Oceanographers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa discovered that microbial communities—from the sunlit surface to extreme depths—in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre exhibit robust seasonal cycles. provides new insight into how high levels of biodiversity are maintained in the open ocean.

“A long-standing question in biological oceanography, which we refer to as the ‘paradox of the plankton,’ asks: How can open ocean species diversity be so vast and sustained, in a seemingly homogeneous environment like the open ocean?,” said Fuyan Li, lead author of the study and affiliate researcher in the in the 糖心视频 Mānoa .

The blue, deep waters of the Pacific Ocean have extremely low nutrient concentrations compared to coastal areas that teem with visible life, such as kelp forests off California or coral reefs in Hawaiʻi.

“Theoretical ecology suggests that one way co-occurring species diversity can be maintained, is if shared resources, such as nutrients, are used at different times of year, thereby minimizing competition,” Li said. “Though seasonal cycles are a fundamental property of many diverse ecosystems, seasonality in the tropics is less pronounced than in temperate or polar ocean habitats.” This work was funded by the Simons Foundation project called the SCOPE.

Tracking microbes through DNA

To determine whether microbial communities at Station ALOHA, a tropical, open ocean research station 60 miles north of Oʻahu, have seasonal cycles, Li and colleagues analyzed microbial DNA in samples collected monthly over eight years, leveraging the Hawaiʻi Ocean Time-series (HOT) program. The combination of frequent sampling over a long time period, and high-resolution species identification, allowed the researchers to make these new and unprecedented open ocean observations.

They found that more than 60% of the microbial groups they tracked exhibited seasonal cycling. While these seasonal cycles diminished at depths below 150 meters, surprisingly, they remained measurable in some deep-sea microbial species at depths of nearly two and a half miles.

“Notably, very closely related species or subspecies ‘bloomed’ at different times of the year, similar to seasonal patterns observed in some terrestrial plants and animals,” Li said. “Taking turns with respect to nutrient use throughout the year seems to be a key ecological strategy for microbial communities to maintain their diversity.”

By sustaining their populations throughout the year, microbial communities consistently supply organic matter and energy to organisms higher in the food web, for example larval fish. In this way, microbes ensure the stability of the marine food web and productivity in waters across the Pacific Ocean.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Professor Emeritus of and pioneering marine microbiologist , was as a Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology. The recognition celebrates outstanding scientific achievement and leadership in microbiology.

DeLong is considered a trailblazer in the field of metagenomics—the study of all genetic material from all organisms in a particular environment—whose research has transformed understanding of the ocean’s microbial life. His work advanced innovative gene cloning and sequencing, allowing scientists to study complex marine microbial communities and their role in the environment without the use of traditional microbial cultures.

“I was thrilled to hear the news about Ed’s election to the European Academy of Microbiology, a well-earned honor,” said David Karl, 糖心视频 Mānoa oceanography professor,DeLong鈥檚 long-time colleague and co-director of both the Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education and the . “Ed and other newly elected members represent the second golden age of microbiology, one centered on microbial oceanography and ecology.”

Scientific breakthroughs

Early in DeLong鈥檚 career, he used methodologies developed by his postdoctoral research advisor Norm Pace to identify microbes “in the wild.” Together they discovered two new lineages of a major microbial group called Archaea (previously not thought to live in seawater) were abundant everywhere—from in the Pacific Ocean to Antarctica, and from the sea surface to the seafloor.

Later, new methods that DeLong鈥檚 group adapted from the Human Genome project to study microbial ecology led to the discovery that most bacteria in the upper ocean can use sunlight to generate biochemical energy using proteins called opsins. This finding revealed a widespread, previously unknown solar energy-gathering mechanism in the ocean, with significant implications for the global carbon and energy cycles.

“To be recognized and honored by world-renowned microbiologists of the European Union was unexpected, and very humbling,” DeLong said. “I believe that scientific disciplines like microbiology should have no geographic or cultural boundaries—yet in today鈥檚 political landscape there are increasing challenges to free and open international collaborations. To me, this makes recognition by the European Academy of Microbiology all the more potent of an honor.”

