October 2018 Seawords by Marine Option Program

Seaw rds The Marine Option Program Newsletter

October 2018

sounds aren’t from excitement 4 “Their loud though--these orcas are starving.”

PACIFIC NORTHWEST ORCAS SUFFERING INTERNING AT NOAA: A STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE FLASHBACK: 1989

October 2018

Volume XXXII, Number 8

Articles Page 3: Letter from the Editor Page 4: Pacific Northwest Orcas Suffering Page 6: October Surf Report Page 7: Critter of the Month Page 8: Interning at NOAA: A Student’s Perspective Page 12: Ocean Art Page 14: Shipwreck of the Month Page 16: Marine Mammal of the Month Page 18: Ocean Updates Page 20: Generation Blue Page 22: Hanauma Bay: Calendar of Events Page 23: Flashback: 1989 Page 24: MOP Calendar of Events: October

About the Photography -Cover: Andrew Gray/NOAA, 2017, Flickr -Table of Contents: CMy23, Flickr -October Calendar of Events: Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Flickr. -Back cover: Steve Corey, Flickr. -All uncredited photos by: MOP -Disclaimer: any photo taken from flickr.com is used under the Creative Commons License and is credited appropriately with links to the user’s flickr account.

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Letter from the Editor

loha!

Welcome to the October issue of Seawords! Dive into this issue by reading about the Whydah Gally - a story of a pirate ship you’ll have to read to believe! You can find this unique tale on page 14! After that exciting read - turn to page 4 for something more serious. Learn about the orca whales in the Pacific Northwest, why they are suffering and what YOU can do to help them! Courtney Kingery, UHM MOP student, gives us insight on her student internship at NOAA! Don’t miss it - on page 8! The special Hawaiian Critter of the Month is our beloved monk seal! Learn something new about this important critter that we all love, on page 16! We hope you enjoy this ocean-packed issue of Seawords! Do you love the ocean and also enjoy art? If you do, submit your ocean themed art to Seawords@hawaii.edu to be featured in our magazine! What would you like to see more of in Seawords? Send us your thoughts! Mahalo for reading,

Seawords

Jenny Johnson, Seawords Editor

Volume XXXII, Number 8, October 2018 Editor: Jenny Johnson Dr. Cynthia Hunter (éminence grise) Jeffrey Kuwabara (éminence grise) Seawords- Marine Option Program University of Hawai‘i, College of Natural Sciences 2450 Campus Road, Dean Hall 105A Honolulu, HI 96822-2219 Telephone: (808) 956-8433 Email: <seawords@hawaii.edu> Website: <http://www.hawaii.edu/mop> Seawords is the monthly newsletter of the Marine Option Program at the University of Hawai‘i. Opinions expressed herein are not necessariliy those of the Marine Option Program or of the University of Hawai‘i. Suggestions and submissions are welcome. Submissions may include articles, photography, art work, or anything that may be of interest to the marine community in Hawai‘i and around the world. All photos are taken by MOP unless otherwise credited.

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Pacific Northwest Orcas Suffering By: Kayla White, UHM MOP Student

he 75 talkative orcas that live in the Salish Sea off Seattle eat mostly Chinook salmon. The three pods of orcas leave this area each winter to look for salmon along the Pacific Coast. Their loud sounds aren’t from excitement, though--these orcas are starving. Due to human boat noise from sonar and fishing, we have put these whales in danger and many fear that it might be too late to save them.

J16 in the Salish Sea. Photo by: Miles Ritter, Flickr.

tries have asked for the removal of dams along the Snake river, which is often blamed for the decline.

The prime solution of this recovery effort is to get more Chinook salmon to these orcas, fast. Hatching, fattening and transporting these salmon costs lots of money and resources which Washington State is running low on. A treaty has been proposed with Canada and the Pacific Salmon Council to reduce the salmon that are caught by fisheries, but both governments have to approve and provide a significant amount of money. Orcas (Orcinus orca). Photo by: tifotter, Flickr. Because of these is-

Chinook salmon have become sparse in the Pacific Northwest due to dams, pollution and fishing. These fish have started appearing in supermarsues, not only are the kets as “king salmon”. pods getting smaller, their calves are dying. Three years Tribal members, environmentalists and fishing indus4| Seawords

have gone by since a calf in the region has survived. In the last 20 years, 40 orcas have been born, but 72 have died. The recently viral image of a mother orca, Tahlequah, carrying her deceased calf for over two weeks, lives in this group. Pictures of Tahlequah were found on almost every social media platform for the two weeks she was carrying her calf and the question lots of people asked was, “Why”?

