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A unique Pacific marine habitat that is home to the world's largest concentration of sharks is being plundered by illegal fishing vessels hunting for sharks fins for the lucrative Asian market.
Shark Pass at Bikini in the Marshall Islands attracts thousands of grey sharks and has become a key part of the diving experience at the atoll.
But the hunger for shark fins, an expensive delicacy in many Asian countries, is destroying it say those whose livelihoods depend upon the tourists who flock to there.
Divemaster Tim Williams, who has worked at Bikini for two years, said the shark population was dropping.
"I noticed a dramatic drop in the population of grey reef sharks while diving at Shark Pass," he said in a report to Attorney General Atbi Riklon.
"Shark Pass is a unique spot at Bikini Atoll. The population of grey reef sharks has been historically documented as being abnormally high compared to other atolls in the Marshall Islands."
He said in years past, a diver at the pass would expect to see more than 100 reef sharks in any dive. Williams estimates a 50-60 drop in the shark population.
"On my latest dive on May 4, I noticed hooks and wire leaders on three individual sharks," he said.
"I would take this as evidence of recent fishing pressure on the population. "
Asia's shark fin trade is a matter of great concern in the Pacific.
Earlier this month authorities in Palau held a public burning of a large pile of shark fins seized from a Taiwanese vessel.
"Our message is very clear today: We will not tolerate shark-fishing in the waters of Palau," President Tommy Remengesau said at the short bonfire ceremony.
Diving has become a major industry for Bikini, the site of 23 US nuclear tests in the 1940s and 50s.
In 1946 one blast sank a fleet of World War II ships, including the US aircraft carrier Saratoga, submarines, and Nagato, the flagship that led the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Saratoga is the only aircraft carrier in the world sunk at a diveable depth.
Bikini Atoll Mayor Eldon Note sent a letter to the Attorney General at the weekend seeking action on "fishing boats that have been fishing illegally around Bikini Atoll and catching large quantities of sharks".
He said that "this is the second time we are bringing your attention to the fact that fishing boats have been fishing illegally around Bikini Atoll ... We would really like to see something done about this as soon as possible as this is going to have a very negative impact on our tourism operation."
Chamber of Commerce official Don Hess told a business meeting this week that divers visiting Jaluit Atoll earlier in the month found shark long-lining in progress off an ocean side reef on the southern atoll.
Local businessman Kenneth Kramer said that previously divers found Jaluit a prime diving site, but now they are cancelling tours to the atoll because the shark population has declined dramatically.
Some Bikini officials have questioned the presence of the vessel "Bone China" No. 1296000668, seen less than three kilometres (two miles) from Bikini.
The vessel is registered with Edgewater, a Majuro-based Hong Kong-owned shark fishing company, which has a fishing agreement with the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority. "Bone China" was also reportedly seen near Jaluit Atoll.
Edgewater Fisheries general manager Jimmy K.C. Ng denied vessels affiliated with his company had been doing anything wrong.
"It just doesnt make sense for us to be fishing near the shore," he said.
He said that it is illegal to do so, since Edgewaters license is valid only for fishing outside the 20 kilometres (12-mile) range of any island in the Marshall Islands.
And the types of shark they hunt, ocean sharks, are not found near the reefs of islands.
Ng said he was aware of the reported illegal fishing in the area.
Although he confirmed that the vessel identified in the incident was under Edgewater control, he said it had not been fishing.
"I spoke to the captain of the boat (Bone China) and he said that he was near the shore at the time of the reported incident but that the boat was simply drifting, not actively fishing," Ng said.
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