Science
Expeditions
2022
July 12 - 28, 2022 (Kuaihelani Expedition)
![Chondria Research team poses in front of the Midway Atoll Refuge office.](/new-news/images/2022/chondria22-1.jpg)
PMNM scientist Brian Hauk, Sanctuary Resource Protection Specialist, leads the investigation of Chondria tumulosa presence at Midway Atoll (Kuaihelani) revealing startling impacts of this and other algal invaders.
![Divers haul large nets onto the boat.](/new-images/news-marine-debris2022_md.jpg)
![Live, freshly collected specimen of Croisettea kalaukapuae.](/new-images/news-new-limu_md.jpg)
![Divers work to remove a large derelict fishing net.](/new-images/news-ghost-nets-removed_md.jpg)
86,000 Pounds of Ghost Nets Removed from a Single Reef in Papahānaumokuākea
![Scientific diver collects green blades of algae at Manawai.](/new-images/news-nitrogen-macroalgae_md.jpg)
Researchers Identify Sources of Nitrogen in Macroalgae in Hawaiʻi
![Pink corals and huge white sponges of Tamana Seamount.](/new-images/news-nautiluslive2022_md.jpg)
Watch undersea exploration live in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
![Martensia abbottiae, a new species of algae from Nihoa Island.](/new-images/news-new-limu-names_md.jpg)
New limu (algae) from the coral reef twilight zone receive Hawaiian species names
2021
August 24, 2021 (M/V IMUA Leg 2)
![Group photo of researchers aboard ship.](/new-news/images/2021/cruise-returns2021-7.jpg)
PMNM scientists return with positive results, discoveries, and startling imagery from the second expedition of the year.
![Diver surveys algal growth along reef.](/new-images/news-cruise-returns2021_md.jpg)
Scientists return from PMNM with positive reports, discoveries
August 2, 2021 (M/V IMUA Leg 1)
![Coral overgrown with alga.](/new-news/images/2021/nuisance-algae3.jpg)
PMNM scientists collect data on nuisance alga in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
![A glass sponge and a snubnosed eel are surrounded by pink corals on Tamana Seamount.](/new-images/news-undersea-exploration_md.jpg)
![Diver cuts a large derelict fishing net off the reef as two divers haul it into the small boat.](/new-images/news-marine-debris2021-2_md.jpg)
Clean-up mission to PMNM returns with more than 124,000 pounds of marine debris
![Woman and man along rocky intertidal zone with limpets in the foreground.](/new-news/images/2017/intertidal-2017-2.jpg)
Native Hawaiian Scientists depart for Papahānaumokuākea
![Left: Reef with fish and coral. Right: Rubble and dead coral.](/new-images/news-coral-alga-research_md.jpg)
Monument Field Research: Summer 2021
![A juvenile Hawaiian Monk Seal rests on top of a pile of ghost nets on the windward shores of Kamole (Laysan Island).](/new-images/news-marine-debris2021-1_md.jpg)
47.2 tons of marine debris removed from Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
2020
July 7, 2020
![College of Charleston professor of biology Heather Spalding documents a mat of invasive algae at Pearl and Hermes Atoll.](/new-images/news-algae-identified_md.jpg)
PMNM collaborators at the University of Hawaiʿi at Mānoa identify mysterious alga as unique, named it Chondria tumulosa. (Sherwood et al. 2020)
2019
October 2, 2019
![Bleaching at Pearl and Hermes Atoll.](/new-news/images/2019/coral-bleaching1.jpg)
PMNM scientists observe coral bleaching in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
August 15, 2019
![Left: Fish school at French Frigate Shoals prior to Hurricane Walaka. Right: Divers observed devastating damage to coral reef sites at French Frigate Shoals.](/new-images/news-coral-alga-research_md.jpg)
PMNM scientists discover coral reef damage and an alarming, unidentified mat forming alga in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
![Kaga gun mount.](/new-images/news-kaga_md.jpg)
WWII Japanese warships discovered off Midway by R/V Petrel
![Deep-sea corals and sponges provide habitat and refuge for many other animals living on or near the seafloor. Here, a sponge covered with hundreds to thousands of tiny anemones also provides a home to several brittlestars (pink), crinoids or “sea lilies” (yellow), and a basket star (brown).](/new-images/news-falkor2019_md.jpg)
Necker Ridge: Bridge or Barrier?
