Remote Ailuk Atoll is located 230 nautical miles north of Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands. The traditional communities there rely primarily on their marine resources for a subsistence lifestyle.
The Ailuk community has elected to conserve two important areas covering six terrestrial acres and 209 marine acres. Both are close to the main settlement, Ailuk Ailuk, and as a result are in danger of over-exploitation. The first is Enije Island, where the highly endangered Pacific green turtle and Pacific hawksbill turtle nest. The second site is the Enije Channel. It is a traditional fishing area that is home to large populations of the endangered humphead wrasse, humphead parrotfish, grey reef shark, whitetip reef shark, and blacktip reef shark.
The community has pledged to protect these two no-take reserves, totaling 215 acres, for at least 10 years. In return, Seacology is providing funding to complete the airport terminal and guest lodge building, and a solar system to power them.
