Researchers have discovered two islands in the Pacific Ocean that have been virtually untouched by humans, where wildlife and marine life are flourishing and may be entirely new to science.
The islands, called Bikar and Bokak, are part of the Marshall Islands, and scientists believe they represent some of the few relatively undisturbed ecosystems on Earth.
According to a study published Wednesday in Frontiers in Marine Science, researchers found hundreds of different groups of fish, vast seabird colonies, nesting sea turtles and thriving coral reefs.
The findings were the result of a 2023 expedition in which the scientists made use of underwater cameras, scuba diving equipment and a submarine to explore the islands and surrounding waters.
They recorded at least 266 species of reef fish, 138 species of deeper water fish, and 79 species of deep-sea fish.
They discovered two species that were previously unknown to science.
The researchers also identified 15 seabird colonies and 132 green sea turtle nesting pits, mostly concentrated on Bikar.
Bikar and Bokak are situated 116 and 385 km away from the nearest inhabited islands and have survived much of the damage resulting from high human activities.
The islands are important natural laboratories that offer insights into the natural functioning of healthy ocean ecosystems, said marine ecologist Dr Alan Friedlander of the University of Hawaii.
However, the islands are not completely free from human influence. Scientists found introduced rats, while climate change and ocean warming continue to threaten their fragile environments.
The Marshall Islands designated approximately 48,000 square kilometres surrounding the islands as its first national marine sanctuary in 2025.
Researchers believe studying these relatively untouched ecosystems could help scientists understand how to restore damaged coral reefs and protect marine biodiversity elsewhere.Â
