October 2016 Seawords by Marine Option Program

Seaw rds The Marine Option Program Newsletter

October 2016

beginning of this change is manag18 The ing our seas better, protecting them and appreciating them.

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE SEASTARS: UPDATE ACHIEVING SKILL MASTERY

October 2016

Volume XXX, Number 8

Articles Page 3: Letter from the Editor Page 4: IUCN Student Perspective Page 8: SeaSTARS Page 10: Achieving Skill Mastery Page 12: Marine Mammal of the Month Page 13: Ocean Art Page 16: Ocean Updates Page 19: Critter of the Month Page 20: Generation Blue Page 22: Hanauma Bay: Calander of Events Page 23: Flashback Page 27: MOP calendar of events

About the Photography -Cover: Photography contest contestant, Taylor Shedd, UHM MOP Alumnus -Table of Contents: Daniel Jennings, UHM MOP Alumnus and Photography Contestant -May calendar of events: Christina Redmond, UHM MOP Student and Photography Contestant -Back cover : Daniel Jennings, UHM MOP Alumnus and Photography Contestant -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 userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flickr account.

2|â&#x20AC;&#x192;Seawords

Letter from the Editor

loha! The October issue is here!

I hope you all enjoy the articles featured this month. For our Student Perspective this month Seawords had three writers attend the IUCN WCC in September and each of them wrote a reflection article about what they did and learned. We also had Keelee Martin, UHH MOP, write an update about the SeaSTARS program. If you enjoy diving as much as the SeaSTARS, then be sure check out how you can prepare for QUEST from Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP. Happy Halloween! Stay safe and eat lots of candy! Thanks for reading,

Camra Hopper, Seawords Editor Seawords

Volume XXX, Number 8, October 2016 Editor: Camra Hopper Associate Editor: Jessica Lotts 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.

OCTOBER 2016 |3

student perspectives

THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE CONSERVATIO

A World with Navigators

he International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s World Conservation Congress (IUCN WCC) is inspiring millennials to use their voice for the voiceless in order to continue the fight for conservation in a planet at its crossroads. The IUCN WCC is important to not just the animals and plants, but also to humans. The event is only held every four years and this is the first time it’s been in the United States and Hawai‘i had the honor of hosting it at the Hawaiian Convention Center in Honolulu from September first through the Tenth. Through a short six week, intensive course, I was able to attend the IUCN WCC with the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s media team, giving me access to all public and private sectors of the congress. This has been a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will remember forever. I was able to attend a press conference featuring Dr. Jane Goodall (primatologist and UN Messenger of Peace), have my picture taken with Dr. Sylvia Earle (founder of Mission Blue), interview Jean Michel Cousteau (oceanographic explorer) and Alison Sudol (Actor), and meet so many more individuals with passions to protect nature. This conference has influenced my personal life

(IUCN

By Camra Hopper, Editor

and left me feeling a sense of hope knowing there are so many “Navigators” in the world. I hope to share with you my view of the highlights at the conference with this piece. “When you become the Navigator, you become the light. The light is love…When you become Navigator and go to sea, your job is to watch Nature and the Sea. When you’re the Navigator your island counts, you must take care of your island,” said Nainoa Thompson, President of the Polynesian Voyage Society, when he talked about his mentor and pwo (sacred ritual that creates master navigators) navigator, Mau Pialug’s, idea of what it means to be a Navigator during the “Actions for a Sustainable Ocean” panel. “If Mau was here, know he was so afraid, and he is the most fearless person I know; afraid of a tomorrow with no navigators, an ocean that has no life, because he has seen it, he knows. If he were here, he would look to this panel, this room and say, ‘Wow, the island has great Navigators, they are here.’” ~ The opening ceremony brought in the importance of the Hawaiian culture with chants and hula before Governor of Hawai‘i, David Ige, said he is “committed to doubling food production in Hawai‘i by 2020… protecting 30% of our near shore ocean waters by 2030… and commits to achieving 100% renewable electricity use in the energy sector by 2045.” Since the IUCN WCC was held on an island state, they were examined as “microcosms” of the planet. One island is already showing the impacts it can make by creating a large reserve, “Palau has shown that a small island can have a big impact on the oceans,” President of the Republic of Palau, Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr. said.

