October 2017 Seawords

Seaw rds The Marine Option Program Newsletter

October 2017

education and training Tietjen, 15 “...the Dimoff, Bruce and I received in MOP

and UH prepared us for the rigors of professional scientific field work.”

HOW FAR I’LL GO: MOP Graduates on the 2017 Kiritimati Expedition MOP GOES TO HIMB MOP BBQ

OCTOBER 2017

Volume XXXI, Number 8

Articles Page 3: Letter from the Editor Page 4: Letter from the Associates Editor Page 5: Shipwreck of the Month: YOGN 42 Page 6: Dive Safety: Precations in Kirimati Page 9: Critter of the Month Page 10: MOP Goes to HIMB Page 12: How Far I’ll Go Page 16: Marine Mammal of the Month: Burrunan Dolphin Page 18: Ocean Art: Gina Selig, “Kaleiding Waves” Page 20: Ocean Updates Page 23: MOP BBQ Page 24: Generation Blue Page 26: Hanauma Bay: Calender of Events Page 27: Flashback: November 2007 Page 28: MOP calendar of events

About the Photography -Cover: Kayleigh Burns, WCC MOP Student and Photography Contestant -Table of Contents: Camra Hopper, Editor -November Calendar of Events: Kimberly James, UHM MOP Alumna and Photography Contestant -Back cover : 2011 MBA Starfish, MOP Stoch Photo -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

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loha!

Welcome to the October 2017 Issue of Seawords!

I’m honored to announce that Seawords has found their new Associate Editor, Kayla White, UHM MOP Student! She will be training under me for the next semester, where she will then transition into the new Editor of Seawords after I graduate! Congratulations!

Within this issue, Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Alumnus, also tells his adventure accompanying the University of Victoria for their Kiritimati expedition in July, with a few other fellow MOP Alumni: Sean Dimoff (UHM MOP alumnus), Kristina Tietjen (Kiritimati Project Manager, UHH MOP alumnus) and Kevin Bruce (UHH MOP alumnus). He also tied in his experiences from Kiritimati into the Dive Safety section for this month.

What would you like to see more of in Seawords? Send us your thoughts!

Mahalo for reading, n

Camra Hopper, Seawords Editor Seawords Volume XXXI, Number 8, October 2017 Editor: Camra Hopper Associate Editor: Kayla White 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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Letter from the Associate Editor

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loha!

My name is Kayla and I am so excited to start working with Seawords! I’m studying marine biology at UH Mānoa but I’m originally from Dallas, Texas. I love to travel around and see other places, which is part of how I found myself here, in Hawai‘i. My favorite places I have been to are Tanzania and Peru where I helped with environmental initiatives and taught the local kids about our planet. I love photography and writing about the places I’ve been and what I’ve learned from it. I am very passionate about our oceans, which is how I found myself in MOP. I want to do my best to help stop the global problems we are facing today. I strive to share my passions and knowledge about our environment with others so that they can be more aware of the problems at hand. Through Seawords I hope to help share all of our writers’ information!

I am very excited to train under Camra Hopper, current Editor, this next semester and to take over the Editor position in the spring! n Mahalo, Kayla White

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Shipwreck of the Month:YOGN 42

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By: Camra Hopper, Editor

he name, Shipwreck Beach, (also known as Kaiolohia, ironically, “Calm Seas”) on Lāna‘i was given to the eight-mile stretch of sand because Kalohi Channel is known for having powerful currents and strong winds that funnel between Maui and Molokai, directly onto Shipwreck Beach. Numerous reefs and many ships have met their watery demise for this reason. The first documented shipwreck occurred in 1824 when Alderman Wood, British vessel, met its fate.

There are two popular wrecks on Shipwreck Beach that are most visible from shore. The first one is the YOGN 42 gasoline barge, which is often misidentified as the World War II Liberty Ship. The second one is the YO-21, which will be featured in the November issue of Seawords. The rusted hulk of the YOGN 42 still clings to a near shore reef on the east side of the beach, creating the final resting place of the concrete ship.

Sunset behind the abandoned YOGN 42 on Shipwreck Beach, Lana‘i. Photo by: Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator

During 1942 and 1944 there were about 78 barges built, but none of them were given “common” names, leading this one to only be labeled as YOGN 42. She is a 370-foot long former U.S. Navy fuel barge that launched in 1943 (U.S. Navy Shipwrecks in Hawaiian Waters: an Inventory of Submerged Naval Properties, Van Tilburg 2003). The wreck of this ship was no accident, as it was an economical means of disposal.

Since steel was scarce at that time, these gasoline barges were built of steel-reinforced concrete; a frame of metal mesh or steel-alloy rebar with layers of concrete added. During the war, “these concrete barges were part of the Service Force Pacific Fleet, created under Vice Admiral William Calhoun,” Said Hans Van Tilburg, 2003. After the war, Isle Ways was contracted by the U.S. Navy to haul the ship from Pearl Harbor to its final resting place sometime in 1954.

If you plan on visiting Shipwreck Beach, please be aware that this area is not good for swimming, due to the strong currents and the shallow, rocky nearshore ocean bottom.

Abondoned YOGN 42 sitting on a reef outside Shipwreck Beach, Lāna‘i.

Photo by: Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator.

*A special thanks goes to Hans Van Tilburg, Maritime Heritage Coordinator for the National Marine Sanctuaries, for helping Seawords verify and for providing information about the two ships wrecked on the reef. Mahalo! n OCTOBER 2017 |5

DIVE SAFETY By: Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Alumnus

Diving Safely in the Middle of the Pacific Precautions and Strategies from the Kiritimati Expedition

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awai‘i is one of the most isolated island chains on Earth, with over 2,260 miles of blue ocean until the closest continent. However, Hawai‘i has infrastructure like electricity, drinkable running water, airports and medical facilities. Kiritimati (pronounced “Kirisimas”) Island barely had any of these. Located 1,200 miles below Hawai‘i and with only one flight per week, it is truly one of the most remote places on earth. There are no hospitals, only one medical clinic with less equipment than you would find at a veterinarian’s practice, and just the size of a few conjoined dorm rooms.

Kiritimati Island, the largest atoll The nearest hyperin the world and one of the most baric chamber is… remote islands in the Pacific. Pho- Hawai‘i. What preto credit: International Space Sta- cautions must a dive tion. team make when help is so far away? What were to happen if detritus does hit the proverbial fan? What can we learn from these extraordinary circumstances and apply to our everyday diving? These were the questions we had to ask ourselves long before the expedition began.

one flight per week? Arrange an extrication from the U.S. Coast Guard? How do we do that? Well, there are several ways. Each of our dive boats, one for the fish team and one for the coral team, carried a registered personal locator beacon (PLB). In the event our boat gets in distress, we need only press a button before the Coast Guard is notified via satellite transmitter. We also could call ahead using a satellite phone that we brought.

