2026 Pacific Islands Mapping

Laying the Groundwork

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer departed Honolulu, Hawaiʻi on June 16, 2026, for a 25-day mapping expedition en route to Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Although the expedition would focus on mapping the deep waters within the Jarvis Island Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a secondary objective was to collect water samples for environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis in the region. As the crew and mission team waved goodbye to the beautiful island of Oahu, the mission team began to consider the data collection ahead. The onboard eDNA team was larger than usual, consisting of Expedition Coordinator Logan Kline, Sample Data Manager Jess Nation, first-time eDNA Lead Nicole Miller, Science Support Members Michelle Whitman, Kevia Walker-Humphries, and Francesca Dellacqua, and brand new Knauss Fellow Shari Rohret. The team was ready to tackle an ambitious plan to refine eDNA sampling procedures for the office and collect nearly 200 samples over the weeks to come. 

Some of the members of the eDNA team: Nicole Miller, Shari Rohret, Jessica Nation, Francesca Dellacqua, and Kevia Walker-Humphries. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 Pacific Islands Mapping. Download largest version (jpg, 330 KB).

As Okeanos Explorer began its five-day trek to the outskirts of the Jarvis Island EEZ, the eDNA team prepared for eDNA sample collection. Nicole and Jess took inventory of necessary materials and worked to integrate the new Sample Operations User Portal (SOUP) into existing eDNA sampling procedures. The novel SOUP software, developed by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, allows for efficient recording and transfer of sample metadata for downstream data processing and analysis. The support team readied the ship’s wet lab and themselves for the sampling process, clearing laboratory space and materials, and intently studying sampling procedures. Two days prior to arrival at the first deep cast sampling site, Nicole gave an “eDNA 101” presentation to the mission team, officers, and crew explaining the rationale behind eDNA sampling and the importance of effective quality control during the eDNA sampling process. She was amazed at the excitement of the group and the interest in learning.

Nicole Miller presents to the science team and crew about eDNA collection. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 Pacific Islands Mapping. Download largest version (jpg, 1 MB).

The Challenge of Science at Sea

As ocean explorers, the team had been taught to be prepared for challenges and adaptable to change. They were well-prepared as the environmental conditions of the sea consistently transformed from smooth sailing to choppy waters. What they did not expect were the logistic and technical challenges they would face in their attempts to sample water from some of the most remote and deep areas of the Pacific. 

The conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) rosette is the instrument key to this endeavor. About the size of a small car, the sampling system is used to collect environmental data as well as water samples. It has 24 Niskin bottles attached to it, each of which collects a 5-liter sample of seawater. Once the CTD returns to the ship, these water samples are retrieved and filtered for eDNA. Those eDNA samples are then preserved onboard the ship until they can be transferred to a repository institution for analysis.

As NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer approached the planned sampling sites for deep-sea CTD casts, the survey team in charge of launching the CTD faced multiple obstacles in their efforts to safely deploy the CTD to depth and successfully collect water samples. The primary challenge was a malfunctioning water sampler. The water sampler initiates the closure of a Niskin bottle at depth in order to collect the water, and thus is a critical component for success. During the first two days of troubleshooting, the survey team opted to limit deployment depths to 300 meters (984 feet) to test the functionality of the water sampler and CTD. This was done to ensure the safety of the equipment, which alternated between not communicating properly with the onboard computers and misfiring bottles. On the first deep deployment of the expedition, which reached a depth of 5,217 meters (17,116 feet), several bottles failed to fire due to continuing issues with the water sampler. When the CTD rosette was brought back to the surface, only 16 of the bottles had successfully captured water. The ship’s survey team, in charge of technology deployment aboard the ship, and the chief electrical technician worked feverishly to resolve the issues, troubleshooting all aspects of CTD deployment at length. 

The Opportunity to Adapt

Seeing the survey team’s dedication to resolving the issues facing the CTD, the eDNA team knew that they too must make the most of these changing conditions. During those first two days of shallower-than-expected deployments, the mission team adapted and collected 22 samples between 20-300 meters (66-984 feet). They also began to leverage individual expertise to scope new products for this and future expeditions, beyond the samples themselves. As Nicole reevaluated the planned sampling schema, Jess began to troubleshoot the ingestion of CTD .ros files into SOUP. Michelle stepped up to the plate to document the eDNA sample procedures in a training video to provide clear directions for future interns and staff. Shari took the initiative to evaluate procedure materials and find new ways to increase quality control while lowering costs and reducing sampling time. Kevia, an administrative team member, began to intently learn the operations she’d previously supported from shore.

Jessica Nation double-checks the ingestion of sample data in the Sample Operations User Portal (SOUP). Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 Pacific Islands Mapping. Download largest version (jpg, 574 KB).

Michelle Whitman films Kevia Walker-Humphries to create an eDNA training video. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 Pacific Islands Mapping. Download largest version (jpg, 977 KB).

The eDNA team embraced the challenges and unexpected changes that came their way after the ship’s departure from Oahu, with each member seeking new and innovative paths to contribute to expedition goals and the NOAA Ocean Exploration mission. 

Ultimately, the survey technicians and the chief electrical technician, with the help of onboard CTD rosette expert Lynne Butler, determined that the issue was a worn water sampling system. Several of the magnets used to close the bottles were not aligned or were corroding. After the team successfully swapped the system, the CTD rosette continued to fire all but one bottle for the rest of the deployments. As the survey team resolved the conflicts the water sampler was causing, the eDNA team was able to begin collecting deep-sea water samples for eDNA filtration as originally intended. With revived momentum, they got to work on tasks as planned in addition to their newly scoped projects, ultimately addressing mission needs and much more.

Lessons Learned

As the expedition draws to an end, the entire expedition team looks forward to sharing the products, lessons learned, and innovations that emerged from the expedition. Challenges are inevitable — at sea, in science, and in life. None of us can control every storm we encounter or avoid every obstacle that appears, and even the most carefully crafted plans must sometimes be rewritten. Ocean exploration will always present challenges. Life will, too. But the greatest achievements are often born not from perfect conditions, but from the courage to face uncertainty, adapt with resolve, and, above all, endeavor to persevere.

Jessica Nation, Kevia Walker-Humphries, Francesca Dellacqua, and Nicole Miller sample water for eDNA collection in strong winds and downpour. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 Pacific Islands Mapping. Download largest version (jpg, 360 KB).

The expedition team received reminders to stay positive and endeavor to persevere. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 Pacific Islands Mapping. Download largest version (jpg, 131 KB).

By Nicole Miller, NOAA Ocean Exploration