Publications

Using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and towed camera system (TCS), deep-sea corals, sponges, and seafloor habitats were visually surveyed for the first time in areas of longtime trawl fishing off northern California. During an 11-day cruise aboard the R/V Point Sur 8-18 September 2014, researchers completed 6 dives with the AUV and 9 deployments of the TCS, and spent over 42 hours underwater at depths of 586-1169 meters from the Oregon-California border to the Mendocino Ridge.

Benthos, Deep-sea Animals, Deep-sea Fishes, Deep Sea Corals, Equipment And Supplies, Habitat, Marine Biology, Observations, Oceanography, Research, Sponges, Underwater Exploration, Underwater Photography

Conservation, Coral Reef Conservation, Coral Reef Ecology, Coral Reef Management, Coral Reefs And Islands, International Cooperation, Marine Ecosystem Management, Research

This report describes the 2014 and 2015 research activities partially or fully funded by the Program to meet NOAA s mandate to identify, study, and monitor deep-sea coral areas.

Bycatches (Fisheries), Coral Reef Conservation, Coral Reef Ecology, Coral Reef Fisheries, Corals, Environmental Aspects, Environmental Impact Analysis, Identification

The North Pacific Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program is a potentially huge source of coral location data that could provide much needed information on high diversity hotspots and vulnerable marine ecosystems. We implemented a pilot project in 2012 and 2013 with experienced fisheries observers to improve data collection on coral bycatch by the Alaskan commercial fishing fleet.

Coral Reef Ecology; Databases; Deep-Sea Corals; Research; Sponge

The database represents a new standard to catalyze progress in deep-sea coral and sponge
resource management and habitat suitability modeling. Records will be compiled continuously by NOAA,
and distributed online in a map atlas format beginning in 2015.

marine resources conservation; seamounts; submarine topography

Over the past decade, there has been a strong push to protect seamount communities from threats ranging from deep-sea fishing to harvesting of non-living marine resources. A number of resource protection mechanisms exist for seamounts, ranging from national legislation to multi-lateral agreements to conserve seamounts on the high seas, using the authority of international instruments.

coral reef ecology; deep-sea corals; management; marine ecosystem management; sponges; workshop report

On April 22–23, 2014, scientists and resource managers met in Honolulu to identify critical information needs for deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems in the Pacific Islands Region. The goal of the workshop was to develop a 3-year exploration and research priorities plan.

Deep Sea Corals; Geographical Distribution; Habitat; Imaging; Multibeam Mapping; Octocorallia; Sponges

To inform discussions of deep-sea coral management and fish habitat usage, we are providing the New England Fishery Management Council with a brief review of research surveys conducted in 2013 and 2014. These surveys identified coral-dominated communities in U.S. deep waters (200-250 m depth) of the northern Gulf of Maine. This report focuses only on geographic distributions of octocorals based on direct observations. 

Benthos, Deep Sea Corals, Ecology, Habitat, Marine Ecosystem Management, Sponges, Site characterization

Benthic surveys were conducted in the Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary aboard R/V Fulmar, October 3-11, 2012 using the large observation-class remotely operated vehicle Beagle. The purpose of the surveys was to groundtruth mapping data collected in 2011, and to characterize the seafloor biota, particularly corals and sponges, in order to support essential fish habitat designations under Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) and other conservation and management goals under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA).

Deep Sea Corals, Ecology, Habitat, Sponges

This article presents in situ observations of coral and sponge habitat and of fishes, crabs, and octopods to depths throughout the range of current fishing activities and well beyond those depths anticipated to be affected by fishing activities in the near future in the central Aleutian Islands.