Dealing with an accident, the last thing you want to do is flip through a large manual and try to figure out how to make a call. As the one responsible for our safety equipment, this concern was solved by writing out clear stepby-step instructions on the dry case and briefing the team on how to use it. Important phone numbers were written down in a place easily accessible if the time came to make a call.

If the boat were to start sinking, how could we take care of ourselves until help was on the way? Each boat carried dye markers to Left: Sean Dimoff (UHM MOP alumnu mark the water, sig- MOP alumnus) demonstrating their co naling mirrors, whis- gearing up for their third shore dive duri tles and strobes so we tion. Photo credit: Kevin Bruce (U could be seen during any time of day. We also carried a backup VHF radio in a dry bag that would allow us to communicate with local fisherman to ask for help, although these are not commonly used by them.

The worst time to ask, “What do I do?” is when the events are unfolding before your eyes. The military’s 5 P’s comes to mind, “proper planning prevents poor performance.” Thankfully, our team had years of experience working in Kiritimati. Accessibility to facilities, equipment availability and extrication plan had already been researched well in advance. Thinking with the end in mind, we would need to get back to Hawai‘i for seriThe mitigation of decompression sickness is a primary ous medical treatment. How do we get there with only concern for any dive project and was no exception here.

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The best treatment for Caisson’s disease, or “the bends,” is breathing 100% pure oxygen creating a gradient to push dissolved inert gasses out of our tissues. On the boat we brought oxygen, and lots of it--two Jumbo D medical cylinders with enough oxygen to last us until we got back to our hotel at Ikari House. From there, we would rendezvous with the clinic and could refill our oxygen cylinders with the enormous banked cylinders until help arrived.

Running through rescue drills and personal skills helped us stay prepared. We practiced these at the start of the trip and half way through the expedition at the start of week three. Even as competent divers with lots of experience, it’s important to practice the muscle memory of donating gas in an air share or determining the most effective strategy for getting an unresponsive victim back on the boat.

We like to think with that end in mind to prepare for the worst case scenario but there were plenty other concerns to consider that we would be battling against every day.

The first was dehydration, which is also a predisposition that can put divers at increased risk of decompression sickness. Out on the boat for 11 hours a day, having enough water became paramount.

Since water treatment was one of my individual duties, this responsibility fell on my shoulders. I had to anticipate the team filling up everyone’s water bottles before we left so it did not cut into the supply treated for the boat. The filtration and chlorine dioxide treatment process took about half an hour to produce drinkable water. It took a little forethought and planning to accomplish these needs, while also preparing to have drinkable water ready for when we return. us) and Tyler Phelps (UHH omposure and sanity after The other concerns for being out ing week four of the expedi- on the boat for so long are sun exposure, sea sickness and protectUHH MOP alumnus). ing your ears. I applied zinc oxide and coral safe sunscreen twice a day. We tried to stay in the limited shade as much as possible while wearing sunglasses, hats and face shields.

Being sea sick is no fun on a small rocky boat when you have dives to do. I turned green on our first trip up north on the windward side exposed to the swell.

I didn’t make that mistake twice and took motion sickness medicine in the morning if I knew we would be diving north.

Dramamine will actually make you feel worse if you take it while sea sick. The best imTyler Phelps (UHH MOP alummediate cure I’ve nus) sporting a fashionable bike found is sucking on helmet for his 1000th dive. Photo hard ginger candy, credit: Sean Dimoff (UHM MOP which I leave in my alumnus). dry bag. Preventative maintenance on your ears is hugely important when you are doing a lot of dives for an extended period of time. I spray my ears with a commercial product made of natural oils that coats the middle ear creating a hydrophobic barrier, deterring water from entering.

One application in the morning generally lasted me a full day. Afterwards I would rinse my ears out with freshwater for a few seconds to flush out any bad bacteria hanging around. Then came the swimmer’s ear drops to dry out the ear canal. Be careful in using this too frequently though as the alcohol breaks down ear wax which weakens your ear’s defenses.

What if we weren’t on a boat? There came a time when the fish team boat became unavailable to use. To sustain productivity, we dove from shore. Shore diving in Kiritimati is very different from a normal shore dive in Hawai‘i. The waves and surge were a dangerous combination when trying to negotiate safe passage through a small channel of hard basalt. Although we had emergency oxygen and a first aid kit, the site we were diving on the north side was very far away from the clinic. After a close call one year, the team adopted the policy of wearing bicycle helmets for going through the channels, in the event someone got rolled by a wave. With a head bump that followed “Noggin. Duuuude,” they were actually pretty fun to use! Outside of the channel we could take off the foam helmets that pulled our heads up towards the surface. I clipped off my helmet to my back D-ring so it was out of the way, with the exception of my 1000th dive which the team stylishly decorated for me using colorful zip ties! Out of the entry channel came a 50 yard swim in low visibility to the reef slope for our OCTOBER 2017 |7

surveys. Channels look similar and not all of them safely connect back to shore so returning to the same one became important. I applied a skill from my wreck diving experience and ran out a series of line from the entrance of finger spools, marking the end with an underwater marker buoy so it could be clearly found.

Safety was the number one priority on the Kiritimati expedition. We applied many strategies and tricks that made our dives as safe as possible in such a remote location. To summarize, here are a few main takeaway points that you can apply to your everyday diving.

1. Safety is no accident, plan ahead! Think with the The last concern we encountered was poor air quality end in mind and work backwards when developing an in our scuba cylinders, which isn’t much of an issue in emergency action plan. developed countries. The fish collector that filled our 2. If possible, bring or have cylinders used to have a diefast access to necessary safety sel powered compressor that equipment like emergency oxwas prone to seep carbon ygen, or spare gear in the event monoxide into the cylinders something breaks in the field. which can be life threaten3. Practice emergency drills ing if exposed to too much at and personal skills frequently high pressures while diving. so you stay proficient.

