Finding Coral Expedition sets sail in June

Living Oceans Society is excited to announce the launch of their Finding Coral Expedition on June 8th. The expedition will use two mini subs to explore deep sea corals in Hecate Strait and the Queen Charlotte Basin. The subs will be piloted by Jennifer Lash, Executive Director of Living Oceans Society, and a blue ribbon science team who will dive to depths of up to 500 meters to gather evidence of corals, associated species, and damage from human impacts. The subs will carry high resolution video cameras in order to share the sights of these never-been-seen-before coral forests.

Deep sea corals come in many shapes and sizes. With names such as red tree coral, bamboo coral and bubblegum coral, these spectacular creatures look like plants, but they are actually animals. Corals provide homes for crabs, shrimp and rockfish, and research from around the world shows that corals play an important role in our marine ecosystem.

Unfortunately, corals are also at risk. Destructive fishing gear, such as the bottom trawling gear used to catch ground fish, destroys corals with weighted nets that are dragged across the ocean floor. Corals can live to be thousands of years old and it can take decades for them to grow back, if they grow back at all.

Very little research has been done on deep sea corals in British Columbia and, as a result, the corals are virtually unprotected. Living Oceans Society wants to change this. By leading a team of scientists on a research expedition to the bottom of the sea, we believe we can gather the information and samples needed to learn more about corals and ensure they are protected from harmful fishing practices.

Deep sea corals have been out of sight for thousands of years. This summer, Living Oceans Society is going to the depths of the ocean so we can share these spectacular creatures with you. We hope you come along for the ride.

– Jennifer Lash

Find out more at the Finding Coral Expedition web site www.findingcoral.com.

Once LOS begins diving in June, updates about the expedition will be on the website daily with undersea YouTube videos and photos of their findings, and dispatches from the science team.

Watch the YouTube clip below