sea Turtles of the Northern Mariana Islands," NOAA Fisheries (February 16, 2018): www.fisheries.noaa.gov. Shawn K. Murakawa, et al., "Abundance, Production, and Migrations of Nesting Green Turtles at Rose Atoll, American Samoa, a Regionally Important Rookery in the Central South Pacific Ocean," Frontiers in Marine Science 11 (2024): doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1403240.

ISSUE 2, 2026

“At the Edge of the Pacific” Somewhere in the Pacific, Where coral meets the sea, A tiny atoll holds life As old as memory.

Rose Atoll may seem small, A jewel shaped by land, But it reminds us every life Needs nature kept alive.

Each season mothers climb ashore, Underneath the moonlit skies, To dig their nests beneath the stars Before the morning rise.

If we protect these special places And care for land and sea, The turtles will keep coming home Just as they were meant to be.

Each year the turtles find their way Back to the place they knew, Waiting for the falling day As generations do. For many years, researchers came To study every track, Learning where the turtles nested And why they always came back. Their findings offered hope A refuge still survives; Although warming seas and rising tides May change these little lives. “Positive signs of resilience,” The scientists proclaim, But knowing that a rotting world Still threatens what remains.

by Mahana Tapea

Author’s Note: This poem inspired by the research paper: Shawn K. Murakawa, et al., "Abundance, Production, and Migrations of Nesting Green Turtles at Rose Atoll, American Samoa, a Regionally Important Rookery in the Central South Pacific Ocean," Frontiers in Marine Science 11 (2024): doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1403240.

ISSUE 2, 2026

Corals at Risk in the Republic of Kiribati

ome of the biggest creatures on the planet, such as blue whales, African bush elephants, and colossal squids are extremely impressive in stature. Yet, some of the most important organisms in the world are actually microscopic. Microorganisms are creatures that are too small to be seen by the naked human eye; only by microscope. Some examples include bacteria, viruses, fungi (yeasts), eukaryotes (cells with a membrane-bound nucleus), and prokaryotes (cells without a nucleus). They are the foundation that supports the biodiverse ecosystems around the world. In the ocean it is no different, where coral reefs are home to thousands of species. Contrary to popular misconception of corals as plants or rocks, corals are actually living animals made of polyps. These polyps provide a living space for microorganisms called zooxanthellae. Coral provides these zooxanthellae with carbon dioxide

by Anthony Tung

and water, which allow them to photosynthesize. In return, zooxanthellae provide coral the products of photosynthesis: sugar and oxygen. With this, the coral can make proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and calcium carbonate, which is the hard outer part of the coral you can see, which allows the coral to grow and reproduce. However, if the living conditions of the coral change – such as a sudden, prolonged change in water temperature – some parts of the zooxanthellae break down, impairing its ability to photosynthesize. When

Researcher taking a water sample in Kiritimati, Kiribati (Wikimedia Commons)

Coral bleaching in American Samoa by the 2015-2016 El Niño. Left: December 2014; Right: February 2015. (The Ocean Agency / XL Catlin Seaview Survey)

this happens, the coral expels the zooxanthellae, which turns the coral white. This event is known as coral ‘bleaching’. When coral bleaches, it is put in a critical state, but it is not always fatal. Climate change is one of the many threats to corals, as rising temperatures result in warmer oceans, more frequent and intense heatwaves, greater UV (ultra-violet) ray exposure, and ocean acidification that harm coral. Researchers sampled a species of brain coral called Platygyra ryukyuensis (P. ryu) off the coast of Kiritimati, Republic of Kiribati. Kiritimati is the largest atoll in the world by landmass (388 km2), and was also at the epicentre of a global coral bleaching event caused by the 2015-2016 El Niño. Prior to the 201516 marine heatwave, many P. ryu corals that were near areas of

human activity hosted a more stress-tolerant genus of zooxanthellae called Durusdinium (Durus).

