Our September 2025 issue is a mix of stories that made us stop and think. A sawfish stuck in a culvert in Tampa Bay that scientists fought to save. A lone sailor taking a catamaran across the Pacific because he believes conservation should be bold. A canyon off Argentina that turned out to be crawling with species no one had even named yet. And art that reminds us water is memory and healing. Each piece feels alive, like the ocean itself. And we hope you will find something in here that stays with you.

Marshall Islands: Pacific Ocean Time Machine

In a groundbreaking conservation move, the Marshall Islands has established its first national marine sanctuary around the remote Bikar and Bokak atolls, protecting 48,000 square kilometers of pristine Pacific waters. National Geographic’s 452-dive expedition revealed ecosystems so untouched they represent “the ocean of 1,000 years ago” – harboring the region’s largest green turtle colonies, healthiest coral reefs, and abundant deep-sea sharks. Using traditional Reimaanlok knowledge alongside cutting-edge science, this sanctuary offers hope that protection and sustainable use can coexist in our changing ocean. [Read more]

Marshall Islands’ Nuclear Exodus

Forty years ago, 350 Marshall Islanders made an extraordinary choice – abandon their ancestral home of Rongelap atoll rather than continue living with radioactive contamination from decades of U.S. nuclear testing. Operation Exodus saw Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior ferry an entire community 180 kilometers to safety, defying American authorities who dismissed the evacuation as environmental manipulation. This defining act of resistance put human faces on nuclear consequences and forged an enduring partnership between Pacific islanders and global activists that continues today. [Read more]

Marshall Islands Leads Pacific Climate Diplomacy

At the forefront of global climate advocacy, the Marshall Islands leverages centuries of traditional Pacific knowledge to address modern ocean challenges. President Dr. Hilda Heine’s recent address at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice demonstrated how Indigenous wisdom in weather forecasting, sustainable fisheries, and navigation offers vital solutions for a planet in crisis. Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, these island nations face existential threats from sea level rise and ocean acidification, making their voice both urgent and essential in international climate policy. [Read more]

Marshall Islands, a Pacific Sanctuary of Biodiversity

Remote and rarely visited, the Marshall Islands offer pristine lagoons, coral reefs, and uninhabited atolls teeming with marine life. Divers can explore WWII shipwrecks now transformed into living reefs, while communities balance traditional culture with the legacy of U.S. nuclear testing and the challenges of climate change. For travelers seeking biodiversity, this Pacific nation is a sanctuary like no other. [Read more]

Drowning My Ego in the Maldives

Obsessed with tiger sharks, the author traveled to Fuvahmulah, Maldives, only to find deeper lessons in fear, humility, and unexpected encounters with thresher sharks. A follow-up journey to Malapascua in the Philippines revealed these elusive predators up close in calmer waters, teaching that sometimes the ocean’s rarest wonders come not through pushing limits but through patience and presence. [Read more]

The Magnificent Coral Spawning Phenomenon

Each August, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico hosts one of the Caribbean’s largest coral spawning events—an underwater snowstorm of eggs and sperm released in perfect lunar synchrony. This dazzling display fuels genetic diversity, and critical research into how corals reproduce in a changing climate. For divers, it’s a rare chance to witness the ocean’s power of regeneration firsthand. [Read more]

Argentina’s Hidden Canyon Reveals 40 New Species (Ft. Patrick Star!)

A Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition to Argentina’s Mar del Plata Canyon stunned scientists and the public alike, documenting coral gardens, suspected new species, and even a starfish that looked like Patrick Star. Nearly 18 million people tuned in live, making it one of the most watched deep-sea explorations ever. The discovery highlighted both the ocean’s vast unknowns and the urgent need to protect them from human impact. [Read more]

Endangered Sawfish Trapped in Tampa Bay Saved by Scientists

A 7.4-foot smalltooth sawfish, trapped in a Tampa Bay wetland, was safely rescued and released by a team from Havenworth Coastal Conservation, FWC, and NOAA. The endangered fish was tagged with a transmitter to track its movements and sampled for research, offering rare insights into a species now found almost exclusively in Florida. With sawfish populations under severe pressure from habitat loss and mysterious “spinning” behavior, every individual’s survival matters. [Read more]

Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation Co-Hosts Seal Health Week

Cape Town hosted the first-ever Seal Health Week, a collaboration led by the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation and partners to strengthen marine mammal conservation in Southern Africa. Experts trained in disentanglement, veterinary care, and monitoring, while also engaging the public on reducing plastic waste and supporting marine protected areas. The event showcased how shared knowledge and teamwork can create lasting impact for seals and wider ocean ecosystems. [Read more]

Why Healthy Oceans Are Our Best Defense Against Hurricanes

Two decades after Hurricane Katrina, one lesson stands out: healthy seas protect our shores. Wetlands, reefs, and seagrass buffer storm surge, yet the systems that safeguard them are being dismantled. As hurricanes grow stronger and more costly, investing in ocean health is no longer optional but essential for coastal resilience. [Read more]