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A team of researchers are calling for a new generation of carefully designed ocean iron fertilization (OIF) field trials to determine whether this marine carbon dioxide (CO2) removal method can safely and effectively leverage a natural ocean process to pull CO2 out of the atmosphere. Led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the authors, including two from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, argue that larger, longer studies with rigorous monitoring and clear “go/no-go” safeguards, are needed to accurately assess OIF as a potential long-term CO2 storage solution. The paper was .

“The ocean science community must explore all possible means for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, and identify any unintended ecological consequences,” said David Karl, co-author, professor of and director of the in the 糖心视频 Mānoa (SOEST). “Humans continue to pollute our planet; the time for bold action is now.”

Past OIF field studies found that relatively tiny additions of iron in some parts of the ocean can stimulate the growth of small, plant-like organisms known as phytoplankton that live in the surface ocean. These organisms use sunlight and CO2 dissolved in seawater to grow and multiply, which in turn pulls more CO2 out of the atmosphere into the surface ocean in the process. However, those early experiments were not designed to assess the efficacy, durability and feasibility of OIF, nor did they specifically evaluate the broader ecological and biogeochemical impacts of large-scale additions of iron.

The next generation of trials would need to capture phytoplankton bloom development, and the process of bloom decay, the fate of newly produced carbon, and any potential ecosystem impacts. The authors propose experiments lasting more than 3–6 months and spanning an area of about 1,000 square kilometers, with an explicit requirement to document a return to natural conditions after iron additions end.

The authors suggested the Gulf of Alaska in the Northeast Pacific as a promising location based on the region’s low-iron conditions, the availability of decades of research in the area at Ocean Station Papa, evidence of natural iron-driven blooms in the past, and physical characteristics that may help keep the iron-fertilized patch from dispersing too rapidly.

Viewed from space, vast swirls of color appear nearly every summer in the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaiʻi. For years, the origins of these massive blooms of photosynthetic microbes remained a mystery. Now, led by University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 oceanographers provides the first comprehensive look at the anatomy of these events.

“This paper represents a synthesis of many different observational perspectives which, only when evaluated together, allowed us to paint the whole picture,” said Rhea Foreman, lead author of the study and researcher in the (C-MORE) in the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 (SOEST). “It required multiple people with a range of expertises to work together in order to see the overarching ecological processes.”

Race to sample the bloom

The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre is described as an ocean desert due to its low levels of nutrients. However, in late summer, a unique partnership forms between diatoms (marine microbes that live inside a glass shell) and diazotrophs (bacteria that convert nitrogen gas into a biologically usable form, essentially creating fertilizer for the system). Previous research established that summer blooms are often driven by this pairing, but beyond that, the causes of bloom initiation, sustenance and collapse were unknown.

In summer 2022, oceanographers used the R/V Kilo Moana to try and catch a bloom event. When they noticed on satellite imagery that a bloom the size of Minnesota was within range of the expedition, a race was on to investigate.

The team investigated the bloom鈥檚 microbial community, nutrient dynamics, composition of particulate matter, rates of photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation, and abundances of specific functional genes. Their study revealed that the blooms are likely triggered when the seed population of diatom-diazotroph associations experience favorable conditions such as: above-average concentrations of phosphate and silicate, and a shallower mixed layer at the surface ocean. This shallow mixed layer acts to corral the photosynthetic microbes, keeping them near the surface where sunlight is abundant—something they require for efficient nitrogen fixation.

“This comprehensive expedition required careful planning, skillful execution, effective teamwork and a bit of luck—we went four-for-four!” said David Karl, senior author on the study, Victor and Peggy Brandstrom Pavel Professor of Oceanography, and director of C-MORE.

Understanding lifecycles

The study also relied on the historical context provided by the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 (HOT) program that has conducted monthly monitoring of the physical, biological and chemical characteristics at a nearby open ocean field station north of the Hawaiian Islands since 1988.