To remedy this, Dimoff had the important responsibility 4. Stay hydrated! I personally of analyzing all of our cylinBase camp! Photo credit: Tyler Phelps (UHH MOP take it a step farther and drink ders testing for carbon monalumnus). while I am underwater too for oxide, ensuring they were working dives. I mount a hysafe to breathe. Thankfully dration pack filled with replenishing electrolytes behind we never had any carbon monoxide issues with the exception of sometimes having to use a truck, that should my back plate and route the hose up to velcro to my have been put out of its misery, to load gear! We did inflator hose. You can then take your regulator out of however have some problems with carbon dioxide. Be- your mouth to bite down and drink your water. I highly fore we arrived, our host had installed a very long PVC recommend this but cautious of holding your breath tube from the compressor intake out to the ocean with and ascending while the regulator is out of your mouth the hopes of catching the purest air. This made the com- when drinking. pressor have to work harder to pull air through the long narrow tube. On top of the warm temperatures and hu- 5. Cover up and wear reef safe sunscreen. midity, filter cartridges were getting spent faster causing 6. If you know you get sea sick take motion sickness increased CO2 to enter the cylinders. Before we were supplements, per physician’s recommendation, before aware of this, I had surfaced once after a dive with a you get on the boat. Sucking on hard ginger candy can splitting headache and nausea. This was the fatigue from really help if you start to feel sick during the ride. working so hard on such little sleep, and swimming very hard to roll up our 100m transect line, probably did not 7. Take care of your ears before and after you go diving. help. After switching over my tanks, I proceeded to pull Never dive with existing pain or an ear infection! out my slate to make a note on a fish I saw at the end of a dive. From the time it took to find a pencil and placing 8. Smell your air before you really start breathing it. Get it on the slate, I completely forgot what I was going to your cylinder filled from a reputable operation. Ask to write. This confusion and dizziness made the lightbulb see their air quality test analysis. Commercial compresgo off to realize I was having a hypercapnia event. Sure sors are required to get their air tested routinely in the enough when we tested the cylinder that evening for United States. You are entitled to see the reports if you CO2, the levels were twice that of our limit after only ask for them. If a business refuses to show you, do not changing the air filter two days prior. We diagnosed the get your cylinders filled from there. problem, became extra attentive to CO2 levels and had On behalf of the Kiritimati expedition team, we wish no other issues the rest of the trip. you happy and safe diving! n 8| Seawords

critter of the month By: Gina Selig, UHH MOP Student

Cuttlefish (Sepia mollusca)

Distribution: Shallow tropical or temperate coastal waters Size: 15-25cm Diet: molluscs, crabs, shrimp, fish, octopus, worms, and other cuttlefish Coloration: Varies Habitat: tropical/ temperate ocean waters IUCN Red List Status: Least concern

Cuttlefish, Sepia mollusca. Photo by Robert, Flickr.

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uttlefish, Sepia mollusca, are tough to describe because they look and behave like creatures from another planet. Despite their name, cuttlefish arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t technically related to fish. Their closest relative is actually the squid. In fact, the cuttlefish body is shorter and broader than squids and they have fins that run completely around the edge of the body. Many biologists today are calling these animals cuttles, rather than cuttlefish.

Inside of a cuttlefish, right under the dorsal surface, lies its shell which serves as both a skeleton and a buoyancy tank. Cuttlefish are able to float due to their intricate calcium carbonate shell which consists of about a hundred separate inner chambers. Blood circulates through the lower chamber and air fills up the upper chambers. Smaller chambers in the rear of the shell are mostly filled with fluid and determine the cuttleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s orientation.

When these chambers lose fluid, the rear end of the cuttle rises, thus tilting its head down. This position is handy for hunting crabs and shrimp on the ocean floor. Some species will even sink to the sand and bury themselves during the day, then emerge at night to hunt for fish and shelled animals.

Cuttlefish can also change their color variations to be striped, spotted, yellow, white, brown or blue in a split second. The stunning colors pass over the body like ripples of water and may be used to distract its prey. When a cuttle spots a potential meal, such as a shrimp, brilliant colors shimmer over its entire body. Then, when the cuttle is within range, it shoots its two long tentacles out, pins the shrimp to the sand, then draws it up to its sharp beak for chewing.

The color variations are especially outstanding during the mating season. A male might flash a calming courtship pattern to a female on one side of his body and, at the same time, display a strong warning pattern to rival males on its other side. After mating, the female lays 200 eggs, one at a time, placing each to a solid object, leaving the eggs unattended to develop and hatch on their own. n

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MOP goes to HIMB! By: Camra Hopper, Editor

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ocated on a small island off the coast in Kāne‘ohe, O‘ahu, the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) is home to multi-disciplinary research and educational attributes associated with marine biology in the tropics. HIMB is an independent research unit within the School of Ocean Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM).

land since, “Falling coconuts kill 150 people worldwide each year, 15 times the number of fatalities attributable to sharks.”

Knowing we had a better chance hanging out with the sharks stationed on Coconut Island, we made our first stop of the tour to visit the three black tipped reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus). Originally, when a shark attack occurred, people would hunt all of the sharks, MOP students were fascinated by the gorgeous view of hoping to catch the one “violent” shark that made the Coconut Island within Kāne‘ohe Bay, with the luscious attack and prevent it from producing more violent offgreen, east side of Oahu’s mountain range standing out spring. HIMB tagged a few sharks to learn their patagainst the blue sky. They were also excited to find out tern, turns out that the possibility of hunters catching that our taxi to the island was a small motor boat. the same shark, especially shortly after an attack, was extremely low since their migration patterns range beUpon arriving, our tour guide, Leon Weaver (HIMB Stuyond the Hawaiian Archipelago. dent Assistant), told us about the history of the island, also known as Moku o Lo‘e (Island of Lo‘e, a daughter Next stop was to the great Super Sucker Barge. As the to one of the chiefs of that Native Hawaiian ahupua`a) reefs were overfished, and with the increase of nutrients and Gilligan’s from the sewage outfall in the South end of the bay unIsland (the sil- til the late 1980s, invasive gorilla oro algae (Gracilaria houette of the salicornia) began to take over the reefs. Snorkelers and island shown divers would originally hand-scrape off the algae, but in the opening as little pieces broke free, they would re-establish themscene for the selves on another part of the reef, leading to the algae show was Co- spreading. In response to this, the Super Sucker Barge conut Island). was created to do just that; suck up all of the algae and He also warned fragmented pieces. Once the algae was more contained, us to watch our researchers introduced native grazing urchins (Triheads under pneustes gratilla) to feed on the remaining algae and Tahirih Perez, UHM MOP Student, pos- the many co- save the reefs. ing with the skeletal jaw of a black tipped conut trees that As students were guided around the island, they learned reef shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus. were planted they were actually in the caldera (a large cauldron-like around the isPhoto by: Camra Hopper, Editor.

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Coconut Island. Photo by Tahirih Perez, UHM MOP Student.

depression that forms following the evacuation of a to see 360 degrees around.” magma chamber/reservoir) of the extinct volcano of “Kāne‘ohe Bay is a pupping ground to the scalloped Ko‘olau, which was vigorously active until about 1.8 hammerhead. We have somewhere about 7,000 to million years ago.