Without zooxanthellae, corals will eventually die out, resulting in at least 4,000 species of reef fish, and over 1 million species of other animals to be shelterless.” By the end of 2016, the entirety of the P. ryu population had switched to primarily host Durus. The goal of the study was to investigate the recovery trajectories and rates for coral-zooxanthellae after heatwaveinduced disruption for coral colonies exposed to long-term human disturbance. Sampling collections were conducted across twelve different cont'd >

by Anthony Tung

sites, ranging from reefs that were adjacent to villages to minimally impacted reefs that stood near the ends of the atoll. Utilizing NOAA’s satellite-derived ‘CoralTemp’ product proved to be valuable by recording the surface temperature of the sea. NOAA’s ‘Coral Reef Watch’ product was useful to evaluate the accumulated heat stress. On-site temperature loggers ensured accurate data on all twelve reef sites. Extracted P. ryu tissue samples underwent a procedure called ‘PCR’ (polymerase chain reaction), where millions to billions of DNA segments are copied to further study the DNA. During the 2015-2016 pan-Pacific marine heatwave (El Niño), there was a small difference between the maximum accumulated heat stress between all of the twelve reef sites. Seven years after the end of the heatwave, data collected in 2023 showed that only a single one of the P. ryu corals hosted Durus, a gigantic change compared to before the heat wave. Of the colonies recorded in 2023, 91.7% were solely dominated by Durus, whilst 7.6% were codominant with another genus of zooxanthellae (2.8% of them being Cladocopium and 4.8% of them being Symbiodinium). Given heatwave-driven symbionts will persist for longer than the average heatwave return time, with global warming, there is a probability coral reefs will consist of

by Anthony Tung

A coral reef at Enderbury Island in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, Kiribati, 2009 (Randi Rotjan, New England Aquarium; Wikimedia Commons)

a less diverse selection of heattolerant zooxanthellae. With less diversity, zooxanthellae are more susceptible to being wiped out by disease or viruses. Without zooxanthellae, corals will eventually die out, resulting in at least 4,000 species of reef fish, and over one million species of other animals to be shelterless. Not only does the loss of reefs affect marine creatures, but also humans. Villages, cities, and countries will not have access to the minerals and sustenance coral reefs provide.

Further Reading D. Buzzoni, A. Van Nynatten, R. Cunning, and J. K. Baum, “Persistent Legacy Effects of Marine Heatwaves on Coral Symbioses,” Global Change Biology 32, no. 3 (March 2026): doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70818. Coral Reef Alliance, “Coral Reefs 101”: coral.org/coral-reefs-101. National Ocean Service, “What Is Coral Bleaching,” NOAA: oceanservice.noaa.gov.

ISSUE 2, 2026

“A Map That Listens” On a small Fijian island lies a common cove cradled by the sea, the silent heartbeat of the island. Children run, collecting shells, oblivious that this beauty is borrowed from them. A fisherman rests on a small wooden boat, rocking on the ripples of the provider beneath him. A rainbow of fish intertwines with the coral as tourists dive, attempting to catch a glimpse of what shares so much life. On the horizon, the booming horn of a trawler sounds as it reels in nets full of fish— an amount the fisherman would not catch in a lifetime. A quiet islander sees a massacre of a finite catch; the captain of the nation sees what is needed to stay afloat. The ocean holds many names. A road. A fortune. A memory. A home. A battlefield.

It is vast, but woefully silent. Each hand reaches for a piece of this being, but without each piece, harmony is eroded. The waves cannot hold the weight of all futures; we must decide what currents we leave behind for the children running in the cove, the hands who will inherit the horizon. Perhaps an empty boat. Lines drawn on living water can protect the life below, and a boundary allows all futures to exist together. It is not drawn to divide but to refine. If a map is silent, knowing only zones and coordinates, it is incomplete, because it does not hear the fisherman who knew the tide before he knew his own name. Hands cannot draw lines from distant shores. Policies cannot be anchored by ink alone; a boundary without a voice is only a line.

cont'd >

by Ella Carter

Signatures mean nothing if enforcement is absent. A compass is useless without a sailor. The sound of the ocean echoes, unanswered. This sea has heard enough promises. It waits for footsteps on shore.

