SEAW ORDS TheMarineOption Program Newsletter
December 2021
Volume XXXVI, Number 11
Aloha, and welcome to the December issue of Seawords! Happy holidays! As the year comes to a close, and with it my final semester here at UH, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the people who have helped me over the course of my editorship. To the previous editor, Jenny Johnson, to the associate editors, Alyssa Mincer and Matilda Phillips, to the UHH campus liaison, Chloe Molou, to Mr. Jeff Kuwabara and Dr. Cindy Hunter, to all the members of the writing team, and to all of you- thank you so much. This publication would not be what it is without your invaluable support and contributions over the years. Being the editor of this newsletter has been an immense privilege, and I'm so grateful for the experience. In this issue, explore some of the most well-traveled organisms that call the Pacific home for at least part of the year (pages 6, 10, and 12). On page 18, peruse the pictures taken by students at the Hilo campus as part of their Halloween contest. W hat would you like to see more of in Seawords?Send in your thoughts, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @mopseawords!
Zada Boyce-Quentin, SeawordsEditor
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Contents 2: LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 4: "JENNY" AND THE GREAT PACIFIC GARBAGE PATCH 6: HUAKA?I THE SEAL: ONE MONTH, 1300 MILES 10: CREATURE OF THE MONTH 12: HUMPBACK W HALE RESEARCH GRANTS 16: INDIGENOUSKNOW LEDGE 18: CREEPY CRITTER CONTEST 22: MOP CALENDAR
Photo Credits Fr ont Page: Arctic tern. By: Tony, Flickr. Tabl e of Contents: Ice on the sea. By: Luke Jones, Flickr. Back Cover : Jellyfish. By: Shawn Chen, Flickr.
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"Jenny" and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch By: Chloe Molou, UHH SeawordsLiaison System 002 ? nicknamed?Jenny?? is a clean-up system designed by The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization based in the Netherlands, that has recently completed successful trials removing trash from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). The organization began trials of System 002 in July and completed its final test at the beginning of October, marked with a celebratory tweet from the team reporting that nearly 20,000 lbs of garbage was collected during the final test. They have since reported a total of more 63,000 lbs of garbage collected during the system tests. The GPGP is an estimated 1.6 million square kilometers of garbage that has accumulated between Hawai?i and California. It is caused by a large system of circular ocean currents called a gyre, created by global wind patterns and forces due to the Earth?s rotation. There are five gyres found in the world?s oceans: one in the Indian Ocean, two in the Atlantic, and two in the Pacific, each with their own garbage patch. Of these, the GPGP is the largest and best known. Research in 2018 predicted that the GPGP contains around 79,000 tons of garbage. Since then, that number has continued to increase exponentially. Microplastics (plastic pieces smaller than 5 cm), make up only 8%of the total mass of debris floating in the area, but account for 94%of the 1.8 trillion pieces. Another significant source of waste in the GPGP is fishing nets. W ith this ever-increasing patch of garbage, it is promising that The Ocean Cleanup has found new success with System 002, after failed systems in 2018 and 2019. The U-shaped contraption is guided by two boats and works by guiding garbage into the funnel-shaped net.
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GPGP. Photo by: Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Flickr.
Once full, it is emptied onto the vessel and taken back to land to be recycled, with some of the plastic being reused to make products by the organization like sunglasses. Boyan Slat, the CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, believes that 10 upscaled systems could clean up the GPGP, removing 50%in just 5 years. If deployed properly, Slat believes they could remove 90%of all floating ocean plastic by 2040. The organization says they will continue using the?Jenny?system as they develop the System 003, which will be three times larger than the current model. However, these clean-up efforts have been met with some criticism from fellow researchers and climate activists. One critique is due to the system?s likeness to trawl fishing, and how it may affect marine wildlife. Miriam Goldstein, the director of Ocean Policy at the Center for American Progress, said that the system was essentially ?? a net dragged between two boats. We have a name for a net dragged between two boats, and that?s trawl fishing" in an interview with the environmental news website, Earther. The Ocean Cleanup has responded to these concerns, explaining that their system is fitted with quick-release systems, escape routes, lights, and cameras to ensure that no wildlife is caught in the collection. The ships also move at 1.5 knots (less than 2 miles per hour), which they say is slow enough for most marine life to escape. Goldstein and other researchers have also agreed that more efforts need to be focused towards preventing plastic from entering the ocean, as a 2020 study found that 24 billion pounds is dumped into the ocean every year ? a figure that is expected to triple in 20 years. However, projects like?Jenny?, if they can be demonstrated to not harm marine organisms, show promise in terms of decreasing existing plastic pollution.