Watch live streaming undersea exploration
![Four wahine researchers head out to Papahānaumokuākea aboard the <i>Searcher</i>.](/new-images/news-searcher2019_md.jpg)
Mai Ka Pō - Return to the Source
Journey to Papahānaumokuākea aboard the Searcher
2018
October 23, 2018
![Satellite image of Hurricane Walaka.](/new-images/news-ffs-bulletin_md.jpg)
PMNM scientists observe coral bleaching in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
![Satellite image of Hurricane Walaka.](/new-images/news-ffs-bulletin_md.jpg)
French Frigate Shoals Impacted by Hurricane Walaka »
![The after satellite image of the impacts upon East Island from Hurricane Walaka in French Frigate Shoals.](/new-images/news-ffs-walaka_md.jpg)
Assessing the Damage: The First Step After Hurricane Walaka »
![map of Papahānaumokuākea.](/new-images/news-nautilus2018_md.jpg)
Scientists embark on expedition to explore seamounts in Papahānaumokuākea »
View more expeditions »
2017
![NOAA maritime archaeologist Dr. Kelly Keogh investigates an anchor at the Two Brothers shipwreck site at French Frigate Shoals.](/new-images/news-twobrothers2017_md.jpg)
Whaleship in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands makes history – again »
![Rock crabs, or aʻama, are common in the spalsh zone in both the main and northwestern Hawaiian islands.](/new-images/news-intertidal-2017_md.jpg)
Scientists Monitor ‘Opihi and other Intertidal Species in Papahānaumokuākea »
![A large ulua (giant trevally) swims amidst a school of omilu (bluefin trevally) while divers survey corals at French Frigate Shoals.](/new-images/news-ramp-2017_md.jpg)
The 2017 RAMP Expedition to Papahānaumokuākea Embarks »
![NOAA maritime archaeologists survey the remains of a sunken World War II era aircraft at Midway Atoll, credit: NOAA/PMNM](/new-images/news-midway-expedition_md.jpg)
![Image of Agencies Remove Estimated 100,000 Pounds of Marine Debris from Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument](/new-news/images/2017/marine-debris-event_md.jpg)
2016
![Scientists discover new deep-sea Butterflyfish species](/new-news/images/2016/butterflyfish-2016_md.jpg)
Scientists discover new deep-sea Butterflyfish species »
![Deep Reefs off Kure Atoll Harbor Fish Species Unique to Hawaiʻi](/new-news/images/2016/fish-species_md.jpg)
Deep Reefs off Kure Atoll Harbor Fish Species Unique to Hawaiʻi »
![Twelve Tons of Marine Debris Removed from Papahānaumokuākea](/new-news/images/2016/marine-debris-removed_md.jpg)
Twelve Tons of Marine Debris Removed from Papahānaumokuākea »
![Expedition Departs to Papahānaumokuākea for Annual Intertidal Surveys](/new-news/images/2016/intertidal-surveys_md.jpg)
Expedition Departs to Papahānaumokuākea for Annual Intertidal Surveys »
![Okeanos Explorer departs to Survey Deep-Sea Areas in Papahānaumokuākea](/new-news/images/2016/okeanos-departure_md.jpg)
Okeanos Explorer departs to Survey Deep-Sea Areas in Papahānaumokuākea »
![New Algae Species Discovered in Hawaii's Deep Waters](/new-news/images/2016/deep-algae_md.jpg)
New Algae Species Discovered in Hawaii's Deep Waters »
View more expeditions »