Oceana Releases Expedition Findings for Previously Unexplored Seafloor Areas off Southern California
Press Release Date: September 7, 2017
Location: Monterey, California
Contact:
Anna Baxter | email: abaxter@oceana.org
Anna Baxter
Today, Oceana released the findings of a scientific expedition it conducted in some never before explored waters off Southern California. In August 2016, in partnership with the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Marine Applied Research and Exploration, Oceana documented the living seafloor off Southern California along with species that rely upon healthy coral gardens, sponge beds, and rocky reefs for habitat, breeding, feeding, nurseries, and survival. Oceana urges federal fishery managers to safeguard these unique and special places from destructive bottom trawl fishing.
“Our expedition findings further confirm that the living seafloor off Southern California warrants wide-spread protections from future, expanded bottom trawling—the most damaging fishing practice to the deep-sea,” said Geoff Shester, California campaign director and senior scientist with Oceana. “These waters are unparalleled off the West Coast in their diversity and are extremely important to recovering and sustaining commercial and recreational fish populations off Southern California. Given how much of the seafloor is still unexplored, more new discoveries are on the horizon.”
Using high definition cameras housed inside a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), the expedition documented many exciting finds that will help inform and advance the long-term conservation and management of these fragile, deep-sea habitats. The expedition:
- Documented more than 14,000 invertebrates, including 4,786 corals, sponges and pennatulids (sea pens).
- Will increase by 39 percent coral, sponge, and pennatulid (sea pen) observations within the large 16,000 square mile area Oceana proposes for protection off Southern California in the NOAA Deep Sea Coral Database— a federal database housing information on species and locations of all known seafloor habitats.
- Observed more than 5,000 fish, comprising 31 distinct species and species groups and documented their co-occurrence with deep sea corals and sponges.
- Filmed deep sea animals including ocean sunfish (Mola mola), wolf eel, octopus, and nudibranchs nearby and/or interacting with seafloor habitats.
- Documented cat shark egg cases waiting to hatch upon yellow corals and lace sponges.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and National Marine Fisheries Service, which are responsible for managing fisheries in federal waters off the U.S. West Coast, are currently reviewing important habitat protections in this area off Southern California as well as other ocean waters along the West Coast. This November in Orange County, the Council will decide the future of the living seafloor, including more than 16,000 square miles of seafloor habitat off the coast there that Oceana proposed for protection from bottom trawling. Nearshore bottom trawling off Southern California for California halibut, sea cucumber, and prawns would remain unaffected by the proposal.
Background
In August 2016, Oceana, in coordination with Marine Applied Research and Exploration and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, conducted a five-day research expedition in Pacific Ocean waters off Southern California. The expedition surveyed several locations which Oceana proposes the Council protect from bottom trawl fishing. Bottom trawlers drag heavy trawl doors and footropes along the ocean floor to capture fish that live on and around the seafloor. In doing so, the gear can crush and topple delicate living habitats, like corals and sponges, some of which grow only millimeters per year.
The full expedition findings can be downloaded here
A short summary of the expedition findings can be obtained here
A 90-second video highlighting the need to protect the living seafloor can be viewed here
An infographic illustrating the importance of the living seafloor can be accessed here
