Oceana and MARE Release Discoveries from Seafloor ROV Expedition

By Mike Ball / 18 Aug 2016

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST
MARE Beagle ROV

MARE Beagle ROV

Oceana, an international ocean conservation organization, and Marine Applied Research & Exploration (MARE) have announced that they have released findings from their expedition to explore the living seafloor off Southern California. After five days at sea documenting the deep ocean within and outside of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Oceana and MARE returned with images, videos and new discoveries that clearly illustrate the importance of seafloor structures — including corals, sponges, rocky reefs, and seamounts — to the survival and recovery of important fish species.

“The oceans are the lifeblood of the planet,” explained Alexandra Cousteau, Senior Advisor for Oceana, who participated in the expedition. “Living structures on the ocean floor, like corals and sponges, provide nurseries, food and shelter essential for the survival and productivity of important commercial and sportfish species, like rockfish and lingcod. The waters surrounding the islands and offshore banks of Southern California contain prime examples of these spectacular habitats.”

MARE’s Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), outfitted with a suite of underwater cameras, filmed areas of the seafloor that have never been seen before. Oceana and MARE completed 13 dives and launched the ROV to depths ranging from 80 meters (263 feet) to 435 meters (1,427 feet). The dive locations ranged from 3 to 75 miles offshore and provided the first glimpses of areas that have only been mapped in the last few months.

“You can’t fully understand what lives on the seafloor unless you go down and look,” said Dirk Rosen, Founder and Executive Director of MARE. “Together with Oceana, we discovered new areas of underwater wilderness containing deep sea coral gardens, which provide essential habitat structure for fish and invertebrates. The seafloor is more than just a colorful world, it is a living ecosystem. MARE was thrilled to have deployed our ROV Beagle in support of Oceana’s mission to protect these vulnerable ecosystems.”

The Pacific Fishery Management 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. As part of that process, Oceana has submitted a comprehensive conservation proposal designed to protect sensitive ocean habitats from bottom trawling, including a precautionary closure to prevent the expansion of this fishing gear into deeper waters off Southern California. 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, which grow only millimeters a year.

“On this research expedition, we found evidence of a globally significant and largely pristine network of coral gardens, sponge beds and other fragile habitats,” reported Geoff Shester, California Campaign Director for Oceana. “We are only just beginning to unlock this region’s many undersea mysteries. A precautionary approach to protecting Southern California’s offshore waters from the effects of bottom trawling, at least until we have a chance to learn more about them, will benefit of our seafood supply, ocean health, and future generations.”

A complete description of the expedition findings is available here.

Underwater video can be accessed here and photographs can be viewed here.

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Most Read Articles on UST This Week

Here’s our round-up of the five most read articles on UnmannedSystemsTechnology.com this week

Jun 20, 2025
New AI Emission Detector for Autonomous Drones Enables Remote Methane Monitoring

Percepto has introduced an AI-powered emission detection system that combines autonomous drones and real-time analytics to streamline methane monitoring and regulatory compliance for oil and gas operators

Jun 20, 2025
CRP Technology Receives ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Certification for Additive Manufacturing

CRP Technology has obtained ISO 14001:2015 certification from DNV, covering its additive manufacturing processes and confirming alignment with international environmental management standards

Jun 20, 2025
Chess Dynamics Demonstrates Advanced AI Tracking in Challenging Field Trials

Chess Dynamics has demonstrated its advanced AI tracking technology in demanding multi-domain trials, showcasing reliable target tracking, classification and sensor performance in complex conditions

Jun 20, 2025
Marine Laboratory Advances Shallow Water Mapping with RIEGL Bathymetric LiDAR

Plymouth Marine Laboratory is advancing shallow water mapping using RIEGL's UAV-mounted bathymetric LiDAR, enabling high-resolution, low-impact environmental data collection and research

Jun 20, 2025
Evolito to Develop Electric Propulsion System in New Aerospace Collaboration

Evolito and VÆRIDION have partnered to develop electric propulsion technology for the Microliner aircraft, aiming to deliver improved propulsion efficiency and operational safety

Jun 19, 2025

Featured Content

Exail Showcases Integrated USV & AUV Operations in Collaborative Trial

Exail’s DriX USV and Ifremer’s Ulyx AUV were jointly deployed for the first time, demonstrating advanced cooperative capabilities in deep-sea exploration

Jun 19, 2025
HBK Updates RTK Service for Precise Positioning in Autonomous Systems

HBK has updated its SensorCloud RTK service, integrating with MicroStrain by HBK navigation systems to provide centimeter-level accuracy and simplified deployment for autonomous systems

Jun 17, 2025
MEMS DC Accelerometers from SDI Deliver Superior Performance for Unmanned Systems

SDI's MEMS DC accelerometers offer a robust solution for unmanned aerial, ground, and underwater vehicles, providing precise static and dynamic motion sensing, crucial for autonomous navigation, attitude feedback, and structural monitoring

Jun 12, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.