“A few Fijian children enjoying life” (Dozzam; Flickr.com, 2006)

Author’s Note: Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a global, place-based process for managing human activity in the ocean. MSP maps out what a region is used for and what it might be used for in the future. When organizing human activity, MSP considers economic and industry needs while prioritizing sustainability and environmental protection. For nations like Fiji, where people are very reliant on marine resources, preventing irreversible damage from overuse is crucial for the longevity of the ocean as a resource for communities. While industries like fishing, shipping, and tourism are important, placing guidelines on these factors will ensure that the ocean is available for all. This poem was inspired by the study "Marine Spatial Planning in Ocean Governance: Fijian Perspectives,” Frontiers in Marine Science (2025) by Priyatma Singh, Björn-Ola Linnér, and Kushaal Raj, who identified problems in Fiji’s ocean governance, including weak coordination, overlapping policies, and limited collaboration among agencies and communities. Action is urgently required to strengthen coordination, close policy gaps, and ensure Marine Spatial Planning protects Fiji’s ocean for future generations.

by Ella Carter

Digital collage by Ella Carter

What can you do to help Oceania and support its people? From the researchers of SEA Quest 2026

To our people... In Oceania, We ask that you take the time to spread awareness to others through social media platforms or by word of mouth to get as many individuals aware as possible. Additionally, by protesting inadequate funding or the lack of attention from the government for environmental issues, we can gain support and receive realistic solutions from them. In other parts of the world, We ask that you become teachers to your peers and spread the threats of ocean pollution and other environmental issues in Oceania, as well as the importance of recycling. Additionally, we encourage you to vote for political candidates who support sustainable practices and have a determination for the future of Oceania.

To our government... We want them to focus their energy on installing effective, realistic policies revolving around waste management, ensuring that these policies work for all people in multiple environments. Additionally, we want governments to establish laws that reward large companies for using sustainable practices and packaging for their products and reducing carbon emissions. Lastly, they can help by enforcing environmental regulations and having harsher consequences for actions such as littering.

To our companies... We ask that they reduce carbon emissions, which severely harm our environment, to help slow global warming and its effects on Oceania. Overall, using sustainable practices such as making biodegradable packaging for their products or reducing harmful actions such as deep-sea mining or fishing.

Our role in the protection and development of our ocean is no mean task; it is no less than a major contribution to the well-being of humanity. Because it could give us a sense of doing something not only worthwhile but noble, we should seize the moment with dispatch.” - Epeli Hau'ofa, “Our Sea of Islands,” (1994) Epeli Hau’ofa (hocken.recollect.co.nz)

Where should our energy and resources be directed? Our energy and resources should mainly be directed to restoring and supporting marine ecosystems in Oceania, such as coral reefs, that foster biodiverse habitats and are essential to islands. Additionally, we hope that with research and projects, we could help develop indigenous practices and traditions so that they could support industries in more sustainable methods. This could help directly support issues going on in Oceania. Restoration Coral Reef Program by Oceanus (Flikr.com, 2018)

Creating the “What can you do to help” page During this three-week SEA Quest seminar, youth from all over the world learned about the people, practices, and environmental conditions of the central Pacific Ocean. While participating in this program, we have realized many of the major problems that are widely affecting the region and came up with ways and regulations that not only the people of Oceania could do but the readers themselves could take part in as well. As a group, we hope the readers will correspond no matter if it is by taking action or passively making small lifestyle changes that could benefit them in the future. To us at SEA Quest, no action is too small! This process was done by having the students list individually on what they think the biggest issues are today regarding the central Pacific Ocean and its people and how we, the government, and companies could help. By collecting all the different thoughts and ideas, voting was initiated to pick out certain problems in different categories to compile the common issues students think we all could focus on. After discussion and voting, I compiled them, wrote this up, and designed the page. --Sarah Park

Slide from Molly Powers-Tora’s presentation to our group, from Earth Sciences New Zealand, to show the social and political unity of Oceania. White lines are the exclusive econimic zones

Diving behind the scenes: Meet our Interviewed Experts

Jennifer L. Lavers

Interviewed by Seoyool Kim, Dr. Jennifer Lavers is a marine eco-toxicologist, research scientist at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, coordinator at Adrift Lab, and technical writer at Tangaroa Blue Foundation. She has been featured in numerous documentaries and led pioneering work in plastic pollution and its impact on seabirds. She was the head researcher of “Low and Steady: Minimal Change in Plastic Exposure in Kermadec Petrels in the Remote South Pacific.”

