Conserving marine life at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge

Marine Life Conservation at Midway

Larger species, like this spectacular
hapu`upu`u, are common

Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge includes nearly 300,000 acres of lagoon and surrounding nearshore waters. Over 250 species of fish and a huge diversity of marine invertebrates inhabit the lagoon and surrounding waters.

Sharing the marine habitat are approximately 50-65 Hawaiian monk seals, representing a species that is in serious jeopardy of extinction. Midway's beaches provide critically important habitat where monk seals raise their pups. Threatened green sea turtles are most common offshore of Sand Island's beaches, but they are seen by divers and fishermen throughout the lagoon and surrounding nearshore waters. A population of about 300 spinner dolphins also inhabit Midway's lagoon during daylight hours and typically exit the lagoon each evening to feed in deeper waters.

For a more in-depth look at Midway's marine fauna, click on:

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Last Modified: June 28, 2000.