In most cases, humans like to anthropomorphize animals, or attribute human traits to an animal, but in this case it appears many people were right - Tahlequah seemed to be mourning her calf. She was not ready to let go of her calf that only lived for half an hour, J16 of the resident killer whales in the Salish Sea. Photo by: Miles Ritter, so she balanced it on her head and pushed Flickr. it along with the pod for 17 days. The world sues within the pods to a bigger audience, which could mourned with Tahlequah by drawing pictures, writing help save them. Actions need to be taken fast or the poems, losing sleep, crying and acting. pods will suffer more problems. The Orca ConserGovernment officials started working on a plan to help vancy gives many ways manufacturers and fisheries save the youngest living member in the pod, Scarlet, can help save the orcas, as well as actions everyone can who is on the brink of starvation. They are tracking her take to help. For more information on actions we can in an attempt to feed her salmon laced with antibiotics take, see their website at: http://www.orcaconservancy. to treat the ill whale. org/2018/08/16/lives-in-the-balance-our-southern-resident-killer-whales-future-depend-upon-us/ n Maybe Tahlequah and her calf shed a light on the is-

A group of orcas (Orcinus orca) in the Salish Sea. Photo by: Kathleen L Kitto, Flickr. OCTOBER 2018 |5

October Surf Report By: Alina Abramovich, UHH MOP Student

he sun has finally set on what proved to be a very eventful and wave-filled summer. This means that we are now well into the scholastic year and surfing now has to be balanced between classes and late-night library sessions. August and September brought us hurricane swells (and hurricane rain), but October looks to start bringing us more seasonally normative NPAC swells. Unfortunately for the south-facing shores, the SPAC swells have most likely ended for the year, with another summer devoid of any noteworthy southern action (aside from some bumps in June/July). The larger (and XXL) winter swells are not forecasted to arrive with consistency until the end of the month and into November, but with the hurricane trend of the last few months it looks as though all of the Hawaiian Islands can expect some bumps while waiting for winter to arrive. Your best bets in terms of spots over the next month are most likely looking to be the North-East facing locations - especially on the Big Island, where the west side will most likely be blocked of any early and weaker NPAC swells. Luckily UH Hilo is on the east coast and therefore provides easy-access to those aforementioned swells. On O‘ahu the more exposed south spots look to still see some fairly consistent wind swell and logging days - but it may be worth your while to hunt for surf elsewhere on the island during this “warm up” month. As always be safe, have fun and show lots of aloha in the water! n

Surfer riding a wave. Photo by: Mike Sutherland, Flickr. 6| Seawords

critter of the Month By: Alina Abramovich, UHH MOP Student

Hawaiian Monk Seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi)

Distribution: Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands Size: Between 7-7.5 ft in length and between 375-450 lbs in weight, with females being slightly larger than the males Diet: Fish, cephalopods, crustaceans and the occasional annoying tourist Coloration: Dark grey/silver, often with a green tinge due to algae growing on their fur Habitat: Mostly in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, with a sparse distribution in the main Hawaiian Islands. Monk seals spend most of their lives in the ocean, coming up on land and into shallow waters to mate, sunbathe, pup and unavoidably pose for photos. IUCN Red List Status: EN - Endangered