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Huaka?i the Seal: One Month, 1300 Miles By: Lucian Anderson, UHM MOP Student 6 | Seawords
Monk seal. Photo by: Papah?naumoku?kea Marine National Monument, Flickr.
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Seal on the beach. Photo by: Scot Nelson, Flickr.
More than a century ago, the brig Aiona was thought to have killed the last Hawaiian monk seal in the Northwest Hawaiian Island in 1824. Then, in 1857, King Kamehameha IV visited Nihoa aboard the Manuokawai and recorded the following entry: ?At 10am went ashore. About a dozen seals were on the shore and the king shot several of them.? However, later expeditions in the 20th century found more than 400 seals. Today, the Hawaiian monk seal population is 1400, with 300 of those being located in the main Hawaiian Islands. The rest live around the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, with a few found near Johnston Atoll, located southwest of the Main Hawaiian Islands. Much like many residents of the Hawaiian Islands, the Hawaiian monk seal is known to ?island hop?around the Hawaiian archipelago. An estimated 10-14%of Hawaiian monk seals relocate from their birth island to neighboring islands, with the rest usually staying within proximity of their birth island. On September 22nd, near Ka?ena Point State Park on O?ahu, a seal with a gray ID tag, indicating birth outside of the main islands, was seen resting on the beach. The park's interpretive technician, Lesley Macpherson, was notified and soon spotted a thin seal named KG54 resting on the beach next to RN58 (Luana), a visibly more plump seal. Noticing the grey tag, Lesley remarked that?seals born on the Main Hawaiian Islands have red tags, so it was exciting to realize she swam so far, so quickly, all by herself. It?s amazing, really amazing?. 8 | Seawords
The seal made the journey from Kure Atoll in August and landed in North Shore, O?ahu on September 22, making the 1300 mile trek across the Hawaiian Islands in a month. Considering the journey KG54 made, Lesley nicknamed her ?Huaka?i?, the Hawaiian word for traveler, journey, or path taken. The reason for her small size remains unknown, but Dr. Michelle Beriberi, the lead of NOAA?s Hawaiian monk seal program, speculated that ?It seems reasonable that she expended a lot of energy coming to O?ahu. However, some seals from the Northwest Hawaiian Islands can be thinner than those born in the main islands, so it?s probably a combination of both factors?. Since the monk seal program's inception in 1980, 14 other seals have been confirmed to have made treks between the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, the Main Hawaiian Islands, and Johnston Atoll, though there are likely several more unknown to NOAA. What makes Huaka?i even more remarkable is the time her journey took. Some seals do make the journey from the Northwest Hawaiian Islands to the other islands; however, they usually take several years to complete it. Huaka?i spanned the distance in a month. Travels between islands within a distance of 400 kilometers are much more common than Huaka?i?s journey. Before the 1980s, records of monk seal presence and behavior were few and far between. Dr. Jack Kittenger wrote that the Hawaiian monk seal historical record suffers from a lack of data. There are some findings that suggest that the seal was mentioned in some Hawaiian language newspapers of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the 1800s. Brian Neilson, the DLNR administrator, has stated that Huaka?i?s journey demonstrates the Hawaiian monk seal's ability to travel long distances in order to populate islands that are hundreds of kilometers apart from each other. He thinks this has been beneficial for the seals?slow but steady population rebound from the small populations left in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands to the main islands. Monk seal. Photo by: USFWSPacific Region, Flickr.
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Arctic tern. Art by: Alyssa Perez, UHM MOP Student.
