The Magazine of The Sierra Club
Ian Shive's Marine National Monuments
Stills from the film “Hidden Pacific”
The stunning manta rays seen here were photographed in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument—where threatened and endangered species, such as these rays, can survive and thrive.
Eastern Island on Midway Atoll in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Spanning a distance of 1,200 miles of pristine reefs and atolls and 582,578 square miles of surrounding waters, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is one of the largest World Heritage Sites and one of the largest marine protected areas in the world, as well as the largest conservation area in the United States.
A white tern chick on Rose Atoll. Rose Atoll is the most important seabird colony in the region, since approximately 97 percent of the seabird population of American Samoa resides on Rose. The two islands provide important nesting and roosting habitat for 12 species of federally protected migratory seabirds.
Healthy, vibrant coral reefs are critical to ocean health and resilience in the face of climate change. The one seen here, from Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, is featured in the film Hidden Pacific. More than 400 different species of fish are found in the waters surrounding Palmyra Atoll, one of the most pristine habitats in the world. From these protected waters, scientists and researchers gain knowledge that can be applied elsewhere to improve coral reef management in more threatened areas.
Laysan albatross on Midway Atoll, part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, located in the northwest Hawaiian Islands, though not part of the state of Hawaii. The oldest banded wild bird, a Laysan albatross named Wisdom, makes her home on Midway Atoll. She is thought to be about 68 years old. She recently laid an egg and over her lifetime has raised 30 to 35 chicks.
Plastic pieces are all that remain in a decaying Laysan albatross on Midway Atoll. Plastic pollution is a major issue on Midway Atoll and the surrounding areas. Birds mistakenly ingest the tiny, colorful pieces of plastic floating on the water, thinking they’re food, and then feed the trash to their young. As a result, many juvenile albatross do not survive.
The coral reefs of Rose Atoll Marine National Monument. At low tide, the turquoise blue waters and coralline algae of the reefs create a look similar to the hot springs in another protected area—Yellowstone National Park. Though unlike in Yellowstone, the water is a cool(er) 84 degrees. Coralline algae is the primary reef-building species in shallow depths.
A robber crab, otherwise known as a coconut crab, in Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. The robber crab is the largest living land invertebrate in the world. Their large claws make it easy for them to crack open coconuts.
An aerial view of Rose Atoll, one of the most pristine atolls in the world and home to many threatened and endangered species. Located in the South Pacific Ocean, at the southernmost point in the United States, Rose Atoll Marine National Monument covers approximately 13,400 square miles and encompasses the Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. The atoll is part of American Samoa, a US territory.
A green sea turtle rests on a beach on Midway Atoll, part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The near-pristine reefs, islands, and waters of the marine national monuments provide refuge to a wide array of threatened and endangered species, including the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal, the critically endangered Laysan duck, and the endangered green sea turtle.
Coming to a science museum IMAX theater near you, Hidden Pacific reveals never-before-seen footage of the Pacific Ocean’s marine national monuments. These critical ocean habitats are spaces designated for important scientific ecological research. Unfortunately, some monuments featured in the film—including the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument and the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument—are at risk of being downsized by the Trump administration. And many birds and marine mammals that make appearances, including the Laysan albatross and the Hawaiian monk seal, are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
The filmmaker behind Hidden Pacific is none other than nature photographer Ian Shive, winner of the Sierra Club’s highest photography honor: the Ansel Adams Award for Conservation Photography. The idea behind his latest film is to provide museumgoers with a glimpse of healthy ecosystems that are relatively untouched by humans and, ever rarer, largely shielded from the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.
"The inspiration for this project came out of a realization that most Americans have no idea that our public lands include marine national monuments,” Shive told Sierra. “Conservation causes that are within reach, like Bears Ears National Monument, are able to gain support because we are familiar with them. However, these remote marine national monuments of the Pacific Ocean—an area, when combined, that is one of the largest conservation areas in the world—is completely absent from most people's awareness. I saw an opportunity with this film to help make people aware of these places, to help them understand their value to our country and to our planet.”
Theaters and museums screening the film are listed on Hidden Pacific’s website. We’ve assembled several stills from the film right here.