# Survey finds unusually intact ecosystems around two remote Pacific atolls

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-islands-humans-are-yet-to-leave-their-mark-on-scientists-discover-two-wild-and-untouched-worlds-hidden-in-the-pacific/
- Published: 2026-11-11T15:22:48+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T15:32:22+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/article-16284027/two-wild-untouched-worlds-hidden-Pacific.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Research, Science, World

## Key points

- Two remote atolls appear unusually intact.
- Their survey helped establish a 48,000-square-kilometre sanctuary.
- Researchers recorded rich bird, fish and turtle life.

## Summary

Scientists have surveyed Bikar and Bokak, two remote Pacific atolls near the Marshall Islands, and found ecosystems that appear unusually intact. The findings helped support the creation of a 48,000-square-kilometre marine sanctuary, the country’s first national marine protected area.

A 2023 survey examined the atolls from land to deep sea using field observations, cameras and a submarine. Researchers recorded 15 seabird colonies, at least 266 groups of reef fish and 132 green sea turtle nest pits, mostly at Bikar; they also identified 15 groups of open-water predators, with two species that may be new to science. The atolls differ too: Bokak had greater reef-fish biomass, while Bikar supported more algal diversity.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.