Pacific Islands Region
The marine life found throughout the Insular Pacific Islands have shaped the way of life for this region for thousands of years.
For most people, the Pacific Islands conjure up visions of palm trees, beautiful beaches and a variety of ocean activities. But there is another world beneath the waves where amazing creatures swim through tropical waters that range from abysmal deeps to shallow, stunning coral reefs. The Pacific Islands Region comprises three special areas that protect ocean denizens and ecosystems, as well as our unique island cultural and maritime heritage.
Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary is a place of unique marine habitats and wildlife that provide large-scale ecosystem services for the region and the world. The sanctuary comprises several interconnected ecosystems, such as coral islands surrounded by shallow reefs, low-light mesophotic reefs with extensive algal beds, open ocean waters connected to the greater North Pacific Ocean, deep-water habitats such as abyssal plains 16,400 feet below sea level, and deep reef habitat characterized by seamounts, banks, and shoals.
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary ranges from north to south through the main Hawaiian Islands, with areas off six of the main eight islands. Protecting endangered humpback whales and their habitat, the site engages in education, research and rescue to meet their mission goals.
National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa is the only site located below the equator and in a U.S. Territory. Along with co-managers in the American Samoa Government, the site protects pristine coral reef.
As you explore each of these websites, you will begin to understand that challenges the Pacific Islands Regional Office meets to help coordinate and assist the sites with their responsibilities. Dispersed across the huge Pacific Ocean, these sites are each unique treasures that the regional office will continue to support and coordinate.
Pacific Islands Video Series: Navigating How We Care for Our Ocean
"Navigating How We Care for Our Ocean" is a multi-part video series that highlights the stories of individuals in communities across the Pacific Islands Region dedicated to protecting and preserving our ocean through their professions and passions. Featuring different perspectives, the series features local cultural practitioners alongside NOAA representatives, all of whom share insights into the history, cultural significance, and reverence for our ocean. By focusing on sanctuary protections and cultural practices, the series aims to foster a deeper understanding in how we navigate the interconnectedness of community and ocean stewardship.
Maps
Papahānaumokuākea
