Deep-Sea Habitats of the Marshall Islands

In 2006, the Marshall Islands joined the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under the #MicronesiaChallenge, a commitment with numerous environmental stewardship goals, including to sustainably manage 50% of marine resources by 2030. In 2008, the Marshall Islands Government developed the Reimaanlok Framework for establishing and managing conservation areas.

In 2025, the Republic of the Marshall Islands established the nation’s first national marine sanctuary, protecting 48,000 square kilometers of land and water surrounding Bikar and Bokak Atolls, including extensive deep-water areas that have not yet been explored.

Pictured is a fragmented lava suspended in lithified sediment. When exposed to UV light, the sediment phosphoresces, glowing green for several seconds. This brief "glow in the dark" effect tells us that the sediment is made out of calcite and/or a phosphate mineral.