Marine Conservation vs Fishing: President Trump signed a proclamation reopening parts of Papahānaumokuākea, the Mariana Trench, and Rose Atoll marine national monuments to commercial fishing, triggering sharp backlash from conservationists and Native Hawaiian groups and a vow from Earthjustice to challenge it in court. Local Science Funding: Guam’s ocean research and reef conservation programs face possible shutdown as NOAA budget cuts and proposed program eliminations threaten long-running monitoring and resilience work. Biodiversity Monitoring in the Marianas: Volunteers across Guam, Saipan, and Tinian completed the annual fanihi (Mariana fruit bat) count, recording 269 bats and highlighting the species’ threatened status and its role as a pollinator and seed disperser. Biosecurity Tool for Forest Health: Hawaiʻi’s DLNR and the U.S. Forest Service deployed SPLAT Verb, a beetle repellent, to slow Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death spread—an approach aimed at protecting healthy ʻōhiʻa where the fungus has been detected. Regional Research Boost: UH Hilo is a core member of a new $13.5M federal aquaculture consortium (CIFARM), aiming to scale tech and forecasting for a more resilient seafood industry. Public Safety Tech Upgrade: Guam could receive over $5M in federal investments for hospital upgrades, emergency response, and forensic DNA lab improvements after House passage of an FY2027 agriculture funding bill. Disaster Response Careers: A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mother-daughter team served together in Saipan’s Super Typhoon Sinlaku recovery, supporting temporary roofing and rebuilding efforts.