Shawn Murakawa

Interviewed by Mahana Tapea, Shawn Murakawa is a biologist at NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center with over twenty-five years of sea turtle research experience who leads research at Rose Atoll in American Samoa, manages the Age and Growth Laboratory, and conducts research on skeletochronology and stable isotope analyses of marine turtles. She was the head researcher of “Abundance, Production, and Migrations of Nesting Green Turtles at Rose Atoll American Samoa, a Regionally Important Rookery in the Central South Pacific Ocean.”

“I hope that annual nesting surveys continue there. The current data is still very limited, and ongoing annual collection is essential to make the dataset more robust. I also hope we can highlight the immense value of Rose Atoll, not only for the green sea turtle population in American Samoa, but also for other central South Pacific areas like Fiji and New Caledonia, encouraging greater collaboration across these regions.”

Xavier Raick

Interviewed by Sarah Park, Dr. Xavier Jean-Marie Sylvian Raick is a postdoctoral marine ecologist who is currently working at Aarhus University. With his studies based mostly in French Polynesia, Raick has made outstanding research and discoveries with others such as the impact of coral bleaching events in Tuamotu Archipelago and the limits of restoration under climate pressure in Bora Bora. He was the head researcher of “Preliminary Insights into the Acoustic Presence and Diel Patterns of Odontocetes in French Polynesia from Whistle Detections.”

“One key takeaway is that there are still many regions of the world where our knowledge remains very limited, and applying methods developed in other regions is not always straightforward.”

Diving behind the scenes: Meet our Interviewed Experts

Priyatma Singh Interviewed by Ella Carter, Priyatma Singh is a lecturer at the University of Fiji and a PhD candidate at Linköping University in Sweden, specializing in marine science, climate change adaptation, and socio‑oceanographic research. She was a researcher for the study “Marine Spatial Planning in Ocean Governance: Fijian Perspectives.”

“The core message is: good policy on paper and high-level international commitments don't automatically translate into good governance in practice. Closing that gap requires deliberate investment in leadership, funding, and trust, not just more planning documents.”

Tiara Na’puti Interviewed by Teddy Glass, Tiara Na’puti is a professor of global and international studies at University of California Irvine. She is the corresponding author for the article "Indigenous Environmental Perspectives: Challenging the Oceanic Security State.”

“I encourage youth to focus on this U.S. military budget issue, the latest proposals are over $1 trillion USD and these funds tradeoff with crucial investment in services like education, healthcare, and climate justice. The youth can continue to pressure at the local levels about the budgets for the military that will come at the expense of their future and the ability to address climate change for all.”

Federica Marialuisa Siena Interviewed by Jovita Prabakaran, Federica Marialuisa Siena is a marine ecologist at the University of Milano-Bicocca and the MaRHE Center, where her research focuses on coral reef restoration and citizen science. She originally trained in landscape architecture before a graduate program in the Maldives redirected her toward marine biology, drawn in part by growing up near a biodiverse stretch of southern Italy's coastline. She finished her PhD in 2026 and is the corresponding author on the Map the Giants paper, where she leads day-to-day operations.

"We would like to drive a change into the narrative surrounding oceans."

Waves around the world: Meet our wonderful 2026 guest speakers

Herehia Sanford As a passionate conservationist in French Polynesia, Herehia Sanford has participated in numerous marine conservation organizations including the Tetiaroa Society and the Ma'o Mana Foundation. She discussed modern challenges in the Pacific Ocean, her current research with Polynesian sharks, and shared a beautiful story of the traditional Polynesian village fishing technique, te tautai taora 'ōfa'i.

Kelley Anderson Tagarino As an American Samoa Sea Grant Extension Agent, Kelley A. Tagarino translates science into easily digestable language. She introduced us to her research, associated programs, tools such as PacIOOS, and taught us the importance of establishing accurate data, connecting with people, and fighting for what you believe in.

Chris Nolan Faculty captain at SEA, founder of Practical Navigator Training, and a retired Coast Guard officer, Captain Chris Nolan worked to enforce fishery regulations and educate others on marine sciences. He explained marine jurisdiction, trafficking, and conservation, enabling us to understand the processes behind the maritime decisions of scientists, policymakers, and leaders.

Cindy Knapman As the communications leader for the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program, Cindy Knapman actively pursues marine science communication in the Ka Pili Kai magazine and is also a maritime educator. She explained her journey to her current position, the components of the Sea Grant program, factors of marine communications, and generously provided us advice on creating our Sea Writer magazine.