10,000 of these sharks pupped in the bay per year,” said At one point of the island’s life the general human popu- Leon, “Sadly, they have about an 80 percent mortality lation believed that “the solution to pollution is dilu- rate because of larger sharks eating the smaller ones, tion,” said Leon. Humans believed that the ocean was competition for resources, and bycatch by fisherman.” endless, and everything put into it would eventually disBefore jumping into the reef for a snorkel, students appear. This lead to Kāne‘ohe’s waste solution being to learned more about what they would find at HIMB’s pump everything into the Bay for the ocean to engulf. small, educational touch pool. The pool contained sevThe lack of nutrients in the water means there is not eral species of urchins, coral, sea slugs and fun feather enough to support a large phytoplankton population dusters, (Sabellastarte giganteus). throughout the Hawaiian Islands. This is the reason the All in all, the tour was successful and very educational water is so blue. for MOP students, the future marine enthusiasts. A speNutrient pollution isn’t the only stressor on the reef ’s cial thanks to our tour guide, Leon, for educating the ecosystem--so is ocean acidification. This occurs when students and for being extra punny, as well as HIMB for carbon dioxide gas, or CO2, is absorbed by the ocean allowing MOP students to tour the island. n and reacts with seawater to produce acid. Students got a first-hand encounter of this process by holding a small amount of sand and applying vinegar (acid).

As the walking and talking continued, students observed the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini, also known as Mano Kihikihi in Hawaiian) enclosure, also part of the shark lab. “Sharks have been around for about 350 million years relatively unchanged,” said Leon, “the shape of the [scalloped hammerhead] is actually a recent evolution among sharks, and it looks goofy… but since larger sharks eat smaller sharks, it allows them

Leon Weaver, HIMB Student Assistant, teachng the students about Coconut Island. Photo by Camra Hopper, Editor.

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Left: Tyler Phelps (UHH MOP alumnus, photo credit) and Sean Dimoff (UHM MOP alumnus).

How Far I’ll Go

MOP Graduates on the 2017 Kiritimati Expedition By: Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Alumnus

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e have all seen the documentaries on Discovery Channel, BBC, or National Geographic of the small teams of scientists doing incredible work in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps you have also wondered, “What would it be like to do that someday?” This past July, I was privileged to answer this question with a team of five other scientists during the University of Victoria’s 2017 expedition to Kiritimati Island (pronounced “Kirisimas” like “Christmas”). Of the small six-person team, four of us were University of Hawai’i and Marine Option Program (MOP) graduates. The field work during the month-long expedition was rigorous and intense.

Perhaps I have never worked so hard in my life. In exchange, the pristine white sandy beaches of the largest atoll in the world graced us with their beauty every day.

The experience and personal growth each of us had on the expedition made it all the more worthwhile on what most would consider a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

alumnus and MOP alumnus) and I. Dr. Baum, Kristina, Jenn and Kevin comprised the coral and microbial team while Dimoff and I, my 2015 QUEST tent-mate, became “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy” of the fish team.

Months before the expedition, Dimoff and I practiced our flashcards, studying over 300 species of fishes we would have to identify by scientific name for our surveys. This was similar to when QUEST alumni Sean, Kristina and I had to study for our QUEST species id tests, which laid down the foundation for our scientific diving careers. Weeks before the expedition, we all ran through checklists and frugal packing to accommodate the enormity of equipment we would be bringing to the field. With the exception of Dr. Baum who would be joining us for the last 2 weeks, the team rendezvoused in O‘ahu a few days before our flight. Kiritimati is located 1,200 miles directly south of Hawai‘i, but there is only one flight per week so missing our flight was not an option. There are no Walmarts or super stores on Kiribati.

Before we set foot on Kiribati (pronounced “Kiribas”), Everything we needed we had to bring ourselves in adwas almost a year’s worth of logistics orchestrated by dition to dive gear, cameras, lab equipment, and survey University of Victoria’s Kiritimati Island Project Man- equipment. About a dozen checked bags did the trick! ager, Kristina Tietijen (UH Hilo Marine Science and The massive atoll with hundreds of lagoons was breathMOP alumna). This expedition was made possible taking to witness from the air. Touch down on Kiritthrough the research lab of Associate Professor and mati, through the shack of an airport, we hit the ground Principle Investigator, Dr. Julia Baum and her graduate running. As we drove to Ikari House, a fishing resort student, Jenn Magel. The Baum Lab set out to recruit and our home-base for the next month, we passed thouthree additional members which would mark a decade’s sands of coconut trees covering the very low elevation worth of consecutive research. Selected from a long list island. We transformed our three bedroom room into of applicants was returning fish team 2015 member, a wet lab and camera lab, unpacking and organizing all Sean Dimoff (UH Mānoa Marine Biology alumnus and of our luggage and many boxes from storage at Ikari MOP alumnus), Kevin Bruce (UH Hilo Marine Science House. Within 16 hours of arriving in Kiritimati, our

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survey dives and lab work would begin. Unfortunately, fish collector’s house we were working with to fill our the first day did not get off to a good start for Bruce and cylinders so he could test the air was safe to breathe. me.

More on this in my other article, “Diving Safely in the Middle of the Pacific” on page 6. By 6:00A.M. we had You see, Bruce and I, had the lobster for dinner… We a quick breakfast, usually my favorite meal of the day were so excited to be welcomed to a surf and turf meal but in Kiritimati it was my least. Served to us were for our first night! I guess the new guys missed the plates of greasy scrambled eggs, sausage, and coffee that memo about avoiding the shellfish. For his first night, must have been re-used, microwaved, frozen, and reBruce was on the toilet, and my stomach was in a knot used again (or at least it tasted like that). The experithe rest of the day. Otherwise, our first day on the boat ence of the team anticipated this and brought packaged went well. Dimoff and I spent the first two days rolling oatmeal or dined off petrified white toast with peanut out lines of cut PVC tubing to calibrate ourselves visubutter. I didn’t bring much oatmeal and tolerated the ally estimating sizing, and doing practice fish surveys. egg plates as long as I could before switching over to The coral team got to work monitoring pre-tagged corraisin bran cereal with powdered milk. Thankfully the als, collecting data from benthic photo quadrats, taking coffee drinkers of the team, Dr. Baum and I, brought coral tissue samples, water samples, and photographing Starbucks instant coffee that saved our mornings. fixed areas for 3D modeling. Our fish team focused on running belt transects (three 25m transects, separated by At 6:30A.M. a truck would pull in front of our room to 10m, per dive) and herbivore observations. The strong load all the safety, dive, survey equipment and coolers.