President Remengesau mentioned that Palau, an island nation the size of New York City, created an ocean reCamra Hopper, Editor, recording and taking notes during a serve that’s bigger than California. This reserve protects press confrence with Dr. Jane Goodall. Photo by: Dr. Misa 80% of Palau’s territorial waters from any extractive acMaruyama-Jones, UH Manoa Professor 4| Seawords

E CONSERVATION OF NATURE’S WORLD ON CONGRESS WCC)

tivities, while leaving 20% for small commercial opera- ing thing, but in today’s economy it does come at price. tions. When you think of the fishing industry or the oil industry, they all see nature as profit. “But a breath is priceOnce the opening ceremony ended, guest, members, less,” Dr. Earle responded. press and participants were able to explore the different pavilions in the main exhibition halls. The pavilions During the “Actions for a Sustainable Ocean” discusalso hosted talks by scientist and conservationist from sion another panelist, President Anote Tong of Kiribati, all parts of the world, including a few very famous con- mentioned his project “Pacific Rising,” which is considservationists, such as Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Sylvia ered “a climate change ‘Marshall Plan’ to ensure safety, Earle. stability, and prosperity” of Kiribati using innovative technology to physically raise the atoll. “The imagination and enthusiasm [capable] of young people when you don’t tell them what to do…” Dr. “We love the ocean, and have lived by it, but it’s going Goodall said when speaking about the importance of to be the thing that kills us,” President Tong said as he youth during the Conservation 2.0 panel. explained the damage the increasingly high tide has already done. The effects of climate change are not only The IUCN’s office in Brussels also used the WCC to anaffecting animals’ habitats, but people’s as well. nounce updated information on the Red List, which has confirmed that 87% of 415 endemic Hawaiian plants are Climate change is one of many issues affecting the lives now listed as extinct. of everyone, but another is pollution, “by 2050 we will have more plastic than fish in the ocean,” said Catherine Although the international goal is to have at least 10% A. Novelli, State for Economic Growth, Energy and the of the oceans protected, Dr. Earle emphasized on nature Environment. being priceless during the “Actions for a Sustainable Ocean” discussion, “How much of the world should we And even though the “choices we make will not affect be protecting? How about all of it?” our generation,” said 51st Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell during the IUCN Opening Ceremony, “they’ll afDr. Braulio Dias acknowledge that nature is an amazfect the generations to come.” n

University of Hawai‘i’s Media Team after a private interview with Jean Michel Cousteau, oceanographic explorer. Photo by: University of Hawai‘i’s Media Team OCTOBER 2016 |5

Internship with the Global Gender Office at the IUCN WCC

By Jessica Lotts, Associate Editor Photos by: Camra Hopper, Editor

rom September 1-10th, I had an incredible opportunity to intern for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress (WCC) under the Global Gender Office (GGO) to earn a certificate in sustainability. It was a wild journey ranging from rumored presidential appearances, meeting conservationist heroes, and so much more. Unfortunately there was no President Obama, but his absence did not take away from the inspiring speeches from government officials such as Hawai’i Governor David Ige, President of Palau Tommy Remengesau, and US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. Their talks set an engaging tone of change and hope that kicked off the WCC.

trained thousands of people worldwide to become the driving factors behind the inclusion of gender language in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Through this internship, I was able to attend sessions spanning various topics from ocean conservation to the development of technological advances in science, while being able to focus on a gender equality aspect. It was incredible to look at things such as conservation of the sea through a lens unattached to western views. I was able to meet my own personal conservationist heroes like Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Sylvia Earle and discuss with them the role gender has played through their careers. Both of them recognize the important role of gender equality in achieving true sustainable practices, and spoke of the incredible changes created when we include gender in our climate change advances.

Some of you may be wondering why an internship through the GGO would have anything to do with sustainability and the marine world, but bear with me, it Maggie and Cate, my partners during the internship, connects in ways I never could’ve imagined until at- have both inspired me to keep gender inclusion close to tending this congress. For starters, the IUCN GGO my studies as I pursue a marine related career, and have works extremely hard to promote and support women’s shown me many more potential career paths I could rights, gender equality, and social justices in the world’s take. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity and conservation efforts. I had the privilege of working with am looking forward to futures adventures. Senior Officer in the GGO, Cate Owren, and CommuFor more information on the GGO, check out their nications Officer for the IUCN GGO, Maggie Roth, who website at: http://genderandenvironment.org n were awe-inspiring in their work and opened my eyes to many correlations between gender and sustainability, of which I was completely unaware. Their team acknowledges that men and women differ in their reliance, control, and access to natural resources, and have varying responsibilities. They work with countries to develop and implement plans to promote sustainability that include the active participation of both men and women in order to achieve effective environmental policies and programs. They have successfully integrated over 70 Jessica Lotts, Associate Editor, blending in as a tiger at the IUCN WCC. sector-specific gender tools and have Photo by: Camra Hopper, Editor 6| Seawords

Volunteering at the IUCN WCC

or the first time, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s World Conserva-tion Congress (IUCN WCC) was held in the United States in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. As a volunteer I was able to not only attend the events, but I was also able to work with some of the people who put the event together. Before the event and the volunteer work actually started, all of the volunteers attended a training session which provided a run-down of activities and expectations. During the introduction, we learned that we were going to be the representatives of the people of Hawai‘i and we were expected to show up with aloha spirit every day.