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Creature of the Month: Arctic Tern By: Brenna Loving, UH W indward CC MOP Student As temperatures drop all around the northern hemisphere and we make our way into the winter months, the arctic tern needs no extra preparation- this bird is accustomed to the harsh weather of both the Arctic and Antarctic environments. The arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea, completes one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom annually, going from one pole to the other. It is this bird's small stature and narrow wings that allow it to fly these great lengths. W ith a wingspan of 25-30 inches and an average weight of 3-5 ounces, the arctic tern glides through the air effortlessly on its journey to the icy poles. Though starting off as a gray or brown color just after being hatched, the arctic tern?s coloring changes based on the seasons. During the breeding season, their legs and beaks appear red and a large black patch appears on their head to attract mates. In non-breeding seasons, their legs and beaks appear black and the black patch on their head shrinks in size. Arctic terns also display an interesting mating ritual. The ?fish flight?is a courting ritual in which male terns will fly over a migratory camp, or colony, where they make a loud screaming sound to attract mates to whom they will present their fish offerings. Once a mate is found, a monogamous bond is formed; arctic terns pair for life. Unfortunately, the arctic tern?s way of life is in jeopardy, much like other wildlife around the world, due to climate change. Rising temperatures and sea levels threaten to take between 20-50%of the tern?s habitat and drive their prey away from both their Arctic and Antarctic homes. The threat of invasive species also poses a threat- both rats and hedgehogs have a habit of searching for tern eggs and attacking young birds. W hile we make our holiday travels, let?s remember the long journey these arctic terns make every year, and appreciate these beautiful birds that are in danger of losing their homes. DECEMBER 2021
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Humpback W hale Research Grants By: Haley Chasin, UHM MOP Alumna
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Humpback whale. Photo by: Robbie Veldwijk, Flickr.
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Recently, four grants were awarded within the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The awardees came from the Hawai?i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), the University of Hawai?i at Hilo?s Pack Marine Mammal Lab, Hawai?i Marine Mammal Consortium, and the University of California Santa Cruz?s Whale Trust. Each group was awarded $5000 for their projects designed to protect the iconic humpback whale and its habitat, as well as to monitor stresses to their populations related to natural and anthropogenic issues. Humpback whales have a rich history in Hawaiian folklore. They share stories (oli oli) through their songs and represent a symbol of authority or power. They allow people to connect to family and to remember to care and nurture the people in our lives. Not only do humpbacks have cultural significance, but they are a sentinel species, reflecting change in the environment. Understanding their stress responses can tell us more about how ecosystems are being affected by anthropogenic factors. Each of the awardees is studying different areas of humpback whale research. HIMB?s focus is on using both drones and biopsies to analyze the body conditions, health, energetics, breeding, and feeding areas of whales. The goal of this project is to monitor and quantify health over long time periods, as whales are being faced with the dual stressors of climate change and human activities. More than half of the North Pacific humpbacks use the warm, shallow waters off the coast of the Main Hawaiian Islands for breeding and calving during the winter months, so monitoring these spaces to track population growth is essential.
Humpback and calf. Photo by: texaus1, Flickr.
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Humpbacks. Photo by: National Marine Sanctuaries, Flickr.
The UHH Pack Marine Mammal Lab plans to calculate stress hormone biomarker concentrations by comparing physical stress markers in the blubber cortisol and corticosterone concentrations of female whales to the overall health of their bodies.At the Hawai?i Marine Mammal Consortium Lab, their research aims to document the long-term distribution and abundance of whales along the Kohala Coast, a location which is lacking in data concerning whale populations. The goal of this project is to install seafloor-mounted devices to collect acoustic data and to compare abundance data gathered from both visual and acoustic data. Similarly to UHH, the lab at UCSanta Cruz is building on previous research by studying steroid and stress hormone influences on reproductive biology and mating in humpback populations in the Central Northern Pacific. The study will measure levels of steroids and stress hormones in pregnant whales, aiming to see the impact of these on reproductive patterns. All of these studies have to do with reproduction and breeding, which is necessary to accurately monitor the health and well-being of whale populations. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation fosters research that is solution-oriented, scalable, and transferable. Without their support, conducting this essential research would not be possible. This conservation group emphasizes working with ecosystems and preserving cultural and maritime heritage through community engagement, on the water projects, outreach and research and exploration. It?s important that we understand these species, as they are vital to the world?soceans and ecosystems, and these projects promise to help us understand how whales are affected by environmental pressures. DECEMBER 2021
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Butterflyfish. Photo by: National Marine Sanctuaries, Flickr.