“By comparing the 2022 expedition data to the HOT data, which shows baseline conditions at Station ALOHA, we were able to distinguish unique bloom characteristics from normal background conditions and that helped us understand the lifecycle of the bloom,” said Foreman.

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The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa鈥檚 celebrated its 15th anniversary on October 25, marking a decade and a half of cutting-edge discovery and sustainable design.

Opened in 2010, the 26,997-square-foot facility has become a hub for groundbreaking research on marine microbes—organisms that play a vital role in the health of the planet鈥檚 oceans and climate. The state-of-the-art building houses laboratories, offices and a conference center designed to foster collaboration among scientists across disciplines and time zones. Its 50-seat auditorium supports video conferencing and live webcasting, connecting researchers around the world.

In 2012, C-MORE Hale was the first research laboratory building in Hawaiʻi to achieve LEED Platinum certification for environmental design. The facility incorporates energy-efficient systems and low-flow plumbing. It also features smart lighting controls and water recycling technologies that reduce potable water use by nearly half. The building鈥檚 innovative design earned multiple awards, including the Kukulu Hale Award for new commercial projects in 2011.

Leading research in microbial oceanography

David M. Karl, C-MORE鈥檚 founding director, member of the National Academy of Sciences and a professor of at 糖心视频 Mānoa, was instrumental in securing the 10-year, $36.8 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant in 2006 that led to its establishment as an NSF Science and Technology Center. The center unites specialists in biology, chemistry, oceanography and engineering from six partner institutions. Together, these teams investigate the structure, diversity and metabolic function of marine microbes—from those that use sunlight to generate energy to others that recycle organic matter and drive global nutrient cycles.

Beyond the facility itself, Karl and C-MORE have positioned 糖心视频 Mānoa as a global leader in microbial oceanography by successfully establishing a link between molecular-level biology and large-scale ocean processes. His pioneering research on marine microbes and their role in global biogeochemical cycles has shaped modern understanding of how ocean life regulates Earth鈥檚 climate. Today, Karl continues to play a key role in advancing microbial oceanography worldwide.

“The opportunities that have been sustained by the investment in C-MORE Hale have put Hawaiʻi on the map of ocean research,” Karl said. “糖心视频 is now recognized as one of the top institutions in the world to study microbial oceanography, and we are also training the next generation of leaders. The future is today.”

Modeling the future of Earth鈥檚 oceans

C-MORE鈥檚 integrated research program is organized around four themes: microbial biodiversity, metabolism and nutrient flow, remote and continuous sensing of ocean processes, and ecosystem modeling and prediction. This approach allows scientists to explore how marine microorganisms influence climate, carbon storage and energy transfer within ocean ecosystems. The center鈥檚 work has advanced predictive models of how marine environments respond to environmental change, establishing 糖心视频 Mānoa as a key contributor to global ocean science.

“C-MORE Hale encompasses all the success in microbial oceanography and David Karl is the founder for microbial oceanography,” 糖心视频 Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “He has brought funding—tens of millions of dollars to support this from the National Science Foundation, from the Moore Foundation, so private, public, federal, state, you name it. It is an unbelievable project. He has created a program that is second to none, not only here in Hawaiʻi and in the continent, but in the world.”

Karl was instrumental in the establishment of an open ocean time-series, called the Hawaiʻi Ocean Time-Series, as a sentinel for observing the effects of climate on the structure and function of microbial communities. C-MORE鈥檚 long-term research station, , located about 60 miles north of Oʻahu, was designated a Milestones in Microbiology Site by the American Society for Microbiology in 2015. The recognition honored 糖心视频鈥檚 historic contributions to understanding marine microbial life and its role in maintaining planetary habitability.

Building Hawaiʻi鈥檚 future in ocean science

In addition to its research mission, C-MORE supports education and outreach programs that inspire future ocean scientists and engage the public in microbial ecology. These efforts span from pre-college curricula and teacher training to graduate and postdoctoral research opportunities, helping to strengthen the next generation of oceanographers.