By: Emily Menzies, UHM MOP Student Photos by: Camra Hopper Working as a Main Events assistant, I was able to watch many different talks. One of the talks was about longterm planning of Amazon conservation. In this presentation, they discussed the importance of getting the local communities and NGOs involved to help fund the program until the government was able to fully cover the costs to protect the Amazon. Another talk was about how climate change in Alaska is affecting historic sites. These sites that have been covered in ice for centuries are now decomposing because the rapidly melting ice is exposing the sites. Salvage archaeologists have been working in Walakpa, Alaska, to document these sites before they are forever lost.

We then broke into groups The IUCN conference probased on our volunteer as- Hula dancers preforming during the celebration of the vided a wide range of topics signments and received 10-Year Anniversary of the Papahānaumokuākea under the same theme: contraining for our positions. I Marine National Monument. Photo by: Camra serva-tion. Seeing all of the signed up for a Main Events efforts and ideas that people Hopper, Editor assistant. The majority of my are coming up with about job was to make sure that the sustainabil-ity and conserevent organizer had everything that they needed to and vation makes me excited to see the changes that will be help them when they requested our assistance. happening in the next few years. n

Photo by: Camra Hopper, Editor OCTOBER 2016 |7

SeaSTARS: Update By: Keelee Martin, UHH MOP Student Photos by: Julia Stewart, UHH SeaSTARS

H Hilo’s Sea Surveying, Training and Response Squad (SeaSTARS) is gearing up for another successful semester of scientific diving. The SeaSTARS are a group of UH Hilo scientific divers who act as an organization for QUEST graduates to continue their diving education and skill proficiency by participating in Monthly Assessment of Marine Organisms (MAMO) dives and on-call response dives to keep eyes on situations arising in local waters. The goal of MAMO dives is to collect data at two sites on the Big Island: the leeward site at Hōnaunau and the windward site at Wai`olena. Data consists of two benthic, coral health, fish, and invertebrate surveys, one at 40ft. and another at 60ft. These chosen depths not only add another factor to the dataset, but also offer divers a chance to achieve another depth authorization.

plained that though there are no corals directly in the path of the boat channel, the decision to survey during the dredging was to observe what kind of sedimentation the corals were facing. Hilo Harbor is home to a significant reef and local fishermen also use the area for subsistence fishing. With this in mind, monitoring the reef health is a priority and more survey methods were utilized to assess bleaching damage and sedimentation. Divers used photo quads and video transects in an adaptation of the coral survey method used on the NOAA RAMP (Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program) cruises in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

In this next year, the SeaSTARS have goals to select sites for permanent transects to assess reef recovery from bleaching, create diver portfolios, organize calibration snorkels, conduct a coral health Porites rus is a shallow reef coral that creates sub- workshop, publish their data massive colonies up to five meters long. It can be and participate in more citizen science. Rosie Lee, UHH In the last year, the SeaST- the dominant species in a wide range of habitats. MOP student coordinator and ARS response dives addressed the second SeaSTARS co-coordinator explained that coral health in Hilo Bay from last year’s bleaching event diver portfolios will give relevant information about the and the dredging of the Harbor in April. The bulk of the diver: total dives to date, survey types, gas type they are corals within Hilo Harbor are plating corals like Montrained with, and dive computer, depth authorizations. tipora capitata and Porites monticulosa. Julia Stewart, Lee said, “I’d like to see us as a main consulting agency UHH MOP student and SeaSTARS co-coordinator, exso an organization can have a platform to look for div8| Seawords

ers for their projects.”

development” in the world of scientific diving, those who aspire to continue to use these survey techniques The calibration snorkel will practice survey techniques in their career. Lee concluded, “All in all, I want us to be in the pool, like fish sizing, benthic cover estimates, and an organization of quality divers.” coral health assessments. The coral health workshop will give additional time to cover the standard operating For more information about SeaSTARS you can visit procedure (SOP) SeaSTARS uses for their coral health their website at http://www.uhhmop.hawaii.edu/seasurveys. Their adapted RAMP method builds on what is stars/. The group is also looking for someone who has taught at QUEST. With the recent response dives relat- experience in computer graphics to assist them in creating so much to coral health, more of the team’s divers ing a logo. If you’re an interested student who wants to need to be trained in the survey. Stewart explained that volunteer their time to work on it or brainstorm ideas, it is a goal that the data collected will be shared with or- emails can be directed to uhhmop.hawaii.edu. n ganizations like Eyes of the Reef, Conservation International and Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) to contribute to reef datasets island wide. In addition to sharing the collected data to other agencies, it will be made available to MOP students for use in their projects. This November will be the SeaSTARS’ one-year anniversary and they are planning to give a public talk to explain their goals and what they’ve seen in their data thus far. For students who are interested in learning more about the SeaSTARS, they will be taking some students who are thinking about QUEST and science diving along on some of their dives this semester to help collect water quality data from the boat. Bringing prospective scientific divers along gives them an opportunity to see first-hand what SeaSTARS dives are like. To be a diver for SeaSTARS the UHH student must be a QUEST 264 graduate and have an active scientific diver status with the dive safety office. Stewart elaborated that what they’re looking for are students who want “professional OCTOBER 2016 |9

