Futuna Island

Futuna, a small volcanic island in the South Pacific, part of the French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Futuna, hosts a surprisingly rich and distinctive seaweed flora. Despite its isolated location and limited coastline, Futuna’s marine ecosystems support a diverse array of macroalgae, shaped by the island’s warm tropical waters, volcanic substrates, and relatively undisturbed coastal zones.

Futuna’s algal communities are shaped both by traditional ecological knowledge and low-impact subsistence harvesting practices, which have contributed to the preservation of coastal habitats. The extensive fossilized coral reef flat, mainly found on the western and northern parts of the island, provides a favorable substrate for the development of small species.

The specimens are currently undergoing DNA identification.