At the Flower Garden Banks, the giant anemone (Condylactis gigantea) is found only in the deeper areas, not on the reef crest. In other areas of the Caribbean, this species is found in shallow areas. The reason for this difference is unknown. Click image for larger view.

Gulf of Mexico Deep Sea Habitats 2003

September 21 - October 2, 2003

An interdisciplinary scientific team spent 12 days exploring deep-sea coral habitats in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. The occurrence of deep water corals in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) has been documented for some time, and the evidence indicates that they may be widely distributed in this fragile region that is heavily utilized by the oil and gas industry.

Some topographic features in the GOM have been identified as crucial spawning sites for commercially important fishes and reef-building deep-water corals, yet little is known about the abundance, extent, and diversity of these coral systems or their inhabitants. Due to the extensive human activity in the GOM, there is an urgent need to gain an understanding of these fragile and potentially valuable resources so that appropriate management strategies can be developed.

There was great potential for discovery during this exciting expedition, so follow this enthusiastic group of scientists during their journey to explore the deep-water habitats of the Gulf of Mexico!

Updates & Logs

Click images or links below for detailed mission logs.

Press Release - Oct 3 Team Discovers Uncharted Reefs, Finds New Crab Species (PDF, 90Kb)

Oct 3 Students and teachers tour the vessel during the Port Call.

Oct 1 The science team completes its last dive in search of Lophelia coral beds.

Sep 30 Read the confessions of a Maverick Marine Biologist: The Wondrous World of Deep Reef Fishes

Sep 29 See some of the most exciting collections of the exploration, in which beauty can be deceiving.

Sep 28 The ROV is back in operation and two successful dives net many valuable specimens.

Sep 27 Electrical and weather issues prevent ROV operations, but the mission continues...

Sep 26 Researchers with the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary collect speciments at Alderdice Bank.

Sep 25 The deep coral research team started their final ROV survey at Green Canyon 354.

Sep 24 Scientist document the painted squat lobster--a new species in the Gulf of Mexico.

Sep 23 Flying the Innovator ROV up a slope reveals a changing substrate and a variety of creatures.

Sep 22 The challenges of exploration and an unscheduled trip to Venice, Louisiana.

Sep 21 The first meeting of the scientific team occurs even before the ship leaves the dock.

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