MARSHALL Islands President Hilda Heine returned from the Island States Ocean Summit in Tokyo and, on World Oceans Day, descended into the deep waters off Majuro aboard a National Geographic Pristine Seas submersible, gaining a rare look at the marine ecosystems the Marshall Islands is working to protect.
The dive, conducted on the ocean side of Ajokla, took place aboard the MV Argo and highlighted the country’s broader conservation priorities at a moment when ocean protection is under global scrutiny.
The president’s visit placed national policy and scientific exploration side by side, underscoring the role of the sea in the Marshall Islands’ environmental future.
The submersible experience also capped National Geographic Pristine Seas’ second expedition to the country, carried out at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands through MIMRA.
Over two legs from March to June, scientists and local experts surveyed seven locations Ailuk, Toke, Jemo, Edrikub, Ailinginae, Enewetak and Ujelang studying seabirds, marine mammals, vegetation, coral reef systems, pelagic predators and deep-sea habitats down to 6,000 meters.
Those findings will feed into the Reimaanlok framework and be shared with local communities, where traditional knowledge and stewardship remain central to managing natural resources.
Across two expedition legs from March to June, scientists and local experts surveyed seven locations, reflecting the scale of the work underway to map and understand the country’s marine environment.