Scientists Develop Solutions for Mining Water Contamination

Researchers in Canada have tested nature-inspired filters called permeable reactive barriers to clean toxic mining wastewater in Arctic conditions. Using gravel, iron, and wood chips, the system removed more than 95% of arsenic and trapped uranium effectively at just 5°C. While nitrate proved harder to manage, the study shows how semi-passive, low-cost treatments could protect northern waterways as mining expands across fragile Arctic ecosystems. [Read more]

Record-Breaking Waterman Sets Sail Solo for Sea Conservation

South African ocean conservationist Chris Bertish has embarked on a 2,800-mile solo journey from San Diego to Hawaii aboard The Wildcat, a 20-foot beach catamaran with no cabin or shelter. The TransCat Expedition 2025 is the first attempt of its kind, combining extreme endurance with a mission to raise funds and awareness for marine protection, reef restoration, and global education initiatives. [Read more]

The Global Ocean Development Forum Exhibits “Healing Waters”

At this year’s Global Ocean Development Forum in Shandong, China, artist Selva Ozelli’s Healing Waters series will be exhibited at the Lixian Art Museum from September 7–10. The paintings highlight conservation efforts in Chesapeake Bay and honor the extinct Maryland Darter, using art as a call to heal waters worldwide. The exhibition runs alongside the international forum on sustainable ocean development. [Read more]

Hunting and Angling Leaders Speak Out Against Senate Plan

Top voices from the hunting and angling community, including leaders from MeatEater, Trout Unlimited, and the National Wildlife Federation, have released a joint video urging the U.S. Senate to abandon proposals to sell public lands. Representing millions of hunters and anglers, they warn that once these lands are lost, they are gone forever, and call on Congress to end large-scale land sale efforts immediately. [Read more]

Population Growth Might Impact Availability and Access

A new Forum paper by Mark Cromer explores how rising population, and social media trends are making America’s open spaces harder to access. Once-public refuges are increasingly treated as luxury amenities, with overcrowding, development, and budget cuts threatening equitable access to nature for all. [Read more]

During the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) brought international attention to the importance of traditional Pacific knowledge in confronting today’s ocean and climate challenges.

Traditional Knowledge Meets Modern Science

Her Excellency Dr. Hilda C. Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, took part in Ocean Action Panel 7, which focused on the connections between ocean, climate, and biodiversity. She highlighted the essential role of traditional knowledge systems in Pacific communities and encouraged greater integration of these practices with modern science. President Heine pointed out that Pacific societies have long relied on this knowledge in areas such as weather forecasting, sustainable fisheries, navigation, and agriculture.

She called on global financing institutions to recognize the value of Indigenous approaches and to invest in Pacific-led solutions.

Triple Planetary Crisis Impact

Her remarks came as Pacific Island nations continue to experience severe consequences from the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Countries like the Marshall Islands, which contribute very little to global emissions, are among the most vulnerable to sea level rise, marine heatwaves, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events.

UNOC3 was held in Nice, France from 9 to 13 June 2025. Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, the conference brought together heads of state, scientists, civil society leaders, Indigenous representatives, and private sector actors to mobilize urgent and science-based action to protect the ocean. The conference concluded with the adoption of the Nice Ocean Action Plan, a negotiated political declaration and a registry of voluntary commitments from all sectors.

Ocean-Based Climate Solutions

President Heine also spoke about the term “ocean-based climate solutions,” urging more clarity around its meaning. She noted that the concept is often too vague and may include controversial practices like geoengineering, which are not supported by Pacific leaders. However, she said there are approaches that the region is eager to pursue, such as Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion and tidal and wave energy systems. These options, she explained, remain out of reach for many due to serious financial and technological barriers.

She called for countries to submit more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to help keep the 1.5-degree warming target within reach. She also emphasized the importance of honoring the commitments made at COP28 in Dubai, including those related to phasing out fossil fuels.

Pacific Climate Leadership

According to President Heine, Pacific climate strategies are already highly ambitious. She suggested that ocean-based adaptation and renewable energy systems could be a strong part of these strategies, but underscored that meaningful progress will require access to international finance.

The Marshall Islands was part of a large Pacific delegation in Nice, joined by leaders from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu, and others. The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) provided support to the group as part of the One CROP collaboration.

Call for Global Action

President Heine concluded by stressing the need for deeper global understanding of the ocean, the importance of grounding policy in science, and the urgency of turning commitments into action to protect marine ecosystems for present and future generations.

UNOC3 built on the progress made during previous UN Ocean Conferences, hosted in New York in 2017 by Sweden and Fiji, and in Lisbon in 2022 by Portugal and Kenya. For more information, visit: https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025

Earlier this year, the Republic of the Marshall Islands announced protection of two of the country’s remote and northernmost isles, untouched havens of biodiversity sheltering the nation’s largest green turtle nesting colony and deep sea sharks. The country’s first national marine sanctuary — which covers 48,000 square kilometers of water — is an exceedingly rare glimpse into a pristine part of the Pacific Ocean.

