Imagine exploring Banff National Park and discovering mountains that no one knew were there. That’s what happened during our recent Northeast Pacific Seamounts Expedition, in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Oceana Canada, the Haida Nation and Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) (Figure 1).

Figure 1. The Northeast Pacific Seamounts Expedition was a 16-day, 2500 kilometre voyage to explore and map little-known underwater volcanoes with a goal to inform future marine protection measures.

While mapping and exploring these underwater volcanoes, the science team aboard exploration vessel (EV) Nautilus discovered six previously unknown seamounts ⎯along with an extraordinary diversity and abundance of marine life. These discoveries successfully fulfilled the mission’s goal of learning more about these biodiversity hotspots to inform protection measures.

Figure 2. This high-resolution map of Dellwood Seamount was created using EV Nautilus’ multibeam sonar equipment. During the expedition, a total of 13 northeast Pacific seamounts were mapped for the first time. (Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust / Northeast Pacific Seamount Partners).

These underwater mountains rise 1000-3000 metres from the seafloor (Figure 2), and provide a mid-ocean nursery for rare and new-to-science marine life. The steep slopes are home to vast ancient sponge, coral forests and a diversity of colourful fish and invertebrates (Figure 3). The expedition team collected 150 specimens of more than 100 species.

“We’ve gathered potentially previously unknown species of undersea life. This collection of specimens is an impressive set and, coupled with videos of the species in their habitat as well as DNA barcoding, it will be a comprehensive contribution to our understanding of life on seamounts," comments expedition lead scientist, Tammy Norgard, DFO.

Figure 3. The slopes of the Northeast Pacific seamounts are teaming with a dense kaleidoscope of colourful marine life, including octopus, corals, sponges, rockfish, anemones, jellyfish, sea stars, nudibranchs, lobsters, crabs, and whales. (Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust / Northeast Pacific Seamount Partners).

During the expedition, ONC extended its long-term continuous monitoring capacity by deploying a sophisticated instrument package on Dellwood Seamount to track habitat changes over time.

“Gathering data through expeditions like this⎯and through the installation of long-term monitoring platforms⎯ advances the world’s understanding of ocean biodiversity hotspots at a critical time when governments, Indigenous peoples, and conservation groups are working to formally protect vulnerable marine ecosystems.” says Kim Juniper, ONC’s chief scientist.

Figure 4. Over 120 Haida residents attended two “Seamount Viewing Parties” in Old Massett and Skidegate, providing the communities with an opportunity to experience the deep-sea ecosystem within the SGaan Kinghlas Marine Protected Area. (Credit: Northeast Pacific Seamount Partners).

ONC's chief scientist Kim Juniper participated in two well-attended “Seamount Viewing Parties” co-hosted with the Haida Nation in Skidegate and Old Massett (Figure 4). Several of the seamounts explored are located within Haida territory, including SGaan Kinghlas, designated as a marine protected area in 2008 and co-managed by DFO and the Haida Nation. According to Haida oral tradition, this seamount is said to be the home of a supernatural being known as SGaan Kinghlas, which means ‘supernatural being looking outwards’ in the Massett dialect.

“Sharing the wonder of the seamounts through a live video feed brought that reality right into our lives. The excitement that was shown in our communities and the conversations had over the 16-days of the expedition was nothing short of remarkable,” comments kil tlaats ‘gaa Peter Lantin, President of the Haida Nation.

Figure 5. Standing over a metre high, this ancient red tree coral provides a deep-sea refuge for marine life: a pom-pom anemone, boot sponges, rockfish, and a rarely seen decorated warbonnet fish (right). The onboard science team were awestruck by the size and extent of this ancient coral forest on SGaan Kinghlas-Bowie Seamount marine protected area (Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust / Northeast Pacific Seamount Partners).

While the information and samples gathered during this successful mission have yet to be analyzed, this expedition highlighted the importance of the SGaan Kinghlas marine protected area (Figure 5). Thanks to the collaborative efforts of government, science, advocacy, and Indigenous stakeholders (Figure 6), these data will inform future decisions on how to manage and protect these important mid-ocean nurseries.

Figure 6. The Northeast Pacific Seamounts Expedition team aboard EV Nautilus (back row): James Pegg, DFO; Jaasaljuus Yakgujanaas, Haida Nation; expedition lead scientist Tammy Norgard, DFO; Brett Jameson, University of Victoria PhD student; Cherisse du Preez, DFO; Candice St. Germain, DFO; Dana Haggarty, DFO; Katie Gale, DFO; Robert Rangeley, Oceana Canada; (front row) Alessia Ciraolo, Memorial University PhD student; Mandy Leith, ONC; Jennifer Whyte, Oceana Canada. (Credit: Northeast Pacific Seamount Partners).

In addition to the significant scientific discoveries, the expedition also provided a successful outreach opportunity. The livestream was viewed worldwide for a total of 1.02 million minutes, generating 213,000 views. 33,000 users visited the interactive website protectoceans.ca; and on social media, close to 1000 contributors generated a reach of over two million impressions via hashtag #PacificSeamounts2018.

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