Achieving Sk “

How to Prepare you and the Scientifi

he most rewarding class I’ve ever taken…” is how some MOP students describe the UH Scientific Diver Qualification Course (SDQC) and the Quantitative Underwater Ecological Surveying Techniques (QUEST). In these programs you will develop skills and learn methods to do science underwater. Afterwards, many MOP students have gone on to successful careers in scientific diving.

Mask clearing

Mask removal and replacement

No mask breathing

SCUBA unit removal and replacement

10)

Weight system removal and replacement

11) Out of gas diver, donator and receiver with asAlthough you will be spending time developing new cent* skills, there are expectations of diving proficiency you 12) Emergency Swimming Ascent (ESA)* must have before taking these courses. Having strong fundamentals skills becomes paramount to anything 13) Buddy Breathing* you do underwater. Most of these skills come straight *Use your best judgement when practicing these skills. out of your Open Water Diver course. Mastering core Remember you must be exhaling if you are ascending skills will make these programs easier for you and allow in the water column without a regulator in your mouth! you to get the most out of them. First, let’s take a look at what skills you should be comfortable with before All skills should be practiced in a safe, controlled environment in the presence of a buddy. If you are in open QUEST or the SDQC. water wait until you are in shallower water for skills that you are least comfortable with, or that could be dangerous. Every skill should be practiced with good horizontal trim and neutral buoyancy. As scientific divers, we want to preserve our reefs and shouldn’t rely on kneeling on the bottom to do skills. Consult your Open Water dive manual, videos, or ask your campus’s Dive Safety Office for more information on each of these skills. Now that you know the skills, here are a few tips that will lead you to achieving skill mastery. As these skills

Julia Stewart (UHH MOP Student and Dive Safety Assistant) demonstrates how to remove and replace your mask with one hand and while being neutrally buoyant. List of Fundamental Diving Skills 1)

Pre-dive check

Maintaining awareness

Neutral buoyancy

Compass Navigation (180° Reciprocal)

Regulator recovery and clearing*

10| Seawords

James DeMolina (left) (UHH MOP student) removes his BCD underwater while Madison Byers (right) (UHH Marine Science student) maintains her buoyancy and trim.

kill Mastery:

ur diving for QUEST ic Diver Course

Article and Photos by: Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Student

become second nature you will find working underwa- can’t do the skill on SCUBA, get rid of the “noise” and ter to be easier and thus better prepare you for your fu- do it while snorkeling first! ture diving career. #4 – The Law of Readiness #1 – Slow and Steady Wins the Race Another one of the Laws of Learning states that “indiWhen you are trying to learn a new skill, completely viduals learn best when they are physically, mentally, slow everything down. People that talk quickly when and emotionally ready to learn.” This means not rushgiving a presentation often have a hard time finding ing through skills for the sake of doing them. Put your what words to say next. As we are practicing skills, it’s entire concentration into what you are doing. Think a best to go slow so you can think about what steps come step ahead of what you are currently doing. Don’t forget next. about maintaining buoyancy, trim, and your awareness as you complete the skills #2 - The Law of Exercise #5 – Have a friend film you Edward Thorndike’s Laws of Learning describes the Law of Exercise as “that which is most repeated is best re- In my years of teaching diving I have found it’s easiest to membered.” In order to gain the confidence to do these correct the problem if students can see it. Find a demskills by second nature, they should be practiced often. onstration quality video from YouTube or your camPractice as completely and perfectly as you can without pus’s Dive Safety Office to compare yourself with. These mistakes. It’s better to do a half of the skill perfectly then videos should be slow and exaggerated. Ultimately if the to do the full skill with mistakes. skill looks easy, that is the true sign of mastery! #3 – Break Up the Skill into Manageable Steps

If you are having difficulty accomplishing the entire skill, break it up into smaller steps. Start with the basics and don’t move on until you feel comfortable with those. No mask breathing is considered to be a difficult skill for many new divers. If you cannot do it comfortable, start small and work your way up. Try having your face in the water first breathing only through a snorkel. Once you can do that add the mask back on, and breathe through your snorkel while your mask is flooded. If you

If you have any questions on these tips or skills, feel free to contact me at phelpst@hawaii.edu or your campus’s Dive Safety Office. Best of luck in your dive preparations and remember, stay safe! n