C-MORE Hale鈥檚 naming under the Daniel K. Inouye Legacy Program honors the late senator鈥檚 lifelong commitment to advancing science and education in Hawaiʻi.

During C-MORE Hale鈥檚 15th anniversary, many students and staff are aboard the R/V Kilo Moana, a 186-foot 糖心视频 Mānoa research vessel that supports the center鈥檚 oceanographic missions by serving as a mobile platform for sampling, experiments and data collection at sea. Karl said a formal celebration to mark the milestone is planned for later this fall.

When the K墨lauea volcano erupted in May 2018 on Hawaiʻi Island, an enormous amount of ash was released into the atmosphere in a plume nearly 5 miles high. A new study by an international team of researchers—including from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (SOEST)—revealed that a rare and large summertime phytoplankton bloom in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre in summer 2018 was prompted by ash from K墨lauea falling on the ocean surface approximately 1,200 miles west of the volcano. The research was published in .

“The scale and duration of this bloom were both massive, and probably the largest ever reported for the North Pacific,” said David Karl, study co-author, Victor and Peggy Brandstrom Pavel Professor and director of the in SOEST. “Our study shows the connection between the eruption of K墨lauea and bloom formation far from the volcano. This can be used to refine our understanding of phytoplankton bloom dynamics and to improve our understanding of the ocean’s carbon cycle.”

Despite being one of the most active volcanoes in the world with multiple eruptions in the past 40 years, K墨lauea鈥檚 volcanic ash had not previously been linked to open ocean phytoplankton blooms. The 2018 eruption of K墨lauea was one of the largest in more than 200 years, injecting millions of cubic feet of molten lava into the waters off Hawaiʻi Island, and releasing an estimated 50 kilotons per day of sulfur dioxide and about 77 kilotons per day of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

K墨lauea鈥檚 impact near and far

Previous research led by 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 oceanographers showed that as lava flowed into the ocean, it warmed nutrient-rich bottom waters, making them more buoyant. The nutrient-rich deep water rising to the sunlit surface stimulated phytoplankton growth, resulting in an extensive plume of microbes offshore of Hawaiʻi Island. Volcanic ash can be transported much farther distances by winds, especially during explosive eruptions that inject materials high into the atmosphere.

“After the 2018 eruption, the prevailing winds transported ash particles to the west,” said Wee Cheah, study corresponding-author and senior lecturer in the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences at Universiti Malaya. “The trajectories of the ash were recorded by Earth-orbiting satellites that detect changes in the optical clarity of the atmosphere, the so-called aerosol optical depth. Depending on the density, size, and shape of the particulate matter and local atmospheric conditions, especially rainfall, the ash eventually falls out of the atmosphere and into the surface ocean.”

In addition to tracking atmospheric transport of ash across the Pacific Ocean, study lead author Chun Hoe Chow, associate professor in the Department of Marine Environmental Informatics at the National Taiwan Ocean University, and co-authors also used satellite data to detect ocean color, an indirect measure of the presence or absence of phytoplankton, which revealed a massive bloom near the dateline. The team conducted a comprehensive analysis of the observations and investigated physical conditions to explain both the timing and the location of the surface bloom, a feature that is not typical in this region.

“The waters in the open ocean of the Pacific are nutrient depleted and the addition of volcanic ash, especially iron in the ash, and to a lesser extent other trace elements and possibly phosphate, can stimulate the growth of marine phytoplankton, especially the so-called nitrogen-fixing microbes that can growth in the absence of additional nitrogen,” said Karl.

For the entire story, .

Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have made an exciting : a virus found in the ocean called FloV-SA2 carries the genetic instructions for making part of a ribosome—a crucial component in cells that turns genetic information into proteins. This is the first time a virus that infects eukaryotic organisms (such as plants, animals, and fungi) has been found to have this capability.

Viruses are packets of genetic material surrounded by a protein coating. They replicate by getting inside of a cell where they take over the cell鈥檚 replication machinery and direct it to make more viruses. Simple viruses rely entirely on the host cell鈥檚 materials, while larger, more complex viruses can make some of their own components.

