The Phoenix Islands Marine Protected Area is the largest protected marine area in the world. It was formed in 2008 thanks to the efforts of the Island nation of Kiribati, the New England Aquarium and Conservation International. The Aquarium leads periodic expeditions to the area. The current expedition will explore the deep sea surrounding the Phoenix Islands. All of these atolls are the tops of ancient seamounts, which provide a diverse deep-sea habitat for exploration.