eing Hawai‘i’s only endemic, charismatic, marine megafauna is not an easy task, but the Hawaiian monk seal manages to hold down the title with vigor. Once hunted to the point of near extinction for their fur and for the “nuisance” they caused fishermen, the Hawaiian monk seals have started to slowly make a comeback over the last few years. With around 1400 wild Hawaiian monk seals alive in the waters around our islands today, they are still considered an endangered species and are protected under Federal Law. Efforts to protect these incredible animals are well justified - the Hawaiian monk seal is not only speculated to be the oldest species of seals on Earth (with anatomical compositions that resemble fossils dated to be 14-16 million years old!), but is also an important member of the marine ecosystem around the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaiian monk seals can live to be between 25 and 30 years old, and the females only reach sexual maturity when they are 5 years old (it is yet unknown when males reach sexual maturity). This late maturity and their fairly long gestation periods (10-11 months) are significant factors in explaining how the Hawaiian monk seal population dropped so significantly. The major threats to these beautiful sea-dogs (as their Hawaiian name “‘Īlio holo I ka uaua” suggests - meaning “dog that runs in rough water”) are composed mainly of anthropogenic causes (pollution, overfishing, hunting of the monk seals, habitat loss, net entanglement) but also shark predation and aggression of males towards females. Despite all of these threats, there are several laws and “recovery plans” in place to help ensure the Hawaiian monk seal population continues to rebound and to re-establish this unique and beautiful species to its rightful home. n

Hawaiian monk seal pup (Neomonachus schauinslandi). Photo by: Anthony Quintano, Flickr.

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Interning at NOAA: A Studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Perspective By: Courtney Kingery, UHM MOP Student

Courtney Kingery, UHM MOP student, lookoing out at the ocean. Photo by: Mikaela Handler.

figured the only way to start writing about my experience at NOAA would be from the beginning. As a student, I was timid when I first started searching for opportunities. There were volunteer positions, rehabilitation internships and more that I was interested in, but none that came to fruition early on in my college career. My dad was supportive and kept pushing me to go out and discover what the University had to offer, so I joined the Marine Option Program during my second semester as a freshman. I began receiving emails about various internships and research experiences, so I started applying. Like many students, I was rejected from many opportunities, including the one that I currently have, due to lack of experience and an insufficient number of credit hours. Thankfully, I

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kept trying. During my junior year, I noticed an email from the Marine Option Program regarding an internship similar to one that I had applied for a year or so before. Unfortunately, the first time I applied for this internship I did not get it, but I was ready to try again. Immediately, I began writing my cover letter, updating my resume and reaching out for recommendations. Luckily that semester, I only had one final so I was able to focus on perfecting my application. In previous years and other applications, I included that my availability was limited to the school year. Now that I was about to be a senior and lived off campus, I decided to change my availability to include all of summer. In the years before, I would go

home to Washington State during the summer but this opportunity was extremely important and I wanted to maximize my chances. I submitted the application and waited until after winter break to hear my fate.

the office were two people who I would not have been able to function without. Alexa, another intern who is now a UH MOP alumna, introduced me to the many documents, databases and folders that I needed to know. Cianna, a contractor who works in our division, also a UH MOP alumna, taught me the ways of the office and explained a few of the projects to me. Throughout my first few months, they were open to answering any questions, were always available to talk through tasks and made being a new intern a great experience.

The first month of spring semester went by and then I got the email – it was time for an interview. My experience doing interviews was minimal so I was nervous to say the least, but I went in there and did my best. I guess my best was good enough because a week or so later I got an email saying that I was a new intern. I was not expecting it because of the past opportunities I was Along with being new comes a lot of lab trainings, safety unable to get, but I was so incredibly excited to start my quizzes and protocol reading, all of which is very imporexperience at NOAA. tant to the success of any scientific agency. My cubicle is located on the Pacific Island Regional Office (PIRO) I started at the beginning of March 2018. The building is side, and the labs are located on the Pacific Island Fishon a military base and I had no access yet, so I drove in eries Science Center (PIFSC) side, so throughout my with various employees until I got my Common Access “induction” process, I was able to meet many people at Card. This was a little intimidating at first, but it allowed NOAA. Although I do not work with them directly, evme to meet and talk with people that I continue to work eryone that I have met on the science side has been so with today. I met the Outreach Coordinator, the Marine kind and available to help with any obstacle that comes Mammal Response Coordinator and many more who my way. In movies they always dramatize the intern welcomed me with open arms. In my direct vicinity at

Courtney Kingery, UHM MOP student, working a Girl Scouts event. Photo by: Cianna Belltran.