El Niño events in the past years decimate the coral pop- Riding on top of our gear in the back, we hobbled to the ulations of Kiritimati with an estimated 90% mortality. beach where we loaded the boat. After making a secUnfortunately, Kiritimati is experiencing a phase shift ond trip to pick up Dimoff and the tested air cylinders, with blooms of macroalgae. During observation dives, we departed by 7:00A.M.. The goal of fish team was to Dimoff and I followed herbivores such as parrotfish make four dives a day, because of the required 1.5 hour (Scaridae) and surface interval per DCIEM tables, the coral team was s u r g e o n f i s h limited to three dives in the interest of getting back be( Ac ant hu r i - fore dark. As a requirement of the dive plan, we needed dae) for 15 to have a tender on the boat while one team was diving, minute inter- so we alternated. To be most efficient we had to operate vals recording like clockwork. Fish team prepped gear, data sheets and bites of which briefed on the way to the first dive site. As soon as the algae they anchor was set at the site, we, or the coral team if they were graz- were up next, were ready to roll in the water and begin ing. Planning their dives. To make it more fun and to entertain ourwhich sites we selves, Dimoff and I thought of different roll back saying would be div- we would do each day as we rolled off the boat into the ing became water. Some of the team favorites were: “Pull the lever important in Kronk! Wrong leverrrrr!” “Great Scott, we have to go order to ac- back! To the reef!” “How many fish bites are we going complish our to count? To infinity, and beyond!” “I’ve never seen so o b j e c t i v e s , many fish! It’s never over 9000,” then pretending to “KALoaded up and heading to the boat. Photo by: taking it one MEH-A-MEH-AH” each other off the boat. Ending the Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP alumnus. day at a time. trip with our renditions to some Queen songs, “We Will Count You,” “Some Fish to Count,” “Another One Bites Our days the Turf,” and “We Are the Fish Team.” The coral team started at 5:30 A.M. as we rolled out of bed and attendjust asked “Clear?” before rolling back each time. Fish ed to our individual responsibilities in getting the team team was clearly the cool team. ready. This was preparing camera housings, checking safety equipment, loading sample containers, gathering Upon surfacing, each of us would quickly hop out of personal dive gear, packing lunches and drinking wa- our gear to pass survey equipment to the other team as ter. Dimoff ’s day started a little bit earlier to walk to the they rolled in. During surface intervals we talked story, OCTOBER 2017 |13

week. We had curry night, pasta night, fish night, surf and turf night (bleh), and so on. There was no shortage of starches or carbohydrates from pan fried potatoes or fried rice.

The weekly flight brought a new group of fishermen to socialize with every Wednesday and semi-fresh vegetables. The lettuce in the salad was generally bitter from being under ripe at harvest but the cherry tomatoes were sweet. Otherwise, the only veggies we saw were from a freezer. They may not sound exciting, but dinners Outreach education at the local elementary school. After learning about sharks, Sean told the kids to “eat Kevin” for a photo. Photo by: Sean Dimoff, UHM MOP were tasty! Especially after being on a small boat for 11 hours alumnus. doing hard working dives. Afincluding some deep life pondering questions, helped ter a while we all started to crave variety. filter water samples, practice size estimations using a measuring tape, review species IDs, ate lunch or snacks We tried to finish dinner as expeditiously as we could and plenty of napping as the trip went on. I can tell you to get back to work. Dr. Baum, Tietjen and Magel proexactly what we had for lunch. A ham sandwich with cessed water samples, coral tissue, and settlement plates; American cheese on white bread, original flavored Lay’s Bruce was our cameraman and processed the thousands Potato Chips, a red apple, an orange, an Oats N Honey of photos taken for 3D models; meanwhile Dimoff and Nature Valley Granola Bar, expired peanut butter crack- I would crank through an incredible amount of data eners, fruit gummies, and a mini candy bar, like Snickers try. Due to the diversity in our fish surveys, it took us if we were lucky. This was our lunch every day. Many about 45 minutes to enter data from three transects per opted for the PB&J sandwich, but I didn’t find it as fill- 60 minute dive. To pass the time in the lab we took turns ing. Once in awhile we were surprised with an egg salad playing each other’s playlists, audiobooks and plenty, sandwich instead. After a couple cases of bad acid re- plenty of “Moana” songs! In between transect entries, I would make my way to the shower to make water for flux, Dimoff and I started avoiding these. the team. What came out of the faucet had a yellow tint We spent 11 hours on the boat each day, returning and was definitely not potable. We ran the shower head around 6:30P.M. After quickly unloading the gear to- water through a filter and collection bag. Afterwards I gether, we split up into our different responsibilities. gave it a chlorine dioxide treatment so the water was The coral team immediately started processing tissue safe to drink. The first couple days were an adjustment samples to preserve in a buffer solution for later DNA but after a while Kevin and I made sure that there was analysis. Dimoff would divorce me to help unload always enough drinking water available. tanks, help fill them, and run air tests. I was able to steal Bruce away to help me rinse gear in the Action Packers On principle, nobody went to bed early if they finished and hard cases that we brought as luggage. We generally their work early. We were operating out of a small team draped the dive gear over low hanging beams outside and each did our part to help one another finish so we our room. Wetsuits were hung on a clothes line I made all could collectively go to bed as early as possible. On using some paracord and a few handy knots (thank you average it was lights out at 12:00A.M., midnight, someTate Wester). By then it was 7:00P.M. and time for din- times a little earlier and sometimes later but the next day started at 5:30A.M. again. Unless, it was a dry day! ner.

The Ikari House kitchen served the same meals every We operated on this 19 hour work day cycle for six days 14| Seawords

on, one day dry (not “off ”). The dry days were an opportunity to catch up on sleep (we generally got about eight hours), catch up on data entry, and do outreach.

The first dry day, Dimoff and I were on the computer for eight hours catching up on data entry before taking a break to visit Kiribati’s Independence Day festival. They had the fastest, and sketchiest, Ferris Wheel we had ever seen! The following two dry days we visited local elementary schools to teach the kids about sharks and coral reefs. The 3rd and 4th grade levels had a contagious enthusiasm for science and got so excited whenever we showed them how large some of these apex predators were using pre-measured and cut paracord. On the last dry day, Dimoff and I met with local fish collectors where I led a presentation on dive safety and trained some of them how to use an emergency oxygen unit.

villain.

We had other heroes too that didn’t wear a red mask. In particular we could always count on our neighbor, Bill Kidenstein, to make us laugh. Kidenstein was another longtime resident at Ikari House like us, contracted in to manage the installation of a new waterline in Kiribati. When we were out drilling through terracotta tiles for coral settlement on a dry day, he saved our hands by letting us use a proper electric drill! A hilariously entertaining story from his world travels was something we always looked forward to. And lastly, Tione (we pronounced as “Sony”), our boat driver. Bruce and I referred to him as the “Chosen One,” because he drove the boat at one speed, and one direction.

