ISRA FACTSHEETS
ISRA FACTSHEETS
NEW ZEALAND & PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION
Emily Shipwreck
Summary
Emily Shipwreck is located on the northwestern side of Saipan Island in the Northern Mariana Islands. It is part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States of America. The area is characterised by a World War II airplane wreck, scattered coral reefs, and sandy substrates. Within this area there are: threatened species and resting areas (Whitetip Reef Shark Triaenodon obesus).
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Emily Shipwreck
DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT
Emily Shipwreck is located on the northwestern side of Saipan Island in the Northern Mariana Islands. It is part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States of America. Saipan is the largest of the 14 islands of the Northern Mariana Islands. The mean cover of live hard corals is higher on the west coast of Saipan than in other areas around this island (Brainard et al. 2012). This pattern is likely a result of greater habitat availability for reef development and shelter from wave energy (Brainard et al. 2012). This area is characterised by scattered coral reefs and sandy substrates (The Marianas 2024; FishGuyz 2024). This area was named after a World War II airplane wreck.
This Important Shark and Ray Area is benthopelagic and is delineated from surface waters (0 m) to 10 m based on the bathymetry of the area and species distribution in this area.
CRITERION A
VULNERABILITY
One Qualifying Species considered threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species regularly occurs in the area. This is the Vulnerable Whitetip Reef Shark (Simpfendorfer et al. 2020).
CRITERION C
SUB-CRITERION C3 – RESTING AREAS
Emily Shipwreck is an important resting area for one shark species.
This area is a well-known dive site recognised for the regular and predictable observations of Whitetip Reef Sharks by recreational divers at Saipan Island. Sharks usually rest in aggregations of up to four individuals (The Marianas 2024). From 2015–2024, divers have observed Whitetip Reef Shark aggregations year-round during nearly all of their three weekly visits (J Wolfe pers. obs. 2013–2024). Typically, Whitetip Reef Sharks (2–4 individuals) are observed resting under corals or the shipwreck on the sandy substrate (J Wolfe pers. obs. 2013–2024).
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