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ISRA FACTSHEETS

NEW ZEALAND & PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION

ISRA FACTSHEETS

NEW ZEALAND & PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION

Hanakee ISRA

88/179

Hanakee ISRA

Hanakee

Summary

Hanakee is located in the south of Hiva Oa Island in the Marquesas Archipelago of French Polynesia. This area encompasses Hanakee Islet and is characterised by plankton rich waters and patches of hard coral reef. The area is influenced by the Island Mass Effect. Within this area there are: threatened species, feeding areas and undefined aggregations (Reef Manta Ray Mobula alfredi).

Hanakee

Hanakee

DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT

Hanakee is located on the southern coast of Hiva Oa Island in the Marquesas Archipelago of French Polynesia. The area encompasses the Motu Hanakee (Hanakee Islet). Hanakee is characterised by small patches of shallow hard coral (<10 m) along the north side of the islet and steeper rocky reefs on the south side (M Santangelo pers. obs. 2023). The area is influenced by high primary productivity that is attributed to the interaction between the strong currents that continuously flow around the archipelago and the complex underwater topography of these islands (Martinez & Maamaatuaiahutapu 2004; Agence des Aires Marines Protégées 2016).

This Important Shark and Ray Area is benthopelagic and is delineated from inshore and surface waters (0 m) to 100 m based on the bathymetry of the 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 Reef Manta Ray (Marshall et al. 2022).

CRITERION C

SUB-CRITERION C2 – FEEDING AREAS

Hanakee is an important feeding area for one ray species.

Between 2018–2024, snorkelling and dive surveys using photo-identification (n = 24) and citizen science observations were conducted in the area, resulting in a total of 79 sightings of 73 Reef Manta Rays (Carpentier et al. 2019; M Santangelo pers. obs. 2023; French Polynesia Manta Project unpubl. data 2024). A total of 22 different aggregations (up to 15 individuals at a time) of Reef Manta Rays have been recorded during the following months and years: September 2013, November 2017, August 2018, January 2020, May 2022, July 2022, February 2023, March 2024, and July 2024 (M Santangelo pers. obs. 2023; A Carpentier pers. obs. 2023; French Polynesia Manta Project unpubl. data 2024). Although, no dedicated surveys were conducted during the months of April, June, or October across the years (French Polynesia Manta Project unpubl. data 2024), local ecological knowledge from residents and recreational divers show that this area is as a major feeding site for Reef Manta Rays with regular aggregations ranging 5–30 individuals (H Kaimuko pers. comm. 2024). Reef Manta Ray regularly aggregate in the area, with feeding behaviour observed in 53% (n = 37) of all observations (French Polynesia Manta Project unpubl. data 2024; M Santangelo pers. obs. 2023; A Carpentier pers. obs. 2023). Feeding strategies observed in the area included straight feeding, surface feeding, chain feeding, cyclone feeding in small groups, piggy-back feeding, and somersault feeding (Stevens et al. 2018; A Carpentier pers. obs. 2024).

Feeding behaviour was also the most frequent behaviour observed on Reef Manta Rays during the Pakaihi i te Moana campaign across the Marquesas Islands (Agence des Aires Marines Protégées 2016) between October 2011 and February 2012 which conducted 11 dives around the island of Hiva Oa, where the area is located (Mourier 2012).

The observed feeding aggregations in this area may be linked to the increased productivity that the Marquesas Archipelago experiences due to the Island Mass Effect, combined with the island’s bathymetry. Zooplankton blooms in this region are closely tied to the interaction of surface currents, including both Ekman and geostrophic currents (Martinez & Maamaatuaiahutapu 2004). Furthermore, the area’s proximity to Hiva Oa Island and the presence of two river exits close-by could enhance these blooms, as rainfall and subsequent land drainage may effectively distribute nutrients, further strengthening the bloom (Martinez & Maamaatuaiahutapu 2004).

CRITERION C

SUB-CRITERION C5 – UNDEFINED AGGREGATIONS

Hanakee is an important area for undefined aggregations of one ray species.

Between 2018–2024, Reef Manta Rays were recorded frequently aggregating in the area, with five instances of mantas observed cleaning, involving up to seven individuals, and 30 sightings of animals cruising, nine of which involved aggregations of four to 10 individuals (French Polynesia Manta Project unpubl. data 2024; M. Santangelo pers. obs. 2023). During these sightings four Reef Manta Rays were identified via photo-identification while displaying cleaning behaviour at this site (French Polynesia Manta Project unpubl. data 2024). In addition, a local dive club has reported seeing Reef Manta Ray cleaning behaviour at this site frequently (H Kaimuko pers. comm. 2024).

Individual surveys through interviews among the local population in the island also confirm the historic importance of this area for manta rays, with regular observation year-round (although identification at species level was not provided) (Agence des Aires Marines Protégées 2016; A Carpentier pers. obs. 2024). However, only one record by recreational divers noted the presence of Oceanic Manta Rays Mobula birostris around the island of Hiva Oa between 2018–2024 (French Polynesia Manta Project unpubl. data 2024), highlighting that Reef Manta Rays are significantly more common than this species.

Further evidence of the importance of the area and the Marquesas Archipelago for Reef Manta Rays was provided by the aerial surveys conducted between January–May in 2011 by the REMMOA program. The surveys covered a total of 98,500 km in 559 hours of observation across the four archipelagos in French Polynesia (Dorémus et al. 2020). Within the area, groups of up to 60 individuals were observed (Lagouy 2010; Agence des Aires Marines Protégées 2016). The Marquesas, where this area is located, exhibited the highest estimated densities of animals (1.76 x 10^-2 individuals/km2), which were eight times higher than those recorded in the Society Archipelago (Agence des Aires Marines Protégées 2016). The largest aggregations were primarily observed near Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa, where this area is located (Agence des Aires Marines Protégées 2016).

Reef Manta Rays observed in this area represent 70% (n = 104) of the Hiva Oa identified population, including three of the four animals identified in the Marquesas region that have been sighted at more than one island in the archipelago.

Hanakee

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