From August 12 – September 2, 2024, 6 CSSF team members supported Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Pacific Region (DFO Pacific) aboard the CCGS John P. Tully for the Northeast Pacific Deep-sea Exploration Project’s (NEPDEP) 2024 expedition. The focus of this expedition was to discover, explore and monitor deep-sea ecosystems. Specifically, this included ‘Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas’ in existing, planned and potential marine protected areas (MPAs). In addition to members of DFO, ship- and shore-based participants included scientists and professionals from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Canadian BioGenome Project, Council of the Haida Nation, Hakai Institute, NOAA Fisheries, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Royal BC Museum, University of Calgary, University of Gothenburg, University of Victoria and University of Washington.

The science objectives were to: map healthy sponge reef and impacts of bottom contact fishing; explore proposed MPA areas; revisit long-term monitoring sites; search for a potential cold seep habitat and map, sample and take heat flow measurements at a seamount serving as a skate nursery. Work that did not require the use of an ROV included CTD casts, plankton tows and deployment of a baited camera system for oceanographic and pelagic studies. The major goals of the ROPOS dives were to: 1) monitor sites, 2) collect imagery for 3D photogrammetry, 3) document skates in their nursery, 4) perform temperature measurements of venting 5) document and map deep-sea species and habitat and 6) collect samples to answer questions regarding taxonomic identity and carbon sequestration.

We supported the NEPDEP at-sea team in sample, imagery and data collection at 5 areas: Hecate Strait/Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area, a proposed Haida Gwaii MPA Network, SG̲áan K̲ínghlas-Bowie Seamount MPA, St’aa k’ii Mound and NEPDEP 58 Seamount Skate Nursery. At the Hecate Strait Glass Sponge Reef MPA, we executed 4 dives at a depth of ~220 m. There, we ran 15 transects; collected imagery for 5 3D photomosaics; collected imagery of healthy sponge reef, ghost fishing gear and drag marks; shot selfie footage of ROPOS; deployed the Niskins for 28 eDNA samples; collected 1 sea star, 1 crab, 5 sponge as well as 28 push core samples and deployed 1 long-term marker. In the proposed Haida Gwaii MPA Network, we executed 2 dives at ~880–300 m. We assisted in conducting 1 transect; collected 3 sponge, 1 coral with brittle star, ~10 snail, 3 bacterial mat, 8 eDNA and 2 carbonate samples; collected imagery of interesting geology (ripples in sediment, basalts, mudstone and sandstone), of the ribs of a sea lion and of a whale fall. We also captured footage of abandoned fishing gear and a small giant phantom jelly. This was the first time imagery has been captured in this area! At the SG̲áan K̲ínghlas-Bowie Seamount MPA, we executed 3 dives at depths of 1175–260 m; ran 6 transects; captured imagery for 9 3D photomosaics; captured quality footage of a coral garden, geology and trawl marks; deployed the Niskins for 9 eDNA samples; collected 6 sponge, 2 coral, 3 brittle star, 1 sea cucumber, 1 multi-organism and 1 sediment sample; recovered and replaced 1 marker; deployed 7 long-term markers and shot selfie footage of ROPOS. At the St’aa k’ii Mound, we conducted 1 dive at 1150–230 m. There, we ran 1 transect; collected 1 rock sample; deployed the Niskins for 3 eDNA samples and captured quality footage of carbonate, yellow staining, seep organisms and evidence of fishing. This was also the first time that imagery has been collected at this site! At the NEPDEP 58 Seamount Skate Nursery, we executed 4 dives at depths of ~1600–2100 m, where we ran 4 transects; collected 2 push cores; collected 32 skate eggs; successfully integrated an extra long temperature probe from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) with ROPOS then performed 7 temperature measurements in the sediment with it; deployed 11 Niskins for eDNA; collected imagery for 3 photomosaics, collected imagery of marine life, including octopuses with eggs; whale falls; a skate scraping on coral to remove its egg; an abundant bed of rare ‘precious’ coral; a blobfish with its eggs; a squid brooding and shot ROPOS selfie footage. We also performed 254 close-up investigations of marine life across all the dives.

Highlights for the Science Team included measuring and mapping the heat flow from venting at the NEPDEP 58 skate nursery and finding a skate migration route, discovering an extension of the summit of NEPDEP 58 and Canada’s first ever bed of the rare ‘precious coral’ (Hemicorallium sp.), as well as our exciting encounters with a Gonatus squid brooding, blobfish eggs and a small giant phantom jelly (Stygiomedusa gigantea)! They also emphasized that setting up the extra long temperature probe from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to ROPOS for the first time and while at sea was a crazy feat of engineering by the ROPOS team and made confirming the fluid/heat transfer between NEPDEP 57 and 58 possible. This is only the 4th time in history that this oceanographic phenomenon has been discovered and documented!

There were many highlights for us. Capturing selfie footage of ROPOS using a GoPro camera gave us an opportunity to appreciate how surprisingly and incredibly smoothly ROPOS travels underwater and while sampling. For Luke Girard, a highlight was being given the opportunity to challenge himself to fly ROPOS in the complex paths and at viewing angles required to achieve cinematic shots, along with the encounter with a giant phantom jelly. During one ascent, the science team had completed their tasks for the dive and had left the lab, and ROPOS Team’s Peter Lockhart was completing his routine, monitoring ROPOS’ retrieval from the depths. Suddenly, a large, beautiful, red squid appeared in view, and it was grasping onto what could have been thousands of eggs! Peter sprang to action and followed it, while Robin Swanson jumped onto the controls, snapping stills. They followed it for a brief, mesmerizing moment until it swam away. Footage of a deep-sea squid brooding its eggs is rare and was truly incredible to document!

A task that required our problem-solving skills on this expedition was mounting an additional 6K camera onto the front of ROPOS. This was because the camera was exposed, so we had to take care to protect it from damage, also because we now had to figure out how to balance the real estate between the camera and bio boxes on the front porch. The screen on which the live feed was displayed was also separate from the rest of our display, which made it tricky to maneuver accurately sometimes. Despite these challenges, we were still able to successfully capture stunning imagery!

The Science Team was featured in 9 outreach events for: Ship2Shore (Hupacasath Camp, UVic Science Venture Cam, Tseshaht Camp, Haida and Seattle Deep-Sea Festival, Haida, Royal BC Museum) and a final expedition wrap-up event with Science World. They also did an event online with a group in Busan, South Korea for the International Geological Congress and ROPOS Team’s Luke Girard stole the show because he speaks Korean! His greeting from the ROPOS control room to the esteemed delegation of the congress helped Canada secure the bid for the 2028 conference! Thank you for reading, and for more information on the science behind this expedition, please visit the NEPDEP website.