The area around the two uninhabited atolls, Bikar and Bokak, and the nearby deep sea will be fully protected from fishing.

“The ocean as our ancestors knew it is vanishing,” remarked Dr. Hilda Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. “Without sustainable ocean ecosystems, our economy, stability and cultural identity will collapse. The only way to continue benefiting from the ocean’s treasures is to protect it. I am proud of our country’s first marine sanctuary, which certainly won’t be its last.”

Benefits of Marine Protection

Marine protected areas (MPAs) where fishing and other damaging activities are banned restore marine life within their boundaries. That, in turn, replenishes nearby fish populations and improves local fishing, provides jobs and economic benefits, and builds resilience against a warming ocean.

“The ocean is life,” said Glen Joseph, Director of the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA). “The world’s ocean is being degraded, but we are able to bring part of it back by recognizing that protection and food production are not mutually exclusive. Safeguarding areas of high biodiversity delivers benefits to local communities who rely on fish and other aspects of a healthy environment. Our future depends on protecting our ocean.”

The Reimaanlok Conservation Approach

The Marshall Islands is conserving its atolls as part of its unique conservation approach, known as Reimaanlok. Meaning ‘look towards the future,’ the Reimaanlok process relies on cultural insights and traditional knowledge to drive conservation. As part of this approach, coastal communities work together to design their own resource management plans for how to sustainably and equitably use their local terrestrial and marine resources.

Scientific Expedition Reveals Pristine Ecosystem

During an expedition to Bikar and Bokak in 2023, National Geographic Pristine Seas and MIMRA gathered data about marine life from the surface to 2,340 meters depth — from lagoons and coral reefs to far offshore. The team of scientists and filmmakers used visual SCUBA surveys of coral reefs and open water environments; dropped cameras to the sea floor; counted and identified seabirds; tested genetic material found in the water; and explored little-known portions of the underwater environment in a submersible.

“Bikar and Bokak’s coral reefs are a time machine, like diving in the ocean of 1,000 years ago,” remarked Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and founder of Pristine Seas. “In these remote atolls, we saw the healthiest coral, giant clam, and reef fish populations in the central and western Pacific. They are our best baselines for what the ocean could look like if we truly let it be.”

Research Collaboration and Findings

During its expedition, Pristine Seas collaborated with local researchers and government officials, including Iroojlaplap (High Chief) Bokloñ Zackious and Mayor Tobin Kaiko of the Utrik Atoll Local Government. The team conducted a staggering 452 dives around Bikar, Bokak, Bikini, and Rongerik atolls. That equates to 643 hours spent underwater. The team then shared a scientific report with decisionmakers to ensure they had the data needed to inform the Reimaanlok.

Key Discoveries

The expedition team noted that Bikar and Bokak harbor:

• The largest green turtle nesting colony and seabird colonies in RMI
• Mature Pisonia forests in excellent condition
• The highest coral cover and giant clam densities in the central and western Pacific
• High coral resilience to global warming
• The highest reef fish biomass in the tropical Pacific Ocean
• A large abundance of vulnerable species such as large groupers, Napoleon wrasse and bumphead parrotfish
• The presence of rare fish spawning aggregations and shark mating
• Little known deep-sea communities with potentially new species of fishes and invertebrates
• Abundant deep-sea sharks

Nuclear Legacy and Conservation Context

Bikar and Bokak stand in contrast to Bikini Atoll, which was used as a nuclear test site in the wake of WWII. At the request of MIMRA, Pristine Seas studied Bikini atoll to help the country establish its first long-term monitoring sites using standard data collection methodologies and Rongerik Atoll as an unbombed reference site.

Content and image courtesy of National Geographic Pristine Seas / MIMRA

About the Organization

National Geographic Pristine Seas works with Indigenous and local communities, governments, and other partners to protect vital places in the ocean through research, policy, and filmmaking. Since 2008, Pristine Seas has helped establish 30 marine protected areas, spanning more than 6.9 million square kilometers of ocean.

Pristine Seas is part of the global non-profit, the National Geographic Society. Our mission is driven by science and filmmaking — we are fully independent from National Geographic publishing and its media arm.

Pristine Seas’ work is made possible through the generous support of the Beagle Charitable Foundation, Allison Bennington, Bezos Earth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Campbell Foundation, Disney Conservation Fund, Don Quixote Foundation, The Heinz Family Foundation, Anne K. Howson, Levy Foundation, LGT Venture Philanthropy, Lindblad Expeditions– National Geographic Fund, Look and See Foundation, Ann Luskey, Oracle, Philip Stephenson Foundation, Postcode Lottery Group, Rituals, Serventi Family Foundation, Tanka Foundation, Ted and Michele Waitt–TTMMC Fund, UBS Optimus Foundation, Walmart Foundation, an anonymous donor, and other individual donors.

The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content. To learn more, visit www.nationalgeographic.org