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herself! I met Moana by the time I left the event! I am now a senior and reflecting on the various tasks, errands and opportunities I was granted this past summer through my internship with NOAA. I am involved with many different projects and that is what makes my internship so interesting. As part of the Protected Resources Division, most of my work is focused on the endangered marine species, especially Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi). These animals are critically endangered and are named one of the most endangered species in the world. On island, I worked a handful of outreach and education opportunities that focused on what threatens monk seals. The first event that I attended was the Waikīkī Aquarium’s Birthday Party, where we made marine species buttons with the kids. We tested the kids on their monk seal knowledge and had them take a pledge to protect the monk seals of Hawai‘i. In the field, I have been able to educate beachgoers on the IDs of the monk seals in the area and their basic biology. This has been during response calls, while I was monitoring different locations and even when my friends and I just went to the beach and saw a monk seal. The current project that I am working on is preparing education materials for the Girl Scouts on O‘ahu. Women in science UHM MOP student, Courtney Kingery, working for NOAA. Photo are important role models for young girls who by: Mikaela Handler. want to pursue their dreams in the STEM field and my mentor and I are trying to provide them role, but in reality it was only a couple of weeks before with their own opportunities to volunteer and create a people around the office started recognizing me, asking project involving the Hawaiian monk seal. I may be sitfor help on various tasks and trusting my opinions. ting in a cubicle, which sounds “boring” in some peoSpeaking of trust, near the beginning of the summer, I ple’s eyes, but I am doing something different every day. was given the chance to act as the point of contact for the My supervisor is the main reason for this, asking me to education and outreach booths at World Oceans Day in focus on a variety of projects which has strengthened Ko ‘Olina. This job was given to me a week before the my multitasking skills and has allowed me to contribevent, but I was up for the challenge. I made all of the ute to many different projects at the facility. They exparking passes for each group, I answered questions re- pect me to produce quality work and take constructive garding the event and I dealt with location changes just criticism as any professional at NOAA would. Having minutes before the event started. All of the stress was this “pressure” has introduced me to the management worth it in the end, however. The day was full of mini side of science, the side that is considered to be in the successes, new friends and new knowledge which has background but is vital, especially when working with allowed me to translate the skills I gained into skills I endangered species. Whether it be updating the datacan utilize. To top it all off, at the end of the night they base, coordinating with partners, assisting on response premiered the film “Moana” in the Native Hawaiian calls or preparing for outreach events, I have been able Language. Families gathered to enjoy the film, celebrate to learn more about the opportunities that marine biolawards and sing along with Auli’i Cravalho - Moana ogy has to offer, even outside of NOAA. 10| Seawords

Courtney Kingery, UHM MOP student, posing for a headhsot. Photo by: Mikaela Handler. I want to thank all of those people who have helped me along the way to this internship. My high school biology teacher, who brought me to Maui and confirmed my love for marine biology. My culminating project mentor at the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, who opened my eyes to another branch of Marine Biology that I had yet to discover. My parents, for pushing me to try for the internship a second time. The Marine Option Program, for giving me access to the opportunities that have furthered my career in more ways than one. Without MOP I would not have even known about this internship and I would not have felt as confident in my career choice as I do now. To all of the people I have met at NOAA: there are definitely too many to name but there is no doubt in my mind that without each person that I have

encountered, my experience would be a lot different. For example, I would not have received the advice that has already helped me plan my future career path and I would not have the same resources for future outreach and education games and activities if it werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for the other scientists at NOAA. My supervisor has allowed me to expand my horizons because she knows that as a student, I need to be exposed to everything for success in future endeavors. There have been times when I was confused on some projects, but the times where I felt accomplished and like I had achieved something definitely makes the experience something for which I will forever be grateful. n

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ocean art

Light in the Darkest of Places By: Bradley Saito, KCC Student

Bradley’s poem was chosen from a collection of poems submitted to us by Eric Paul Shaffer, an HCC English Professor, and written by his English 201: Creative Writing class. 12| Seawords

Kept like a secret, the depths of the ocean are as black as my heart. Faint moments of light illuminate the unknown. Bioluminescence is light emitted from living organisms, but with a dark purpose. The anglerfish shines a beacon of bioluminescent light to attract prey and devour them when they get close. Similar to how my heart gets brief moments of joy, only to be disappointed by a false reality.

Schaeferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anglerfish (Sladenia shaefersi). Photo by: Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007, NOAAOE, Flickr.