Indigenous Know l edge: An Integr al Per spective By: Alexandrya Robinson, UHM MOP Student 16 | Seawords
Some of the first voyagers of the ocean were the indigenous Polynesians who fared arduous sea journeys to land in Hawai?i. Today the K?naka Maoli, the people of Hawai?i who descend from the first Polynesians, are a groundbreaking example of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) helping to inform this generation of cultivated ancestral knowledge in order to facilitate conservation efforts through ?the interrelated values of aloha ??ina, m?lama ??ina, and kia?i ??ina?says Dr. Kawika Winter, a manager for the He?eia National Estuarine Research Reserve. These ideologies, which mean ?love of the land,??caring for or nurturing the land,?and ?protecting the land?respectively, center around taking care of the land of Hawai?i because the land is intertwined with the K?naka Maoli identity. One of the largest monuments to this conservation approach is the Papah?naumoku?kea Marine National Monument (PMNM). With a total area of 582,578 square miles, it is the largest continuous protected space in the United States. PMNM is an inoa ho?omana?o, or commemorative name, in honor of the combining of Papah?naumoku, who is the Hawaiian goddess of nature, and W?kea, the Hawaiian god of the sky. Not only is PMNM a conservation site, but it has also protected cultural sites on both Nihoa and Mokumanamana. The start of PMNM?s conservation journey goes back to 1903 with the halting of sea bird slaughter on Midway Atoll. In 2000, the area, called the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, was given its status as a protected area. On June 15, 2006, the space was officially designated as the monument and obtained its new moniker. Because PMNM sits as a juncture between conservation of cultural heritage sites and conservation of biological species, K?naka Maoli have offered invaluable information to provide insight into and advocate for the preservation of science and history. In 1978, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) was established as a way to conserve K?naka Maoli knowledge and cultural practices in order to acknowledge and address the historical injustices indigenous peoples have faced since Hawai?i?s annexation in 1898. After 10 years of discussion with K?naka Maoli on the best ways to manage PMNM, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, in conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the USFish and Wildlife Service, published the Mai Ka Po Mai, an unprecedented document which showcases what can be done when government agencies acknowledge and embrace indigenous knowledge. As the document states, ?the purpose of Mai Ka P? Mai is to establish a collaborative management framework that guides Co-Trustee agencies towards integrating traditional Hawaiian knowledge systems, values, and practices into management.?Indigenous practices will continue to be essential to the management of marine spaces. DECEMBER 2021
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Cr eepy Cr it
UH Hilo MO
Sheyanna Mendez "Palythoa"
Cr eepiest Cr itter 18 | Seawords
Quintin "Crown o
2nd Cr eepie
ter Contest:
OP Campus
n Allen of Thorns"
est Cr itter
Kat Feeney "Tubastrea"
3r d Cr eepiest Cr itter DECEMBER 2021
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Miranda Maassen "Feather Duster W orm"
Best Cr eepy Sessil e Inver tebr ate
Andrew "Viper M
Best Cr ee
Brooke Enright "Scorpionfish"
Best Cr eepy Fish 20 | Seawords
Katie Cartee "Octopus"
Best Cr eepy Mobil e Inver tebr ate
Feifarek Moray"
epy Photo
Olivia Miller "Sandbar Shark"
Best Cr eepy Megafauna DECEMBER 2021
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Vol u m e XXXVI, Nu m ber 11 Editor : Zada Boyce-Qu en tin Dr. Cyn th ia H u n ter (em in en ce gr ise) Jeffr ey Ku wabar a (em in en ce gr ise) W r itin g Team : Br en n a Lovin g, Ch l oe M ol ou , Lu cian An der son , Al exan dr ya Robin son , H al ey Ch asin , an d Geor gia Joh n son -Kin g Seawor ds- M ar in e Option Pr ogr am Un iver sity of H awai ?i , Col l ege of Natu r al Scien ces 2450 Cam pu s Road, Dean H al l 105A H on ol u l u , H I 96822-2219 Tel eph on e: (808) 956-8433 Em ail : <seawor ds@ h awaii.edu > W ebsite: <h ttp:/ / www.h awaii.edu / m op> Seawor ds is th e m on th l y n ewsl etter n ewsl etter of th e M ar in e Option Pr ogr am at th e Un iver sity of H awai?i. Opin ion s expr essed h er ein ar e n ot n ecessar il y th ose of th e M ar in e Option Pr ogr am or of th e Un iver sity of H awai?i. Su ggestion s an d su bm ission s ar e wel com e. Su bm ission s m ay in cl u de ar ticl es, ph otogr aph y,ar t wor k , or an yth in g th at m ay be of in ter est to th e m ar in e com m u n ity in H awai ?i. an d ar ou n d th e wor l d. All photos ar e taken by M OP unless other wise cr edited.