Brandie Colwell (front) (UHH Marine Science student) practices her compass navigation while Victor Ciaramitaro (back) (UHH MOP student) counts fin kicks. OCTOBER 2016 |11

By Jeremy Gasta, American Cetacean Society Student

Sei Whale Scientific Name: Balaenoptera borealis Range: Subtropical and subpolar waters worldwide Diet: Krill, copepods, plankton Size: 40-60 feet

Marine Mammal of the Month: Sei Whale

Original by: Biodiversity Heritage Library, Flickr Despite being one of the largest creatures ever to live on the planet, the sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis, is among the speediest, most agile, and most elusive beasts alive in our oceans today. It is well known among cetologists (whale researchers) and sea-goers alike for being the fastest of all the whales, able to reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, possibly only beaten in swiftness by the smaller, predatory orca, causing the famous naturalist Roy Chapman Andrews to compare it to the cheetah. In spite of this, the sei whale is one of the largest creatures alive. Perhaps, however, both its swiftness and size should not be much of a surprise to anyone who has the privilege to glimpse one of these secretive creatures. Sei whales belong to the rorquals, a group of filter-feeding whales known for boasting sleek, serpentine bodies, and for containing the largest animal of all time, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus). This sleek, streamlined design allows rorquals to be astoundingly fast for their size. Sei whales are considered large even among these giants, being the third largest rorqual (behind the blue and the 12| Seawords

fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus), and the fourth largest of all cetaceans and animals, behind the humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae. While sei whales can reach lengths of 64 feet, most of them lie within 40-60 feet. Like other great whales, they have long lifespans, and can live up to 70 years. Like other rorquals, sei whales feed upon miniscule animals such as krill, copepods, and plankton, and use the sieve-like baleen in their mouth to filter prey from the surrounding waters. When feeding, sei whales roll onto their sides and swim through shoals of food, devouring 2,000 pounds of food per day. Sei whales live in oceans worldwide, but generally avoid the tropical and polar extremes. Similar to many other great whales, they will spend their winters feeding in colder, subpolar waters, and migrate to warmer subtropical waters to give birth and raise their young in the summer. As they used to be common in Norway, their name “sei” comes from the Norwegian word for “pollock”, a fish that would arrive in Norway via migration at the same time as the whales. Two distinct popula-

Sei whale feeding in Baja California. Photo by: Chelsea Leven, Flickr. tions of the creatures occupy the northern and southern hemispheres with no overlap, resulting in enough eventual genetic differentiation that they are now classified as subspecies (B.b.borealis in the north and B.b.schlegellii in the south).

shy behavior caused whalers to see them as not worth the trouble of hunting. However, when rampant whaling caused the numbers of other species to be depleted, along with the evolution of technology making it easier to pin down the elusive seis, these whales were hunted as well, up until the worldwide commercial whaling ban Like their cousin, the blue whale, sei whales can be rathwas established in 1986 by the International Whaling er mysterious despite their size. They tend to be solitary, Commission. but will congregate in groups of two to five individuals, depending on food abundance. We understand very While the sei whale is still classified as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Endangeredâ&#x20AC;? by little about their social life, and it is unknown what rela- the IUCN red list, the species has been recovering in the tion these group members have. Like most great whales, north, though the southern subspecies has had trouble seis cannot use echolocation, but are known to regularly bouncing back. Threats today include both noise and shoot low frequency pulses into the ocean, which may general pollution in their environment, and they are have something to do with communication. The whales also still killed regularly by Japanese whalers using also tend to prefer deeper waters, farther from the shore, highly dubious scientific research as a cover. While still although they are not very good at diving compared to threatened, and at only one third of the population size other whales. they were before commercial whaling, the sei whale population appears to be getting better and will hopeBefore the general worldwide ban on whaling, sei fully one day make a full recovery. n whales initially got off very lucky. Due to their slim bodies, they did not carry as much oil or meat on them as other species, and their speed, agility, and somewhat OCTOBER 2016â&#x20AC;&#x192;|13

ocean art Artist: Sarah Franklin, UHM MOP Student

The piece illustrates how alien humans are in the ocean. The ocean belongs to many beautiful creatures, such as the whale in the piece. We are always guest in their home

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OCTOBER 2016â&#x20AC;&#x192;|15

cean updates

By Sarah Franklin, UHM MOP Student

PROTECTED AREAS COVER AROUND 15.4 PERCENT OF THE WORLD’S LAND AREA AND 3.4 PERCENT OF THE GLOBAL OCEAN AREA. THEY STORE 15 PERCENT OF THE GLOBAL TERRESTRIAL CARBON STOCK, HELP REDUCE DEFORESTATION, HABITAT AND SPECIES LOSS, AND SUPPORT THE LIVELIHOODS OF OVER ONE BILLION PEOPLE. Brought to you http://www.unep-wcmc.org/featured-projects/mapping-the-worlds-special-places

