Publications
Biological Surveys of Carondelet, a Shallow, Submerged Seamount in the Phoenix Islands, Kiribati
A rare survey of Carondelet, a remote submerged seamount within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), reveals limited but significant marine biodiversity. Despite challenging conditions that previously hindered exploration, researchers documented 12 coral genera, 120 bony fish species, and two shark species, with coral cover ranging from 12.8% to 35.3%. The study highlights the dominance of Montipora and Acropora at shallower depths (5–8 m) and Porites and Pavona at deeper sites (20 m). Evidence of fishing activity, including unfouled lines, suggests human impact persists even within protected zones. This work provides the first published biodiversity data for Carondelet, contributing critical baseline information to PIPA's conservation efforts.
Limited conservation efficacy of large-scale marine protected areas for Pacific skipjack and bigeye tunas
Large-scale marine protected areas (MPAs) may not effectively conserve tropical tuna stocks, including skipjack and bigeye tunas. A study evaluating the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) and hypothetical 33% MPAs in the western and central Pacific found minimal stock-wide conservation benefits for these species. Using the SEAPODYM model, researchers compared control and counterfactual simulations to assess population dynamics under different MPA scenarios. Results indicated weak to non-existent benefits for skipjack tuna (-0.1% to +5.8% change in spawning biomass) and modest gains for bigeye tuna (+4.8% to +12.0%). The limited efficacy is attributed to the species' wide larval dispersal and high mobility, which dissipate MPA protective effects. Additionally, fishing effort displacement from MPAs can negatively impact stocks outside these areas. This suggests that large oceanic MPAs may not be effective frontline management tools for tropical tunas with similar life history characteristics.
An Analysis of the Tuna Diplomacy between Pacific Island Countries and EU -Take Kiribati as an example
Pacific Island Countries, including Kiribati, rely heavily on tuna resources for economic and political gains. Kiribati, with its vast exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 3.55 million square kilometers, faces significant economic dependence on tuna due to limited other resources. The European Union (EU), seeking new fisheries to address overfishing in the Atlantic and expand its influence in the Pacific, has engaged in tuna diplomacy with Kiribati. This study analyzes the fishery partnership agreement between Kiribati and the EU, highlighting both cooperative efforts and frictions. It provides insights into how Kiribati can further benefit from tuna resources in the future, emphasizing the strategic importance of tuna diplomacy for small island nations.
Cruise Report: EX-17-03, Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific Marine Protected Areas (ROV and Mapping)
A 23-day expedition aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer revealed critical baseline data about poorly understood deepwater ecosystems surrounding the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), Howland and Baker Unit of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, and Tokelau. Using remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives combined with mapping operations, researchers significantly advanced scientific understanding of these remote marine protected areas. The expedition, part of NOAA's CAPSTONE initiative, aimed to provide publicly accessible data to support future exploration, research, and management efforts in the region.
Historical Trends of Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) Distribution in the Phoenix Archipelago
Historical whaling records reveal that the Phoenix Archipelago, now home to two large Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), was once a critical sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) habitat. Analysis of 19th-century data shows these whales were present year-round in the region, with hotspots identified within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) and near Howland and Baker islands, suggesting long-term ecological significance. While modern surveys are lacking, anecdotal evidence indicates that MPAs may support population resurgence, though not to pre-whaling levels. This study underscores the importance of historical baselines for measuring MPA effectiveness in marine conservation efforts.
Increasing Coral Reef Resilience Through Successive Marine Heatwaves
A study of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) reveals that coral reefs are becoming more resilient to marine heatwaves over time. Analyzing an 18-year record of coral cover across three major bleaching events, researchers found that coral mortality due to thermal stress has decreased in recent heatwaves compared to earlier ones. This suggests that selective survival through successive heatwaves may be shaping the coral community's response to future warming. The findings highlight the potential for corals to adapt under repeated thermal stress and underscore the importance of identifying conditions that facilitate coral survival and recovery to effectively manage reefs amid climate change.
Distribution, growth, and transport of larval fishes and implications for population dynamics
Research demonstrates that the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) serves as a critical spawning ground for tuna species, including skipjack and Thunnus spp., with consistent larval distributions observed across three study years. Backtracking simulations confirm that spawning occurs within PIPA, highlighting its role in protecting viable tuna habitat. The study also reveals diverse ontogenetic vertical behaviors among coral reef fish larvae, influencing their transport distances and population connectivity. Surface-dwelling larvae tend to travel farther, enhancing connectivity between habitats, while other behaviors promote retention near natal sites. These findings underscore the importance of PIPA's hydrodynamic and habitat conditions in supporting tuna populations, providing insights for marine conservation strategies.
Oceanographic Drivers of Deep-Sea Coral Species Distribution and Community Assembly on Seamounts, Islands, Atolls, and Reefs Within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area
Deep-sea coral communities in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) are shaped by oceanographic factors, with seamounts hosting more diverse and abundant species compared to islands, atolls, and reefs. This pattern is driven by stronger currents and nutrient upwelling on seamounts, which enhance coral growth and recruitment. The study used submersible surveys and genetic analyses to map coral distributions across 19 sites, revealing that depth, substrate type, and oceanographic conditions are key determinants of community assembly. These findings highlight the importance of seamounts as biodiversity hotspots and underscore the need for targeted conservation strategies in PIPA.
