A school of galapagos sharks/manō (Carcharhinus galapagensis) at Maro Reef

Papahānaumokuākea is home to one of the world’s last apex predator-dominated coral reef ecosystems, abounding in manō (sharks) and ulua (jacks). This ecosystem is characteristic of reefs that are unaffected by human exploitation and still exists here thanks to its isolation and high degree of protection.