Photos in MOP Stock Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

are closed off to commercial fishing. The monument is a no-take zone, only with a permit can someone remove On Friday, August 26th, Obama closed out the celebraanything living or nonliving from the monument betion of the 100th anniversary of the U.S. National Park cause it’s a biodiversity hotspot. Service by expanding Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument to a half-million-square-miles, thus The expansion of Papahānaumokuākea is a big step in creating the largest ecologically protected area in the the proper direction for preserving our oceans and creworld. ating a better future. “Papahānaumokuākea inspired an international movement to safeguard large areas of The area was more than quadrupled to 582,578 miles, ocean and create the world’s first generation of great encompassing land and sea around the Northwestern parks in the sea,” said Joshua S. Reichert, an execuHawaiian Islands. It is home to 7,000 different species, tive vice president at Pew who oversees strategy for its many OF which are unique to the Hawaiian Islands, inOcean Legacy project. “By expanding the monument, cluding many endangered species, such as sea turtles, President Obama has increased protections for one of whales, and the Hawaiian monk seal. In his official the most biologically and culturally significant places proclamation, Obama declared, “It is in the public interon the planet.” est to protect the marine environment.” Director of the Pew Charitable Trusts’ Global Ocean Legacy Program, Offshore Wind Farms Matt Rand, said “intact ecosystems” such as the one in The first offshore wind farm is nearing completion off of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, “offer a glimpse of Block Island, Rhode Island this year. The winds are anwhat our planet was like before the impacts of human ticipated to be up to four times stronger than the winds activity, and it is critical that we preserve places in this that sweeps across the land, and strong winds could be way, both as a window to the past and for future generareadily accessible to areas on the coast, where 53% of tions.” The Monument has great cultural significance to Americans live. the Native Hawaiian community, along with a connection to early Polynesian culture, which makes it worth Since offshore turbines are more productive than onshore turbines, the cost of installing them has dropped protection and understanding. dramatically in the past few years, and construction Many local fisherman and long-line operators are upcompanies are becoming much more efficient at installset by the expansion. It is estimated that 5% of current ing them. Britain, Denmark, Germany and other Eufishing efforts are going to be displaced. The new moveropean countries have been using offshore turbines for ment now means that 60% of the waters around Hawai‘i quite some time, and have invested billions of dollars 16| Seawords

in this alternate form of energy. In 2013, offshore wind turbines contributed to 1.5% all electricity used by the European Union, with all wind energy contributing to about 9.9% of electricity used by the EU.

It began back in May when an algal bloom consumed Lake Okeechobee, near the Everglades, and due to heavy rains in the winter, much of the waThe Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has reportter oozed through the watered that there are about 22 different offshore wind projways and channels and coagulated around the shores of ects in various stages around the US, including a proThe Treasure Coast. posal for a wind farm 30 miles offshore of Montauk that would be able to supply the Hamptons with electricity. The crisis in Florida is one of the most recent examples of an algal bloom, but there have been much larger more Only a few decades ago the thought of harnessing powdevastating blooms that have happened in the recent er from the wind in the ocean seemed impossible, but years, including the most dangerous outbreak, which hopefully in the next decade, offshore wind farms will covered an area from Central California all the way to become the commonplace in our society. British Columbia. Such high levels of toxins were proMiles of Algae duced that it close the crab and clam fisheries all along the west coast, putting many people out of business. Algal blooms seem to be increasing in frequency and severity. Though algal blooms are a natural occurrence, Climate change definitely has some relationship with they seem to be intensified by human activity, such as the rise in algal blooms around the world. The sea temrunoff from farms, perature is rising, and feedlots and sewer we are having wetsystems. ter weather, meaning more runoff into the “The bloom itself is waterways. The inthe visual manifestatensity and size of the tion of nutrient over blooms is increasing enrichment in lakes,” and this could lead said Tim Davis, an to areas of the ocean ecologist at the Nathat are completely tional Oceanic and dominated by algae, Atmospheric Adwiping entire ecosysministration’s Great tems. Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory Sea Turtle Bycatch in Ann Arbor, MichReduction igan. A wide variIn northern Peru, ety of organisms are scientists are workPhoto contest 2013 picture by: Bailee Richards, MOP Student produced during an ing together to reduce algal bloom that generentanglement and mortality of sea turtles that are inally rely on the sun for energy and reproduction by photeracting with fishing line. Their solution is simple: they tosynthesis. There can be red algal such as Rhodophyta, are attaching green LED lights to the fishing nets. These all the way to seaweeds, which are more sophisticated small changes have reduced sea turtle entanglement by algae. The issue with algae is that some of them pro64%. duce toxins, and these poisons spread throughout the environment and into the food chain. Cyanobacteria One hundred and fourteen pairs of gillnets were used produce microcystins which affect the human liver and during an experiment, where some had LED lights atcan be lethal. tached to them 10 meters apart. The nets that did not have lights caught about 124 turtles and the ones with This summer in Florida, miles of seashore were plagued lights caught only 62 turtles. Each of the LED lights cost by a nasty algal bloom in the heart of tourism season. about $2. T Taking this into account, it would only be OCTOBER 2016 |17