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Shipwreck of the Month: Whydah Gally By: Madison Thiele, UHH MOP Student

obin Hood of the ocean - a scandalous love story between the captain and a 15-year-old Cape Codder. An eerie ghost story that the locals swear is true. Welcome aboard the Whydah Gally pirate ship.

coast. The museum displayed actual cannons, coins and daily artifacts of the sailors that resided on the Whydah which were recovered by local scuba divers. Dozens of paintings portraying the captain and his crew could be found along the walls of the museum leaving visitors with a sense of uneasiness in the pit of their stomach.

When I was a little girl I remember walking into a makeshift pirate ship museum, expecting to see fake skeletons From the looks of the recovered pictures of the captain,

Whydah Gally Gold at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Photo by: Theodore Scott, Flickr, Wikimedia Commons. strewn across the walls and fake gold coins that could be bought for some extravagant amount of money that a 13-year-old didn’t possess. Little did I know that this day would spark my love for the wild and exciting history of piracy.

Samuel or “Black Sam” Bellamy, one could see he was a striking young man whose confidence glowed from within his eyes and oozed out of the smirk in his smile. He was right to possess so much confidence because during his reign of a little over a year, he and his crew captured at least 54 ships, which in turn made him the The Expedition Whydah museum, located in Provwealthiest pirate known to date. Black Sam would also incetown, Massachusetts, highlights the history of the be referred to as Robin Hood because he would treat Whydah, which ran aground and sunk right off that very 14| Seawords

Model of the Whydah Gally. Photo by: jjsala, Flickr, Wikimedia Commons. those who he captured well, and would only plunder the wealthiest ships.

didn’t want her to marry into piracy. Black Sam then decided that he would sail down to Florida and salvage wrecked treasure from a silver fleet, in hopes of gaining more wealth and winning the approval of his lover’s father. Black Sam promised Maria that he would eventually return to her, but unfortunately never did. To make the story even more heartbreaking, Maria found out that she was pregnant with Black Sam’s child only after he had left for Florida. Being an unwed motherto-be was frowned upon, and she was soon outcast from her small town. Forced to live alone in the woods near the shore, Maria wandered around the beach and stared at the horizon, in hopes of seeing her lover again. Eventually, Black Sam and the Whydah were spotted along the shore one midnight on April 26th, 1717. Maria Hallett watched in dismay as the ship ran aground and sank just 500 feet from shore. The story says that the locals watched Maria as she screamed and cursed at the sky for causing the fatal winds and taking her lover from her. Other locals believed that she was a witch and had created the storm to punish her lover for leaving her. The story ends with Maria passing away, either from a broken heart or from being chased by the locals who needed to rid the witch from their town. Whichever story you decide to go with is up to you, but even today, the locals swear to be careful on certain nights. If you were to walk along the shores of the Wellfleet coast, you might be able to catch the ghost of Maria who is said to haunt the beach, still waiting for her lover to return to her. Maria is now called the “Witch of Wellfleet,” and there is even a meadow named after her.

Black Sam was not always the captain of the Whydah Gally. It was initially captained by a man named Lawrence Prince and was built to be an English slave ship, which was also equipped with 18 guns and could reach a speed of 13 knots. The Whydah was on its first voyage of the Atlantic slave trade and was full of precious fortunes such as ivory and many pounds of gold, which was traded for 312 slaves. Black Sam followed the Whydah for three days and then the first shot was fired. After that shot, the captain of the Whydah lowered his flags. Black Sam then transported the cannons that were on his current ship, the Sultana, and added them to the Whydah, thus making the cannon count 28 instead of 18. Living up to his name and generous reputation, Black Sam gave the original Captain and the crew of the Whydah his old ship, the Sultana, so that they would not perish As you can see, Black Sam leaves behind quite a legacy. in the open ocean. He ended up being the wealthiest pirate known to date Black Sam’s reign didn’t last for long. Within the next with a modern time equivalent of 136.4 million doltwo months, he would find himself sailing to the edge of lars pillaged, along with the Whydah’s shipwreck beCape Cod. Intending to meet up with relatives in Rhode ing deemed the largest mass pirate burial ground in the Island, he ended up acquiring a love interest with a lo- USA. Although much has been uncovered about Black cal, whose name is still being debated today. I decided Sam--who he was, where he came from and why he was to use the name that the Whydah museum went with, the “Robin Hood of the Sea”--archeologists are still disMaria “Goody” Hallett, which is also the name that the covering pieces to the historical puzzle. And with evlocals refer to when reciting the unfortunate love story ery uncovered piece of history, the legacy of Black Sam that had been passed down for generations. The story grows even more grand. n says that the pirate met this young teenager in the small town of Wellfleet and they fell madly in love. They spoke about marriage and having a family, but Maria’s father

