August 7, 2025 — Scientists have returned from a 3-month expedition assessing coral reef health and ocean conditions in Wake Atoll, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The effort was part of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program. The mission, funded by the Coral Reef Conservation Program, broke previous records for the number of fish and benthic surveys completed in a single year for this region.
Each year, scientists from NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center spend several months at sea gathering long-term data to monitor changes in coral reef ecosystems. These data help scientists, resource managers, and communities conserve reefs that protect our coastlines, sustain fisheries, and power local economies.
This year’s mission took scientists, aboard NOAA ship Oscar Elton Sette, to the coral reefs of the Mariana Archipelago and Wake Atoll. Since the early 2000s, NOAA Fisheries has surveyed this region regularly, and the data collected this year will further enhance the long-term dataset. Summarized results from recent years are available through NOAA’s Data Visualization Tool, and all data can be accessed via Data.gov by searching “National Coral Reef Monitoring Program.”
Survey Study Area
Scientists traveled more than 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles) from Honolulu, Hawai‘i to Wake Atoll. That’s roughly the same distance as crossing the continental United States from coast to coast! During the 10-day journey aboard Oscar Elton Sette, they prepared gear and instruments for the upcoming coral reef surveys.
Following 6 days of surveys around Wake Atoll, the ship traveled another 6 days to reach Guam. Over the next 2 months, scientists completed surveys throughout the Mariana Archipelago. They collected data critical to understanding the health and resilience of coral reefs in the region.
Islands visited in the Mariana archipelago:
- Uracas (also known as Farallon de Pájaros)
- Maug
- Agrihan
- Pagan
- Alamagan
- Guguan
- Sarigan
- Saipan
- Tinian
- Aguijan
- Rota
- Guam