about $34 to save each turtle. If this design was adapted on many ocean systems. Starting at the top of the mafor a larger scale, the price of saving a turtle could po- rine food chain, the human race began fishing the big tentially drop even more. impressive game fish, and as their numbers dwindled, we moved down the food web and hunted smaller and There are many different types of sea turtles that live in smaller fishes. Peru including Eretmochelys imbricata, Caretta caretta, and Dermochelys coriacea. Thousands of these turtles University of British Columbiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research finds that if are killed each year from Peruvian fishing nets alone, we closed fishing on the high seas that we would see a and the fisheries are thought to set over 100,000 miles 10% recovery of fish in coastal areas. The high seas have of fishing nets year year. impacts on coastal waters, and with more effective management we could see a positive change in productivity In their efforts to reduce the bycatch around the world, and reduce climate change. researchers continue to work with fisheries on their management and different color lights to determine Researchers at UBC used computer models to predict which are the most effective. what coastal and high sea water would look like in 2050. They chose 30 key fish species that lived in both Closing the High Seas to Fishing areas and used the computer model under three differClimate change is having an effect on all parts of our ent scenarios: closing the high seas completely to fishplanet; whether we are observing a migration of spe- ing, international cooperation to manage fishing, and cies to more northern latitudes, or rising sea levels, the maintaining the status quo. The first two scenarios had Earth is changing and not for the better. very positive results with increased resilience of coastal countries to climate change. There are many tropical Humans continue to demand natural resources from countries with a high dependence on their fisheries for the Earth, and with an ever-growing population to feed food and would benefit greatly. and support, we eventually are going to exceed our carrying capacity. Eventually we could run out of clean wa- The human race cannot continue on its current path. ter, food, and space to live a happy, healthy life. We have to make a change. We have to adapt to the continually changing planet. The beginning of this change For the past few decades researchers have been moniis managing our seas better, protecting them and aptoring our oceansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fish stocks, and have noticed an preciating them. Closing off the high seas would be the undeniable trend that we are depleting the oceans of beginning of a long healing process for our precious fish. Overfishing is an issue that is burdening almost ocean. n every fishery on the planet, and is putting great stress

18|â&#x20AC;&#x192;Seawords

critter of the month The Flamboyant Cuttlefish Scientific Name: Metasepia pfefferi Common Name: The Flamboyant Cuttlefish Location: Tropical, Indo-Pacific waters Habitat: Bottom dwelling in water 3m to 86m deep Size: Up to 8cm Diet: Small fish and crustaceans Level of Endangerment: Unknown Special Adaptations: Camouflage and toxicity

By Mason Mellot, UHM MOP Student

ne of the most visually outstanding creatures in the ocean is also one of the smallest. Reaching a maximum length of only 8 cm (3.1 inches), Metasepia pfefferi, also known as the flamboyant cuttlefish is a tiny, yet fascinating Photo by: prilfish, Flickr cephalopod. The little crea-ture lives in the tropical waters of northern Australia, southern New Guinea, and by many islands of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Metaspeia pfefferi is the only known species of cuttlefish that walks along the seafloor. The cuttlebone, a gas-filled shell char-acteristic of cuttlefish, is unusually small in Metasepia pfefferi, causing limited swimming ability. The muscle tissue of the flamboyant cuttlefish is highly toxic, and when threat-ened the fish puts on a dazzling camouflage display to warn predators of its toxic nature. Although the base color for this species is brown, the flamboyant cuttlefish can adopt a wide variety of quickly changing hues. When in danger the cuttlefish will add to its color display by walking along the seafloor while rhythmically waving its protective membranes. Currently not much is known about these tiny cuttlefish, not even their level of endangerment. Hopefully these fascinating little masters of camouflage will continue to amaze us for years to come. n

OCTOBER 2016â&#x20AC;&#x192;|19

BLUE

Actions for the Ocean

GENERATION

By: Jessica Lotts, UHM MOP Student

ext to surfing, snorkeling is arguably one of Hawai‘i’s most popular ocean pastimes. Upward of 3,000 people a day visit Hanauma Bay, rounding to approximately one million visitors per year, according to the park website. Snorkeling is an exciting activity that gives adventurers a glimpse into our beautiful coral reefs. However, improper techniques and careless behaviors can harm and even kill corals. Below are some safe ways to snorkel without impacting the reef.

Background photo by Alber 20| Seawords

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.

