NWHI May-June 2006 Expedition

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NWHI Ecosystem Connectivity, Apex Predator Movement, and Coral Health Assessment Expedition, May 2006

Mission Overview and Objectives

Journals, Reports and PodCasts from the Ship

Photo Gallery

The Hi`ialakai at Pearl and Hermes From May 19th through June 11th 2006, the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Ship Hi`ialakai ("embracing pathways to the sea," pictured to left), will be conducting a research expedition to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The expedition includes ecosystem connectivity research, apex predator (jacks, sharks, grey snapper) tagging and movement studies, as well as coral health assessment missions. The ship will travel to Nihoa and French Frigate Shoals in the NWHI, then 500 miles south to Johnston Atoll. Johnston Atoll is the closest shallow water habitat south of the isolated Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and is believed to be a "stepping stone" by which organisms from the South Pacific have spread to the Hawaiian Archipelago. Many species, such as Acropora table corals, common in the South Pacific are only found at French Frigate Shoals and the surrounding areas in the Hawaiian Archipelago.

During the expedition, Dr. Malia Rivera, Outreach Specialist for the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology will be sending back reports from the voyage. For the first leg of the voyage to French Frigate Shoals, Honolulu Advertiser Science Writer, Jan Tenbruggencate, will also be reporting live from the ship.

Click here to see a map of the area covered by the voyage

Click here for other maps of the region

Honolulu Advertiser Science Writer, Jan Tenbruggencate, Reports:

Hawaiian monk seals in crisis

15-foot tiger shark gets mouthful of boat

Natural treasures require guarding

Sea life's larval secrets revealed

Northwestern sea life differs

Catching powerful sharks takes big hooks, lots of line

Tagging sharks a chilling task

Jaws of Gardner belong to ulua

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