Niku VI Results

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PIPAhead

The Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) is the largest marine protected area in the Pacific Ocean. As part of the permitting process which enables us to work on Nikumaroro, we are required to submit a report to PIPA at the end of each expedition, describing what we did, what we saw, and including video and still images of the island and its environment. The report was delivered in person by Ric Gillespie on June 23, 2011, in Tarawa, and is published below. There are also numerous appendices which are referenced and linked in this report.

EXPEDITION REPORT
to the
Phoenix Islands Protected Area Management Committee

DATES

The expedition spanned 27 days departing Los Angeles on May 18 and returning to Los Angeles on June 14, 2010.

LOGISTICS

Researchers and technology from the U.S., Kiribati Government officials from Tarawa, and vessels from Fiji and New Zealand staged through Apia, Samoa en route to Nikumaroro.

VESSELS

R/V Nai’a

Two vessels supported the expedition. The primary expedition vessel was R/V (Research Vessel) Nai’a, a 120 foot motor-sailer based in Fiji. TIGHAR had used Nai’a on four previous expeditions to Nikumaroro. Nai’a arrived at Nikumaroro on May 23 and departed the island on June 11, 2010.

VvS1

A second expedition vessel, the 111 foot motor yacht M/Y VvS1, arrived at Nikumaroro on June 6 and departed the island with Nai’a on June 11, 2010.

PERSONNEL

Aboard Nai’a were:


Ric Gillespie, Expedition Leader, TIGHAR Executive Director, 9th trip to Nikumaroro	Tom King, Ph.D., Senior Archaeologist, TIGHAR Board of Directors, 6th trip to Nikumaroro	Bill Carter, TIGHAR Board of Directors, 3rd trip to Nikumaroro	Megan Lickliter-Mundon, Archaeologist, 1st trip to Nikumaroro

Gary Quigg, Archaeologist, 5th trip to Nikumaroro	John Clauss, 10th trip to Nikumaroro	Andrew McKenna, 3rd trip to Nikumaroro	Walt Holm, 5th trip to Nikumaroro

Lonnie Schorer, 3rd trip to Nikumaroro	Tom Roberts, 2nd trip to Nikumaroro	Jon Overholt, MD, Physician, 1st trip to Nikumaroro	Leonid Sagalovsky, 1st trip to Nikumaroro

Karl Kern, 1st trip to Nikumaroro	Curtis Webster, 1st trip to Nikumaroro	Jesse Rodocker, Underwater Search Technician, 1st trip to Nikumaroro	Mark Smith, Discovery Channel Cameraman/Field Producer, 3rd trip to Nikumaroro
	Aboard VvS1 were:
Takirua Tabuu, Kiribati Customs Officer, 2nd trip to Nikumaroro		Graham Berwind – TIGHAR Board of Directors, 1st trip to Nikumaroro	Art Carty - TIGHAR Board of Directors, 1st trip to Nikumaroro

Janis Carty - 1st trip to Nikumaroro	Dan Lann, MD – Physician, 1st trip to Nikumaroro	Taylor Keen – Ground Penetrating Radar Technician, 1st trip to Nikumaroro	Erin Harvey - Discovery Channel Cameraman, 1st trip to Nikumaroro
	Ioneba Temoai – Observer/Representative for Phoenix Islands Protected Area & Kiribati Fisheries, 1st trip to Nikumaroro

COST

Expenses excluding TIGHAR overhead (all in U.S. dollars):

Travel (airfare, hotels, etc.)	$35,561.20
Ship Charters	$491,139.00
Video Documentation	$11,052.00
Kiribati & PIPA Representatives (travel and per diem)	$5,542.57
Underwater Search Contractor	$33,903.77
Equipment	$16,989.49
Total	$594,188.03

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