Undoubtedly, the In our minds, he The 2017 Kiritimati Island Expedition Team. Left: Sean Dimoff (UHM work was hard and is the champion MOP alumnus), Jenn Magel (University of Victoria Master’s Student), intense. All of us were of napping. We Kristina Tietjen (Kiritimati Project Manager, UHH MOP alumna), Dr. pushed to our physilooked forward Julia Baum (University of Victoria Associate Professor, principal invescal and mental limits to see what potigator), Kevin Bruce (UHH MOP alumnus) and Tyler Phelps (UHH while working in such sition he would MOP alumnus). a close environment. choose next, with Our fatigue blossomed inspiring humor, especially my camera in hand of course. famous puns (you want to hear a construction joke? I’m

The Kiritimati expedition was an unforgettable still working on it). It was the little things that kept us experience. Working in a small team in a very remote going, like the truck backing down a few feet farther location has its challenges and rewards from bonding down the beach to unload, an occasional beer with dinwith one another. It was an honor to be a part of such ner or a few extra minutes of sleep in between dives. incredible research while working with an incredible And then there was Darkwing Duck. team. A special thank you to Dr. Julia Baum, Kristina Darkwing is a red and black Muscovy Duck that lived in Tietjen and Jenn Magel for their Herculean logistical efthe house next to where we loaded the boat every day. forts and for allowing us to accompany them. UndoubtHe was always there patrolling the gate. Eventually he edly, the education and training Tietjen, Dimoff, Bruce became our team mascot. He is the hero that Kiribati and I received in MOP and UH prepared us for the rigdeserves, not the one it needs. When he was not at the ors of professional scientific field work. We encourage gate, we assumed he was off fighting his sworn nem- prospective MOP students to join and current MOP esis…illiteracy. Yes, illiteracy. We were a bunch of sleep students to stay the course. Because there’s just no telldeprived nerds, of course we got clever assigning him a ing how far you’ll go… n OCTOBER 2017 |15

By: Jeremy Gasta, UHM MOP Student

Burrunan Dolphin Marine Mammal of the Month: Burrunan Dolphin

Species: Burrunan Dolphin Scientific Name: Tursiops australis Range: Coastal waters off of Victoria, Australia Diet: Fish and squid Size: 7-9 feet long

O

f all the cetaceans and whales, perhaps none is more recognized and loved than the bottlenose dolphin. Bottlenose dolphins have appeared in more media and popular culture than any other kind of cetacean (with the possible exception of the killer whale, or Orcinus orca), and are seen as the good Samaritans of the sea, with their perpetual grins, incredible intelligence, and reputation for rescuing humans in peril. Whether these anthropomorphized representations are better or worse for the dolphins in the end, no one can dispute their ceaseless popularity, and these lovable creatures have long acted as ambassadors to help people develop respect for cetaceans as a whole.

As popular as bottlenose dolphins are, it may come as a surprise that their taxonomic classification actually has a past of being somewhat muddled. While scientists suspected for a long time that there may be two species of bottlenose dolphin, it wasn’t until the advent of molecular genetics and DNA sequencing that two distinct species were officially recognized: the common bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. (Tursiops aduncus). These two were thought to be the only living bottlenose species for many years, until a surprise came in 2011. Researchers from Monash University, in Victoria, the most southeastern Australian province, took DNA samples from a native dolphin population in order to find out which of

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the two species they were. They were surprised to find that their dolphins’ DNA was unique among cetaceans.

Even after re-running the tests, the researchers had to agree: there was a third previously-unrecognized species of bottlenose dolphin swimming right off the coast of a highly populated area, practically on their doorstep.

And thus, Tursiops australis was (taxonomically) born.

It was given the common name of Burrunan dolphin, from the word describing a “large sea fish like a porpoise” in several Aboriginal languages.

Of course, upon closer examination, there are a few physical traits that can identify the Burrunan dolphin apart from its better-known cousins. They are best known for their striking tricoloration: their backs are dark grey, their sides a lighter grey, and their bellies white. While other bottlenose species are also darker on top and lighter underneath, the Burrunan’s tricoloration runs in three distinct bands from top to bottom. There are a few subtle differences in shape as well: Burrunan dolphins have the most curved dorsal fins of the bottlenose trifecta, and a slightly stumpier skull shape. Sizewise, they sit in the middle of their bottlenose peers at a modest seven to nine feet long, shorter than the common bottlenose but larger than the Indo-Pacific species.

They prefer sheltered coastal waters, and are most often found in bays and estuaries that are enclosed on nearly all sides.

Unfortunately, due to being a newly-recognized spe-

cies, the Burrunan dolphin may already be in hot water. Only two populations have been recognized – one in Port Phillip and the other in the Gippsland Lakes – and between those, only 150 individuals have been documented. This may mean that the Burrunan dolphin is immediately graced with the “endangered” status. The fact that it lives so close to population centers means that pollution and other human-induced dangers are its largest ex- The burrunan dolphin was mistaken for a bottlenose dolphin for years, which is shown istential threats right off in this picture above. Aquatic Curiosity, Bottlenose Dolphin by flickker photos, Flickr. the bat of its discovery – the waters they inhabit bottlenose dolphin family, and we already may be at risk endure large amounts of agricultural and urban runoff of losing it. Hopefully we can all come together and save that can choke the ecosystem. the newest and most endangered of the bottlenose. n We’ve only just discovered a brand new member of the

Burrunan Dolphin, Tursiops australis. Photo by Department of Environment and Photostream Industries, Flickr.

OCTOBER 2017 |17

ocean art

Kaleiding Waves Artist: Gina Selig, UHH MOP Student

“I originally painted this using acrylic paint. I wanted to use as many blends of colors to represent the vibrancy of the ocean waves in Hawai‘i during a beautiful sunset. I then used photoshop to get the kaleidoscope pattern centered in the middle.

It represents the awe-inspiring beauty and interconnectedness of the oceans.”

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About the Artist:

I’ve been painting since I was in elementary school where I won my first art competition. Since then I have used water colors and acrylics to paint different landscapes and animals. Being from the Midwest, I started to paint pictures of the ocean before I came to college in Hawai’i. I then started to gravitate to painting only ocean themed pieces. Since my freshman year of college, I’ve painted multiple wave pieces and paintings of whales.

OCTOBER 2017 |19

cean updates

By: Alina Abramovich, 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. Great Barrier Reef. Photo by: European Space Agency, Flickr.