Shreya Yadav Working out of Hawai‘i, Dr. Yadav works at Conservation International on Indian and Pacific Ocean conservation challenges and human rights. She explained coral reef mapping technologies and conservation, discussed coral reef-commercial fisheries relationships, and the importance of community connected conservation.

Kara Lavendar Law A research professor at SEA with a PhD in Oceanography, Professor Law is a global expert on ocean plastics who educates her students as they sail across the ocean. She recounted her experiences advocating at the US Senate, discussed SEA’s long-term microplastics data and research, and emphasized the risks of plastics and challenges in regulating them and communicating their dangers.

Molly Powers-Tora Based in Aotearoa New Zealand, Molly Powers is a Pacific Strategy and Engagement Advisor for Earth Sciences New Zealand (NIWA) and an international development practitioner, specializing in program design and management and capacity building. She described her wayfaring journey into NIWA, provided pearls of wisdom in science communication, and left us with the message that “if you do what you love, you will be going in the right direction.”

ISSUE 2, 2026

Coda

he Pacific shelters a treasure of stories beneath its waves. Throughout this journey, we dove into this heritage and learned to share our voices. From Jamaica, Tahiti, China, India, and across the U.S., our team Zoomed in to form an international community. I distinctly remember thinking that Mahana and Josie’s beaded necklaces, each from Tahiti and Jamaica, were beautiful. Although we met online, you could see in Ethan’s passion for plastic research, Teddy’s insightful questions and exceptional engagement, and Jovita’s profound reflection on the last day of class that each of us radiated a passion for the sea and its conservation. Even as we traveled from plane, car, or foot, we would call in and participate. From Pacific history lessons to guest speakers, every day came with new surprises. Our experts gathered from around the world to share their expertise. Although we never met in person, through Dr. King’s encouragement and our shared passions, we connected little by little, whether it be learning about Josie’s love for hammerhead sharks or Josh’s frequent gym trips.

The culminating product of SEA Quest was this 2026 SEA Writer Magazine. We each created a science journalism article and open genre piece centered around a marine research paper. To prepare, we analyzed works by authors like Epeli Hau’ofa and videos like Rise: From One Island to Another. Many of us, for the first time, had the opportunity to interview our article’s researchers. Through these lessons, we realized the sheer power of

There are no borders to collaboration. Our most powerful takeaway was that we must work together to make a true impact.” technology, the importance of accurate data, and concluded that you can effectively communicate complicated science by combining multiple media forms, such as writing, art, poetry, and short films. On our last day, everyone shared the pearls of their research, from Daniel’s adept visualization of tuna path projections presented in English and Chinese to Anthony’s digestible infographic on coral reefs, a topic of high interest in our group,

ISSUE 2, 2026

and Owen's detailed explanation of manta rays and helicopters. In a curious turn of events, many of us pursued poetry for our open genre. We heard Lucas’ succinct yet vivid verse on climate change, Sarah’s sonically immersive description of dolphin whistles, and Mahana’s evocative prose on sea turtles. Whether it was students, guest speakers, or researchers, we gathered, learned, and bonded. There are no borders to collaboration. Our most powerful takeaway was that we must work together to make a true impact. As Ella’s poem writes, If a map is silent, knowing only zones and coordinates, it is incomplete, because it does not hear the fisherman who knew the tide before he knew his own name. To protect our oceans and their people, we must work with them and we must work together. Remember, we are not islands in a vast ocean. We are “a sea of islands,” as Epeli Hau'ofa wrote. I am truly grateful to have been part of this journey, especially considering my initial schedule conflicts. I had the opportunity to question plastic pollution and coral experts, interview the incredible

Dr. Jennifer Lavers for my research article, share my creativity through poetry and art, and meet a wonderful teacher and amazing classmates. This experience has been indelible. Thank you. —Seoyool Kim

Sea Education Association 171 Woods Hole Road Falmouth, MA 02456 USA

Collaborate with us We are eager to collaborate with local and international partners to share research and to help educate about the ocean. Regarding SEA Quest and other high school and pre-college programs please contact Abby Elder (aelder@sea.edu). For general data sharing, cruise reports, and our Data Request Form, please go to: https://sea.edu/research/sea-data-access/