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By: Kelsey Loenhorst, UHM MOP Student

Vaquita Marine Mammal of the Month:

Vaquita

Species: Vaquita Scientific Name: Phocoena sinus Range: Endemic to the Northern part of the Gulf of Mexico Diet: Tend to forage near lagoons, eating mostly bony fish Size: 3.9-4.9 feet long

he vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is a species of porpoise endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California. This species is particularly distinguishable due to their extremely small size. The word vaquita is Spanish for “little cow”; these marine mammals only grow to about 5 feet making

them among the smallest marine mammals ever. Vaquitas also have thick dark rings around their eyes and patches on their lips, which make their appearance truly unique. Vaquitas use high-pitched sounds to communicate with one another and for echolocation to navigate through

Vaquita (Phocoena sinus). Photo by: Paula Olson, NOAA, Wikimedia Commons. 16| Seawords

A Vaquita (Phocoena sinus) in the Gulf of California. Photo by: Paula Olson, NOAA, Wikimedia Commons. their habitats. They are typically seen in shallow, murky lagoons eating and swimming at a leisurely pace. They rise to breathe with a slow, forward motion and then disappear quickly, this makes vaquitas extremely hard to observe. Especially considering how fast their populations are declining.

permanent in June 2017.

Despite these efforts, the latest acoustic survey indicates that the decline in the vaquita population is accelerating. The rapid fall of the population is a direct result of the illegal trade in an endangered fish species, the totoaba, which is caught in gillnets that entangle vaquitas. The Scientists estimated that there were fewer than 30 va- totoaba is in high demand for its swim bladder, a gasquitas left in the wild in 2017. This decline is still con- filled internal organ that allows the fish to ascend and tinuing now in 2018, scientists released the tragic new descend by controlling its buoyancy. The swim bladder population count of only 12 vaquitas left in the wild. is highly cherished in Chinese culture as a traditional This number is leading to the conclusion that the spe- health food. Fishermen are selling these on the black cies will soon be extinct unless drastic action is taken. market for thousands of dollars. The population decrease is largely attributed to bycatch There are many organizations in the Gulf of Mexico from the illegal gillnet fishery for the totoaba, a simithat are working with an international collaboration of larly sized fish that is also critically endangered. conservation scientists, animal care specialists and maIn response to this, the Mexican government has tak- rine mammal veterinarians to save the vaquita through en a number of steps to protect them since 2004. They efforts like gillnet removal. Conservation groups are established a Vaquita Refuge in the northern Gulf of also helping raise awareness about the vaquita and the California to protect the core range of the vaquita, and threats to its survival, supporting development of alterinitiated a plan of monetary compensation to fishermen native fishing gear, and providing administrative supwho relied on this area to make their living. Mexican port for initiatives such as population surveys. HopePresident Enrique PeĂąa Nieto declared an emergency fully others countries can learn from the case of the two-year ban on gillnets throughout the range of the vaquitas and better their fishing practices before other vaquita, beginning in May 2015, which he then made species become endangered as well. n OCTOBER 2018â&#x20AC;&#x192;|17

cean updates

By: Kayla White, UHM MOP Student

“IF WE KEEP PRODUCING (AND FAILING TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF) PLASTICS AT PREDICTED RATES, PLASTICS IN THE OCEAN WILL OUTWEIGH FISH POUND FOR POUND IN 2050,” WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM.