October Surf Outlook Tentative good news everyone - looks like our long, flat Hawaiian summer is drawing to a close. Forecasts across the board appear to be rather optimistic for the incoming early winter swells – at least for those of us residing/surfing on the northern and western shores of the islands. It seems that the south shore swell activities reached their pinnacle the last weekend of August – the tropics and the southern hemisphere swells were more than a little disappointing, hitting a record low since 2011. The north shore has already had a couple of predicted (as well as secret, unpredicted) swells, and climatologists from NOAA noted a favorable pattern

in climate-models to the east of New Zealand as of late September. However, the surf prediction experts over at Surfline noted that over the last 35 odd years the winter swells have been progressively starting later and later into November. Before you start stowing your surf wax away, know that the longer-term forecast through this month and the following winter months still seems overall favorable – the climatology data predict regular surf over shoulder high with increasing probability through October and definitely into November. The northern swell exposure of O’ahu (and the other islands) has always been stronger than the southern exposure – due to a number of factors. These include the fact that the

Crashing surf at the lighthouse in Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i. Photo by Jeff Kramer, Flickr.

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North Pacific is a lot more open and brings the swells right into Hawai‘i without any interference (unlike the South Pacific swells which can bounce around the great number of islands we find south of ours). There is also a lowered chance of swell decay on the northern shores due to closer lows. This past summer the southwest Pacific was ripe with high pressure – closing off the passage of swells to Hawai‘i. With these types of seasonal patterns and data on our surfing sides, there is good reason to believe that this winter will be, at the very least, less heartbreaking than this summer.

When the Wiliwili Bloom “Pua ka wiliwili, nanahu ka manō.” (When the wiliwili tree blooms, the shark bites).

months - particularly in October. With all the good surf predictions that are forecast for this month, however, do not feel exiled from the water due to fear. The best protection against sharks is educating yourself about their migratory patterns and behaviors. Some of the steps you can take to minimize your chances of a negative encounter are staying out of murky water and river mouths, surfing/diving/swimming in a group of people, talking to the lifeguards, heeding any posted beach warnings about possible shark sightings and staying out of the water at dawn, dusk and night. If you are in the water and see any animals (fish, turtles, dolphins) behaving strangely and erratically, calmly exit the water – and, in general, avoid frantic, splashing movements as these can potentially attract sharks. Avoid wearing any shiny swimsuits or jewelry, as sharks can see contrasting colors in the water very well and some theories suggest that the shine from such items of clothing could mimic the scales of a fish. All this is not to scare you out of surfing, swimming or spearing this October, but to simply remind you to always utilize common sense, respect and caution when entering the ocean, especially when there is a reported spike of sharks in the water – it is, after all, the sharks’ home and we are merely visitors.

As many of you have already heard, October is the month in Hawai‘i with the most reported shark attacks – the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) warn beachgoers and surfers to utilize more caution than usual when spending time in the ocean this month. Although your chances of even encountering a shark in the water are fairly slim, this time of the year does coincide with the female tiger shark migration from the Northwestern islands to the main islands in order for them to give birth. In fact, a research study by the University of Hawai‘i and DAR reported 25% of the northwestern female tigers swim to our coastal waters, and this spike in shark numbers, as well as their need to feed due to the energy depletion from the migration, may increase the odds of having an unfavorable interaction with one. From 20122016 there have been from two to four reported shark attacks in the month of October alone.

Although there are only a handful of reported shark attacks in a calendar year, the data do support a spike in attacks in the fall Hammerhead shark, Sphyrnidae. Photo by Bryan Scott, Flickr.

OCTOBER 2017 |21

Garibaldi damselfish, Hypsypops rubicundus. Photo by Spike Stitch, Flickr.

Future of Fish: Fights for the Future of Fish The nonprofit organization Future of Fish has embarked on a mission to try and help solve the sustainability crisis within the fishing industry. As National Geographic reports, the population of large ocean fishes is a mere 10% of what is used to be prior to the 1900s – with many popular, larger species becoming endangered or extinct due to the systematic and highly effective modern fishing methods. Future of Fish is working towards educating fishermen and fisheries on the dangers of these unsustainable methods, as well as striving towards educating the public about what types of fish they should consume in order to support a resurgence of a healthy ocean ecosystem. One of the existing problems marked by the organization was the fact that many fish on the US market today are mislabeled, causing even well-intentioned consumers to purchase at-risk fish. The organization’s founder, Cheryl Dehl, noted that fish populations are capable of rebounding if managed properly – the company plans on utilizing capital incentive to encourage fisheries to choose fishing meth-

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ods that are more sustainable and that do not rely on overfishing or fishing vulnerable species. Future of Fish is also reportedly striving to improve the supply chains of fish and seafood – especially to non-coastal regions.

To show the public the value of buying fresh, local fish, as opposed to nonspecific “fresh” fish (which may be up to a month old at time of purchase), the nonprofit plans to utilize tracking technology to monitor the quality and legality of the fish being caught and sold. This level of transparency will hopefully give the public, as well as fish retailers and suppliers, a realistic and educational view on the realities of the fishing industries and help both the suppliers and the consumers make smarter choices about which seafood they choose to purchase.

In a cyclical, institutionalized problem such as overfishing, this transparency and a viable, sustainable solution may just be the key in helping fish populations recover.

Dehl compared their endeavors to those of Fair Trade coffee companies – noting that “the premium, sustainable market doesn’t have to be the largest percentage of the market to have a big influence.” n

MOP Barbeque

By Kayla White, Associate Editor

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or all who were able to come to the back-to-school barbeque, it was a blast! For the people who couldn’t, it should definitely be on your agenda for next semester. The beach was beautiful and we found out that Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator, can actually cook up some pretty good food!

The day started at 9:00 A.M. and we gathered in the MOP study center to start mingling. After about 30 minutes of waiting for the last few people to come, we got in the air-conditioned vans and started the drive to Bellows Beach.

It was a beautiful drive with mountains, the ocean and a great view of Honolulu. I am relatively new to the island, coming from Texas, so everything is a great view to me.

When we pulled up to Bellows Beach, I was completely in awe. It was beautiful! Light sands, bright blue water and surrounding islands casted an amazing view for all of us. The girls hopped out and almost immediately laid their towels out to start soaking up the sun while the boys helped get some food out of the vans.

Before we could reach the beach though, Jeff warned us all about the Portuguese man o’ war, Physalia physalis, that were in the water and told us that if we saw anything purple, watch out! The interesting creature isn’t a jellyfish, but an organism made up of many smaller organisms to create a functioning, individual animal. Despite their not being a jellyfish, you should be just as watchful for them because they have the same sting as one. Warned, we all kept an eye out for any that had washed up on shore and kept an even closer eye out when we were in the water.