“We were excited to discover that this virus encodes a ribosomal protein called eL40,” said Julie Thomy, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher in the and in the 糖心视频 Mānoa (SOEST). “It makes sense that a virus could benefit from altering this critical piece of cell machinery, but there was just no evidence for it in any eukaryotic virus.”

The virus was discovered as part of a larger effort by members of the in SOEST to isolate and characterize new viruses that live in the ocean. A former oceanography graduate student, Christopher Schvarcz, sampled water from Station ALOHA 60 miles north of Oʻahu, and subsequently isolated dozens of viruses. Among them was FloV-SA2, which infects a species of phytoplankton called Florenciella.

“Viruses are integral to the functioning of ocean ecosystems, influencing biological productivity, shifting community interactions, and driving evolutionary change,” said Grieg Steward, oceanography faculty member overseeing the project. “This discovery reveals new details about the complex ways viruses in the ocean interact with phytoplankton, which are the foundation of ocean ecosystems, but it also opens new avenues in our understanding of the fundamentals of viral biology.”

The scientists expect that FloV-SA2 will be a valuable model system for investigating new mechanisms by which viruses manipulate cell metabolism and redirect host resources and energy.

Impacting metabolic processes

Previous have shown that, like FloV-SA2, other so-called “giant” viruses code for proteins involved in a wide range of metabolic processes. Some, such as those involved in or sensing light, seem like surprising functions to find in a virus. These genes must help the virus replicate, but it is not always clear how. The researchers are now focused on figuring out the details of how and when this protein is used by the virus.

“Our working hypothesis is that by inserting one of its own proteins into the ribosome, the virus alters this key piece of machinery to favor the production of virus proteins, over the usual cell proteins,” said Thomy.

To address gaps in ocean data and modeling efforts and better understand ocean carbon, oxygen and heat, oceanographers at the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa were awarded $4.5 million from the nonprofit Schmidt Sciences. They are team members on two of five projects by and the to join the (OBVI).

The five projects will form the inaugural membership of OBVI, which has committed $45 million over the next five years. The research will address the interlinked questions of how rapidly the ocean is gaining heat and carbon while losing oxygen, and the resilience of marine ecosystems in a rapidly warming world.

“This was a competitive search for the best science on the planet and oceanographers at the 糖心视频 Mānoa came to play!” said Dave Karl, director of the in SOEST and member of the OBVI advisory board.

SUBSEA project $3.8M

The SUBSEA project will examine how marine organisms in the ocean鈥檚 twilight zone—a dim layer roughly 200–500 feet below the ocean鈥檚 surface—alter the absorption and circulation of carbon dioxide in ocean gyres (large, circular currents) from the North Pacific to the South Atlantic.

“Oceanographers are having a tough time predicting how life in ocean gyres will respond to climate change, but we know nutrients will play a deciding role,” said Nick Hawco, assistant professor of oceanography and 糖心视频 Mānoa project lead. “Compared to the gyres in the Southern hemisphere, the North Pacific receives a larger supply of nutrients from the atmosphere. This is an amazing opportunity to compare and contrast how the ocean gyres adjust to changes in nutrient supply that we might see in the future.”

The project team includes 糖心视频 Mānoa Professor of oceanography Angelicque White, and Benedetto Barone, a 糖心视频 research oceanographer.

InMOS project $700K

Oceans help mitigate climate change by absorbing heat and carbon, but are experiencing a triple threat from warming, decreasing oxygen, and increasing acidification that may cause harm to marine ecosystems. The second project, InMOS will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop estimates of sources and sinks of ocean heat, carbon and oxygen for the past 35 years. Project members aim to both reduce uncertainties in these budgets and understand the physical and biogeochemical processes affecting these interlinked cycles.

Seth Bushinsky, 糖心视频 Mānoa assistant professor of oceanography and InMOS project team member will lead the effort to develop new marine observational products based on large data sets of ocean carbon, oxygen and nutrient measurements.