Stakeholder perspectives on large-scale marine protected areas
Research reveals five distinct stakeholder perspectives on large-scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs), highlighting the multi-dimensional nature of views among those directly engaged with these conservation tools. The study, involving forty stakeholders from five sites—including established LSMPAs like the Phoenix Islands Protected Area in Kiribati and proposed ones such as Rapa Nui (Easter Island)—identified three optimistic viewpoints ('Enthusiast,' 'Purist,' and 'Relativist') and two cautious ones ('Critic' and 'Skeptic'). These findings underscore the importance of nuanced consultation processes in LSMPA governance, offering insights that could improve stakeholder dialogue and decision-making. The study employed Q Methodology to capture diverse voices, contributing valuable perspectives to global debates on LSMPAs.
Discovery of a recovering climax Acropora community in Kanton Lagoon in the remote Phoenix Islands Protected Area
A resilient coral community in Kanton Lagoon, part of the remote Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), has shown remarkable recovery from near-total mortality caused by thermal stress. Despite temperatures reaching up to 30.5°C, which typically induces bleaching, Acropora stands within the lagoon exhibited minimal signs of thermal stress, suggesting that recovering coral species may have developed greater resistance. An expedition in 2015 documented a 52.8% recovery of hard corals, indicating a potential shift toward a more thermally tolerant climax community. This discovery highlights the capacity for coral reefs to rebound under protected conditions, even after severe disturbances.
Shipboard design and fabrication of custom 3D-printed soft robotic manipulators for the investigation of delicate deep-sea organisms
A groundbreaking approach using shipboard 3D printing of soft robotic manipulators enables delicate interactions with fragile deep-sea organisms, addressing longstanding challenges in sampling and studying these species. Deployed via a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) at depths reaching 2224 meters in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), these custom-designed manipulators successfully grasped goniasterids and holothurians—organisms historically difficult to collect undamaged with rigid tools or suction samplers. Rapid iterative design, fabrication, and testing at sea allowed for real-time adaptations, such as adding 'fingernails,' enhancing precision. This method offers a less invasive alternative to traditional sampling, benefiting slow-growing deep-sea organisms, some of which can be up to 18,000 years old. By combining soft robotics with on-the-fly fabrication, the study demonstrates a scalable solution for exploring delicate marine ecosystems in remote and logistically challenging environments.
Silent killer: black reefs in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area
Black reefs in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, characterized by degraded coral ecosystems, show no signs of recovery despite being observed over a 12-year period from 2003 to 2015. The study links this degradation to the introduction of iron from shipwrecks, which promotes the proliferation of turf algae and cyanobacterial mats in an otherwise iron-poor equatorial Pacific environment. Researchers analyzed these black reefs to understand their formation and persistence, revealing a silent ecological threat that undermines conservation efforts in protected areas.
The blue paradox: Preemptive overfishing in marine reserves
Announcing marine reserves can inadvertently trigger preemptive overfishing, undermining conservation efforts before policies take effect. A study of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), one of the world's largest marine reserves, revealed that fishers more than doubled their fishing activity once the area was designated for protection. This surge in effort depleted fish stocks to levels equivalent to 1.5 years of banned fishing, setting PIPA back before it even began. Using satellite data tracking fishing activity, researchers demonstrated that anticipation of conservation measures can lead to a 'race-to-fish,' potentially increasing global overexploitation by up to 7%. These findings highlight the unintended consequences of preemptive resource extraction and challenge conventional approaches to monitoring policy efficacy in marine conservation.
Unraveling the blue paradox: Incomplete analysis yields incorrect conclusions about Phoenix Islands Protected Area closure
A critical analysis reveals that the reported fishing surge around the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) was not due to its closure, as previously claimed, but instead a consequence of a strong El Niño event affecting multiple exclusive economic zones (EEZs). The study challenges the 'blue paradox' concept, which posits unintended negative outcomes from conservation policies. By examining regional data and long-term catch trends, researchers demonstrate that the surge was part of a broader phenomenon unrelated to PIPA's closure. This finding underscores the importance of comprehensive data analysis in attributing environmental changes.
Co‐operation between large‐scale MPAs: successful experiences from the Pacific Ocean
Collaboration among large-scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs) in the Pacific Ocean has proven effective in addressing shared management, governance, and research challenges. These LSMPAs, which cover vast areas (>100,000 km²), share common natural histories, threats, cultural ties, and scientific needs due to their common ancestry. The study highlights successful bilateral agreements, learning exchanges, and joint research, monitoring, and enforcement activities among notable sites such as the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) and others in the region. By leveraging traditional Pacific collaboration models, these LSMPAs have made significant strides toward achieving global conservation targets, despite covering less than 3% of the ocean's area.
Contracting for Conservation in the Central Pacific: An Overview of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area
The Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) stands as a pioneering model for marine conservation in the Central Pacific, demonstrating how large-scale protected areas can be established and managed through innovative contractual agreements. This study highlights PIPA's unique governance structure, which combines international treaties with domestic legislation to create one of the world's largest fully protected marine reserves. The research approach involves analyzing the legal framework, implementation challenges, and ecological benefits, offering insights into effective conservation strategies for remote and biologically rich regions. By focusing on contractual mechanisms, this work provides a blueprint for balancing sovereignty, conservation, and sustainable development in the Pacific Islands.
Phoenix Islands Protected Area Conservation Trust Act 2009 Explanatory Memorandum
The Phoenix Islands Protected Area Conservation Trust Act 2009 establishes a legal framework to safeguard one of the world's largest and most remote marine protected areas, spanning over 400,000 square kilometers in the central Pacific. This act emphasizes the importance of integrating conservation with sustainable development, particularly for island communities dependent on marine resources. The explanatory memorandum outlines mechanisms for governance, including the creation of a trust to manage the area's ecological integrity while supporting local livelihoods. By combining traditional knowledge with modern conservation science, this approach sets a precedent for balancing biodiversity protection and human well-being in remote, vulnerable ecosystems.
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