Stay calm. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by snorkeling, especially if it’s your first time. If you find yourself feeling any discomfort or panic, it’s important to breathe and stay calm while exiting the water. Thrashing and flailing limbs can hit the reef, breaking off pieces and destroying what could’ve taken decades to grow. Not only will it harm the reef, but it could cause scratches, cuts, and bleeding. Photo by Gerald Lau , Flickr Wear ocean friendly sunscreen. According to a recent study released by a team of international scientists, oxybenzone, a coral endocrine disrupting chemical, has been found in nearly 70 percent of all sunscreens. Below are some ocean friendly sunscreens without harmful chemicals like oxybenzone: Badger Balm- http://www.badgerbalm.com/s-35-coral-reef-safe-sunscreen.aspx Honest Sunscreen- https://my.honest.com/sunscreen Along with the exclusion of oxybenzone, Audubon has an article published describing the 8 sunscreen “nono’s” which can be read at: Photo by gazzaPax, Flickr

http://www.audubon.org/news/sun-safety-2013-best-sunscreens-andthose-avoid

Be comfortable with your equipment. Practice snorkeling in a pool before hitting the deep blue. Breathing underwater can be an overwhelming sensation the first couple times, so practicing and getting comfortable in the pool first will decrease the likelihood of damaging reefs due to panic. It’s also important to make sure your gear fits. Loose straps and ill-fitting attire can drag across the reef while also hindering your swimming capability.

rto Rodriguez, Flickr

Photo by Mike, Flicker OCTOBER 2016 |21

October 2016

SUNDAYS HANAUMA BAY

NOAA Marine Mammal Research

2 October •

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Toxoplasma gondii infections in Hawaiian monk seals: How a parasite from cat feces puts native seals at risk

16 October • •

23 October

9 October •

Underwater eavesdropping: listening to the whales and dolphins in Hawai‘i

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FREE PUBLIC TALKS

• • •

60° North: A monk seal biologist's journey to study Arctic ice seals

30 October •

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• • • •

22| Seawords

Film Showing

2016 Northwestern Hawaiian Islands monk seal field update: Debris, Eels, and Buckets, Oh My!

FLASHBACK: 1984

Raiders of the

Lost SeaMARC

In this flashback, we return to when the SeaMARC II tow cable snapped due to a strong current and sank to the bottom of Honolulu Harbor. SeaMARC was a $500,000 side-scan sonar instrument that measured 22 feet long and recorded bathymetric data. When it broke free, the position of the device and the extent of the damages were unknown. The Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) and its two man submersible, Makalii, WERE called out to find and retrieve SeaMARC. The next day the team deployed with a search ship and used a transponder to find the lost instrument. Once they were able to locate it, the rescue team had to deploy the Makalii to go 850 feet below the surface and retrieve it. Inside of the Makalii was one man, Mr. Bohden Bartko, and six days worth of supplies, if something were to go wrong. After two hours of searching, Mr. Bartko was able to find the SeaMARC, which had LANDED near a submerged Cessna aircraft. To bring up the SeaMARC, the submersible’s

By: Emily Menzies, UHM MOP Student

empty ballast tanks had to be filled with air. Although MAKALII was able to locate and raise the SeaMARC, the feat was not over yet. Due to poor conditions on the water, the rescue team was unable to bring the SeaMARC to the surface but they were able to bring it to a shallow area and mark it with a buoy for later recovery. It took Bartko and Makalii only four and a half hours to complete the mission, however, the full recovery of the SeaMARC took an entire day. From an event like this, we can see that the University of Hawai’i has proven that not only can they build high tech research tools, but they are also able to support them in a situation of crisis. Being able to look back and learn from these types of situations can help prepare us for a stronger tomorrow. n

OCTOBER 2016 |23

October

Photo credit: Christina Redmond, UHM MOP Student and Photography Contestant

Sun.

Mon.

Tues.

Wed.

Next month: October - Oct. 3 : QUEST ID Exam -Oct. 12: Tour of Hyperbaric Chamber -Oct. 29: Atlantis Submarine Tour

Sunday’s at the Bay Hanauma Bay 3 - 4 pm NOAA Marine Mammal Research

QUEST ID EXAM Deal Hall 104 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Sunday’s at the Bay Hanauma Bay 3 - 4 pm NOAA Marine Mammal Research

Tour of Hyp Hyperbaric T 2:30 pm - 5:0

Sunday’s at the Bay Hanauma Bay 3 - 4 pm NOAA Marine Mammal Research

24| Seawords

Happy Halloween!

MOP & Community Events

Thurs.

Fri.

Sat. 1

perbaric Chamber Treatment Center 00 pm

Atlantis Submarine Tour Waikiki 11:00 am - 1:30 pm

OCTOBER 2016â&#x20AC;&#x192;|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!