We had only been there for 30 minutes and a girl walked back from the water and said she had already gotten stung. Luckily, it was nothing horrible, just some discomfort so she was able to continue the fun with all of us.

A volleyball was brought out and it turned into a giant game of “How many times can we hit the ball without it touching the ground” and it ended with everyone getting very sandy. After a bit more water time and another man o’ war sting, the food was ready and we all gathered for the burgers and hot dogs.

The barbeque was a potluck so everyone brought different snacks to go along with the meal. We had cookies, salsa (with no chips), potato salad, Chex Mix’s new puppy chow mix and fruit. It was quite the feast. The following hours went by much faster because they consisted of lots of naps whether it was in hammocks or on the beach. We got in the water a bit more and before we knew it we were packing up to head back.

The day went by very fast but only because we were having so much fun. The drive back was just as beautiful and after a short amount of time, we were back on campus. It was definitely worth it and I hope even more people are able to come next semester to enjoy the views, good food and great company! n

MOP students enjoying the water at Bellows Beach. Photo by Alexa Gonzalez, MOP Student Coordinator.

OCTOBER 2017 |23

Actions for the Ocean

GENERATION

BLUE

By: Gina Selig, UHH Mop Student

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or the past 60 years, our ocean and its inhabitants have been subjected to disorder. Manmade and synthetic items such as plastic bags, balloons, shoes, glass and packaging materials have created seas of garbage in the ocean. Marine species can get tangled in this debris.

From fishing nets to six-pack rings, if they get caught in these they can be injured or die.

Many animals also can mistake plastic debris for food which they cannot digest. Not only does marine debris hurt animals, but also us since plastics have harmful chemicals in them. Fish eat plastic.

We eat fish. The question is, can those chemicals harm us?

These problems may add up to just seem like one big depressing story, however, we cannot just look the other way. Although it can be discouraging to hear of all the environmental issues that our world is facing, we must know there is still time to reverse the damage. I believe this generation can make a positive impact and even more so when we join to solve the problems. Beach clean ups are a perfect example of a group activity that can have immense impacts. There is still so much that can be done to help reverse these problems, but together, we can stop ocean pollution since much of it begins on land.

There are many ways that you can stop ocean pollution:

1

: Any time you see litter, wherever it is, pick it up and dispose of it properly. Even if it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem like it is causing harm, plastics can eventually make their way to the ocean by streams and rivers.

Litter. Photo by Twentyfour Students, Flickr.

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Background photo by Jezet, Fickr.

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.

2

: Always make a conscience effort to limit

the amount of pollution you are creating. Try to avoid products with excessive packaging and bring a reusable bag to the grocery store. When you purchase or find a plastic six-pack holder, be sure to cut each hole and properly dispose of it. In the ocean, these rings expand and can ensnare or choke wildlife.

3

Plastic. Photo by Imbecillsallad, Flickr.

: Turn this into a group activity such as a beach

cleanup. Team up with clubs on campus such as the American Cetacean Society (ACS) or even gather a couple friends together; the impacts are limitless.

1664. Photo by Colln, Flickr.

4

: Reduce, reuse, and recycle. We have all heard this say-

ing before, but now you know what happens when you don’t. Also, try to avoid products with excessive packaging and bring a reusable bag to the grocery store. When you purchase or find a plastic six-pack holder, be sure to cut each hole and properly dispose of it. In the ocean, these rings exRecycle. Photo by Alan Levine, Flickr. pand and can ensnare or choke wildlife.

5

: Spread the word to your friends and family! People can’t change what they don’t know about. Explain it even to your little brother or sister the importance of reducing the amount of waste and keeping our oceans clean. Encourage others to incorporate these simple guidelines into their lives as we all can make an impact. Any kind of education and Ocean. Photo by Chris Dodds, Flickr. outreach makes a difference!n *Safety Disclaimer: Always use gloves when picking up litter and never pick up syringes, sharp or dangerous objects, or any medical or hazardous waste. Make sure to thoroughly clean and disinfect any object you decide to keep before bringing it into your home and using for other purposes. Get creative, stay safe.

OCTOBER 2017 |25

October 2017 Monitoring Monk Seals

NOAA Hawaiian Monk Seal Program

5 October Science of Making Babies: can conservation breeding help save monk seals?

19 October Rocky and Kaimana: no ordinary pupping event

12 October

26 October

If a monk seal's on a beach and no one's there to see it...use of remote cameras

A monk seal citizen scientist's legacy

General Information about Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seminars:

Follow us on social media

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FLASHBACK:NOVEMBER 2007 By: Camra Hopper, Editor

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eff Kuwabara (UHM MOP Coordinator), Cammy Dabney (Regional Education Supervisor at Dolphin Quest Hawai‘i), Cindy Hunter (UHM MOP Director) and Sherwood Maynard all volunteered for the “Fishing and Seafood Festival” at Pier 38 in Honolulu Harbor in 2007. This event was sponsored by the United Fishing Agency (UFA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group (PIFG) in order to “focus on outreach and education for the public, fisheries, and seafood processors about the meaning of responsible fishing and sustainable seafood consumption.”

The festival is now known as the Hawaii Fishing Festival and begins on the first Sunday of October (October 1, 2017, this year). It attracts over 20,000 tourist and locals of all ages, every year. The festival invites everyone to taste the delicious seafood by providing access to more than 100 vendors. Guest will also be able to watch live fishing demos, jowin auctions, learn new fishing techniques, tour fishing boats, do Gyotaku printing and games for the keiki to play.

For more information and updates about the 12th Annual Hawai‘i Fishing Festival visit their blog: http://www.hawaiifishingfestival.com/ n

OCTOBER 2017 |27

October Photo credit: Darin Padula, UHM MOP Student and Photography Contestant

Sun.

Mon.

- Nov. 5: Hike to Manoa Falls - Nov. 10: Veterans Day (No School) -Nov. 18: Tour of Hawai‘i Undersea Research Lab

-Nov. 23&24: Thanksgiving Break (No School)

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Next month: November

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

Atlantis Submarine Tour Waikiki 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Tues.

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Happy Halloween!

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MOP & Community Events

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Theater Thursday: Hanauma Bay 3 - 4 pm

Sat.

Tour of Anuenue Fisheries Research Center Sand Island TBA

Theater Thursday: Hanauma Bay 3 - 4 pm

Theater Thursday: Hanauma Bay 3 - 4 pm

Theater Thursday: Hanauma Bay 3 - 4 pm

OCTOBER 2017â&#x20AC;&#x192;|29

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

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