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–By Marcie Grabowski

Four University of Hawaiʻi experts and leaders have been appointed by Gov. Josh Green to the Governor鈥檚 Advisory Committee on Marine Affairs. 糖心视频 Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno, Director Makena Coffman Vassilis Syrmos, 糖心视频 Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures Director Suzanne Case were named to the committee on June 10, 2024.

They will join 糖心视频 Mānoa Daniel K. Inouye Director David Karl who is serving as committee chair. The formation of the committee and Karl’s appointment was announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2024.

“With Professor Karl鈥檚 leadership, I am confident that these distinguished individuals bring invaluable expertise and commitment to the preservation of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 marine resources,” said Green. “Their contributions will be crucial in guiding the state toward a sustainable and thriving marine ecosystem.”

Karl has been working since April to recruit members of the committee. He will convene members to plan and execute on the principles of the blue economy and collaborate with stakeholders, including 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 Congressional Delegation, to develop tangible recommendations for sustainable ocean-related policies and initiatives. According to the World Bank, the blue economy is the “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem.”

“We鈥檝e recruited many of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 top leaders from the field of marine conservation and sustainability,” explained Karl. “Today鈥檚 announcement marks the start of the next stage in our work.”

Other members of the committee representing government, business and community-based organizations include:

• Greg Asner, director, Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University
• Gregory Barbour, executive director, Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaiʻi Authority
• Dawn Chang, chairperson, Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources
• Kisan Jo, executive vice president, Retail and Wealth Markets, Central Pacific Bank
• DreanaLee Kalili, deputy director, Harbors Division, Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation
• Charles Littnan, director, Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center, NOAA
• Kuʻuhaku Park, senior vice president, Government and Community Relations, Matson Navigation Inc.
• Greg Rocheleau, chief executive officer, Makai Ocean Engineering
• Patrick Sullivan, president and CEO, Oceanit
• Jennifer Walsh, senior vice president and provost, Hawaiʻi Pacific University
• Andy Winer, executive vice president, Strategies 360

Green expressed confidence in the expertise and dedication of the newly appointed members and emphasized the importance of their contributions to the preservation and sustainable management of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 marine resources.

Gov. Josh Green marked Earth Day 2024 by announcing the appointment of University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Charles “Chip” Fletcher, as special advisor for Climate and Resilience and David Karl, as chair of the Governor鈥檚 Advisory Committee on Marine Affairs. These appointments signify Green鈥檚 commitment to addressing critical environmental challenges and advancing initiatives for sustainable development in the state.

“Amid the challenges of climate change, Earth Day reminds us of the importance of proactive environmental action,” said Green. “With the appointments of Dr. Chip Fletcher and Dr. David Karl, we鈥檙e reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and resilience in Hawaiʻi. Their expertise will drive initiatives to protect our communities and natural resources for generations to come. Together, we鈥檙e shaping a brighter, more sustainable future for our keiki.”

Fletcher, currently serving as the interim dean of the (SOEST), brings extensive expertise in climate change, coastal community resiliency, and natural coastal systems.

Fletcher will play a pivotal role in advising the Governor on issues related to climate adaptation, drawing upon his years of experience and dedication to environmental stewardship.

“I am honored to serve as Special Advisor for Climate and Resilience and look forward to working closely with Gov. Green to address the urgent challenges posed by climate change,” Fletcher said. “Together, we will strive to ensure that Hawaiʻi remains at the forefront of climate resilience efforts, protecting our communities and natural resources for future generations.”

Karl, a distinguished professor of and director of the Daniel K. Inouye , will lead efforts to consolidate planning and execution on the blue economy, fostering collaboration among stakeholders and developing actionable recommendations to support sustainable ocean-related policies and initiatives.

“I am deeply honored to accept the role of chair of the Governor鈥檚 Advisory Committee on Marine Affairs,” said Karl. “Together, we will harness the expertise and resources available to us to advance the new blue economy, promoting economic diversification and environmental stewardship.”

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