Unexpected Stowaways

ments. This wave of new species got researchers thinking: How many other times has this happened? Since In 2011, Japan suffered from a horrible earthquake and floating plastic can travel all across the ocean, what tsunami that tore apart its east shore. Fishing vessels, other stowaways has marine debris taken to other areas parts of piers and shellfish cages started washing up of the world? on the shores of Hawai‘i and the West Coast of North America. Scientists were able to predict that this would In the past, creatures would travel across oceans on happen, knowing the direction and pace of the currents, driftwood that would usually decompose at sea but but they didn’t exactly have a welcome party for the or- with the introduction of plastic, organisms have a home ganisms that climbed aboard the debris along the way. for decades that can get them anywhere on the planet. Where will they end up next and will we be able to conScientists didn’t expect Japanese mussels, barnacles and trol it? sea squirts to survive their six year journey across the ocean to American coasts and they are ready to repro- The Consequences of Deep Sea Exploration duce. 289 Japanese species survived the ride, landing The Earth’s seafloor is home to the oddest creatures on anywhere along California, Oregon and Washington. the planet and their dark, remote habitat has caught our Research biologists are studying the consequences of attention. Because of how little we know about this part these organisms’ arrival because they could wreak hav- of the ocean, mining the bottom of the sea has been a oc on the surrounding ecosystem in their new environ- dream for humans for decades as the materials in the deep ocean become increasingly more attractive, and University of Hawai‘i Oceanographer, Craig Smith, says, “Deep-sea mining could end up having the largest footprint of any single human activity on the planet in terms of area impact.” Smith recently led an expedition to study life on the seafloor in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a region 75 percent as large as the United States that stretches between Mexico and Hawai‘i. He explains that almost half the animals living on the seafloor live on top of nodules and if we mine the nodules, we would remove the species’ habitat before we can even describe them.

Japanese marine life washed up on Agate Beach, Oregon. Photo by: OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, Flickr. 18| Seawords

Although we are quite excited, mining the bottom of the ocean comes with its consequences. These ecosystems are isolated from any light, vibrations or ocean currents that could come from mining which could throw off the entire ecosystem. Not

a massive storm attacked Hawai‘i like this was in 1992 when the Category 4 Hurricane Iniki hit the islands. There has been damage all over the terrain of the island but some people are forgetting to look beneath the waters and think of one of Hawai‘i’s most valuable ecosystem: its reefs. The Big Island’s coral reefs have been closely monitored since the hurricane and researchers will continue to assess any further storm damage. “The severity of damage depends on how close it comes to shore. The intensity of the storm is going to degrade as it approaches, so we’ll monitor afterwards and try everything we can to repair our reefs if needed,” said David Delaney, coral program specialist for the Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources, before the storm.

Venus flytrap anemone (Actinoscyphia aurelia) in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo by: Aquapix and Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007, NOAA-OE, Flickr.

The torrential rain-washed sediments and pollutants from land into the sea and the large swells could have caused damage, too. Changes in sea level and salinity already inhibit coral growth but the effects of this storm could last from years to centuries on the surrounding reefs. The reefs are under close watch by scientists and will be protected as best as possible after a horrible storm like this one. n

only this, but the mining itself would produce sediment plumes that may inhibit life at varying depths around the seafloor. No one has the perfect solution yet, but with advancing technology and mechanics, we hope to soon be able to explore the new world beneath our seas.

Hurricane Lane Although dodging O‘ahu, Hurricane Lane battered the Big Island and left behind two feet of rain that caused extreme flooding and landslides across the island. The storm generated whiteout conditions around Kilauea which has been erupting for months. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawai‘i volcano division tweeted, “Steam created from #HurricaneLane falling on the still hot rocks has created white-out conditions in #Kilauea’s #LERZ.” The last time

Hurricane Lane as seen from the International Space Station. Photo by: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Flickr. OCTOBER 2018 |19

Actions for the Ocean

GENERATION

BLUE By: Kayla Palmer, UHM MOP Student

ur ocean supports life on this planet. Pollution, overfishing, habitat destruction and acidification are all threats to the marine ecosystem. By coming together we can all make a positive impact for the marine animals and environment. n

Trash Pick Up Too often single-use plastics are thrown to the ground without any thought of the impact on the environment. Based on data collected in 2018 by Earth Day Network, “About 8 million metric tons of plastic are thrown into the ocean annually.” Plastic that enters the ocean is commonly mistaken as food by marine animals. In many cases ingesting plastic leads to starvation due to plastic filling up their stomachs and preventing marine animals from eating enough food. By simply taking time out of your day to pick up trash laying on the ground, you can make a difference in the amount of trash that enters the ocean. You can also encourage your friends to join in and create a fun beach clean-up event.

