After a busy two days in the Asmat region of West Papua, today we had a chance to relax and enjoy a day at sea as we began our two day passage to Thursday Island, our entry point into Australia.  

A day at sea is always a chance to watch for wildlife from the ship. Today was no exception and while seabirds were scarce, as is typical in tropical waters, there was a steady stream of sightings of boobies and terns. Marine mammals were represented by a number of groups of dolphins and a whale sighting that interrupted lunch on deck. Perhaps the most unusual sighting of the day was a brief, but close, pass of a hammerhead shark. That such a sighting was notable is perhaps regrettable, a sign of the times that shark populations are much diminished due to overfishing. 

We have been able to enjoy some exceptional diving and snorkeling on diverse and vibrant coral reefs during this voyage. While doing so, the absence of large fish, in particular sharks, has been striking. Even at a location as remote as Lucipara, we encountered local fishing boats and very few large fish. The ocean is a rich source of food for the coastal communities we have visited, but larger fish species are often overfished, bringing into question the sustainability of these resources for future generations. 

Later, we held an evening cocktail hour on deck to raise awareness (and funds) for the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund in support of the Pristine Seas project, which is focused on marine conservation issues. Central to the fundraising effort today is the auction of a piece or artwork by expedition team member Justin Hofman. As we enjoyed a beautiful evening on deck, we were passing through a fleet of more than 50 Indonesian shrimp trawlers out in the Aru Sea, a conspicuous reminder of the ongoing pressures on the marine environment.