Reefs & Shoals

[ Arakane Reef | Pathfinder Reef | Santa Rosa Reef | Stingray Shoals ]

The submerged reefs & shoals of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Guam are an expanse of habitat supporting a wide range of coral reef organisms. The reefs that have been at least partially mapped are listed above, but there are many other banks in CNMI-Guam area that have not yet been mapped with multibeam surveys.

Arakane Reef

Arakane Reef is located approximately 325 km west-northwest of Saipan in the West Mariana Arc. On NOAA’s Nautical Chart 81004, it is identified by a single sounding of 5 fm (9m). It is smaller than indicated on the chart and its true center is approximately 1 km southeast of the center of the charted reef. It was mapped in September 2003 using single-beam sonar and an underwater video camera during the NOAA MARAMP cruise. Encrusting and fleshy algae, hard and soft corals, and sand were seen on hard substrate ridges.

 

 

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Small Uracas 10 meter grid image.

 

 

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Pathfinder Reef

Pathfinder Reef is located approximately 275 km west of Anatahan in the West Mariana Arc. Pathfinder Bank is 3 km southeast of its plotted position on NOAA’s Nautical Chart 81004 and includes areas shallower than 10 m, rather than the 8 fathoms (15 m) shown on the chart. It was mapped in September 2003 using single-beam sonar and an underwater video camera during the NOAA MARAMP cruise. Hard and soft corals were found on ridges of carbonate pavement, separated by channels containing rubble.

 

 

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Small Uracas 10 meter grid image.

 

 

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Santa Rosa Reef

Santa Rosa Reef is located about 25 nautical miles (46 km) south-southwest of the island of Guam. It is a mostly flat-topped bank with one reaches as shallow as 7 m below sea level. Most of the bank top is characterized by moderate relief, lots of algae, scattered corals and a few reef fish.

 

 

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Small Uracas 10 meter grid image.

 

 

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Stingray Shoals

Stingray Shoals is located in the West Mariana Ridge, approximately 275 km west of the island of Uracas. The ridge is a remnant volcanic arc, and the morphology of Stingray Shoals is a typical the other seamounts there. It is a steep-sided pinnacle with a well-developed continuous reef on the small summit (approximately 300 m x 500 m). Despite its remote location at the northern edge of the Ridge, evidence of fishing activity is present, including anchors and long-line gear on the reef.

 

 

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Small Uracas 10 meter grid image.

 

 

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