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THE OCEAN SPANS OVER 70 PERCENT OF OUR WORLD. It is responsible for regulating temperature, food production, sustaining numerous species, and is a source for inspiration for many people.The ocean gives us so much and it is time for us to return the favor and take actions to make the ocean ecosystem healthy again. Almost every action that we take affects the ocean in some way. Our everyday choices can be tailored to support a healthy ocean. Here are some examples of green acts that will keep the ocean blue.

Choose Sustainable Seafood Options Many fish populations have been affected by overfishing and habitat loss. Sustainable seafood is managed in a way that will cause minimal harm to marine habitats and population, avoiding stocks that are overfished or caught in ways that harm the ocean environment. Before eating or purchasing fish try browsing the Seafood Watch guidelines created by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. These guidelines inform you about which are the best choices for sustainability and what seafood you should avoid.

Eco-Friendly Boating Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re traveling over the ocean by boat, kayak or other recreational activities try practicing eco-friendly boating techniques. While on a boat make sure you properly dispose of any plastics, fish lines or waste products because they can take years to decompose in the ocean. In case you need to clean up a small oil spill in your boat, keep a supply of oil-absorbent rags on board to prevent any oil from entering the ocean and damaging marine life. Lastly, use natural cleaning products while on a boat to avoid harmful phosphates and chemicals entering the ocean.

Amphiprion bicinctus. Photo by: prilfish, Flickr.

OCTOBER 2018â&#x20AC;&#x192;|21

OCTOBER 2018

NOAA Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program

4 October

• How to spy on seals: citizen science and high tech tools help Hawaiian monk seals • Stacie Robinson

11 October

• When good seals develop bad habits • David Schofield

Can’t make it to Hanauma Bay?

Watch seminars live on YouTube, at Hanauma Talks Questions? Call #397-5840 or email hbaynews@hawaii.edu

18 October

• Giving baby seals a second chance: rehabilitation of Hawaiian monk seals from the Northwest Hawaiian Islands • Angie Kaufman

25 October

• Monk seal field camp update and wacky survival stories • Thea Johanos

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT HANAUMA BAY SEMINARS: Science Talks or Educational Films

Thursday evenings at Hanauma Bay 6:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

Admission is free - Parking free after 4 P.M. Watch Seminars LIVE on YouTube at Hanauma Talks

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FLASHBACK: 1989 By: Jenny Johnson, Editor

OPers, UH students, and volunteers all over O‘ahu participated in beach cleanups on October 14, 1989. Over 4,000 conservation-minded people came together to remove marine debris on beaches like Hanauma Bay. This state-wide event was called “Get the Drift and Bag It!” and was sponsored by the Department of Health Litter Control Office and the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Litter Control. MOP coordinator, Steve Russell, was there to make sure MOP students remained focused as they dove and collected marine debris right off shore. Volunteers at Hanauma Bay mainly found dried seaweed bags, potato chip bags, frozen pea bags and bread bags. The frozen pea, dried seaweed, and bread bags were most prominent because tourists could buy these foods to feed to the fish as they snorkeled. A total of 5,200 people volunteered and collected marine debris from over 160 beaches statewide. n

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October Photo Credit: Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Flickr.

Sun.

Mon.

Tues.

Wed.

Next month: November Novenber 3: Dolphin Quest Novermber 12: Veterans Day (no school) November 7: Fish Auction 22 &23: Thanksgiving Break November 28: Tour of Waikīkī Aquarium

QUEST ID Exam Dean Hall 104 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Hike to Makapu‘u Tidepools Makapu‘u 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

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MOP & Community Events

Thurs.

Fri.

Sat.

Theater Thursday: Hanauma Bay 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Hawai‘i Undersea Research Lab Makai Pier 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Theater Thursday: Hanauma Bay 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

OCTOBER 2018 |25

University of Hawai`i at MÄ noa Seawords, Marine Option Program College of Natural Sciences 2450 Campus Road, Dean Hall 105A Honolulu, HI 96822-2219 Address Service Requested

Thank you for reading!