Sicklefin Lemon Shark

Moorea, a volcanic island in French Polynesia’s Windward Islands, is encircled by a barrier reef that forms a broad lagoon and a series of passes connecting it to the open Pacific. Divers explore coral gardens, outer-reef slopes, canyons, and channels inhabited by green sea turtles, eagle rays, blacktip and grey reef sharks, and large sicklefin lemon sharks. The island’s combination of lagoon, fringing reef, barrier reef, and deep ocean habitats supports exceptional ecological diversity within a compact area. Moorea is also internationally important to coral-reef science: researchers at CRIOBE and the Moorea Coral Reef Long-Term Ecological Research site monitor reef recovery, environmental disturbance, and climate-related change.

Fun Fact: Moorea’s lagoon functions as a shark nursery. Researchers have documented newborn and juvenile blacktip reef sharks and sicklefin lemon sharks using its shallow, protected coastal habitats.