Science and Stewardship in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

The NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette is departing on a 23-day research expedition throughout the main and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to support research and recovery of the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and green sea turtles. During its voyage from April 15 to May 7, the Sette will deploy researchers and their equipment at five sites: French Frigate Shoals, Laysan Island, Lisianski Island, Pearl and Hermes Reef, and Kure Atoll.

The crew of the Sette will transport tents, stoves, solar power arrays, computers, small boats, and provisions sufficient to sustain teams of 1–4 scientists at each location for 4–5 months. Everything brought ashore must be quarantined, transported by hand, and shuttled on small boats from the ship to the islands. This extra care is necessary because the scientists want to protect these fragile ecosystems where there are very few invasive species. Biologists will also take day trips to survey Ni‘ihau Island, Nihoa Island, Mokumanamana Island, and Midway Atoll.