Cold Seeps are benthic marine features where fluids enriched with reduced compounds (e.g. methane or hydrogen sulphide) ‘bubble’ out of the seafloor. Amazingly, these features can become productive chemosynthetic (origin of word: ‘chemical’ ‘formation’) ecosystems where bacteria turn the reduced chemicals into carbon for a unique food web. In comparison, most food webs on Earth start with photosynthesis (using the sun’s energy to produce carbon). Cold seeps are biological hotspots of productivity, have specialized animals, and have cascading effects on the ocean communities around them

In the Pacific Region, these chemosynthetic EBSAs are generally characterized by bacteria, tubeworms, and bivalves. Carbonate rock is also formed from the bacterial activity - creating important hard and complex habitat for many additional species.

The Haida Nation and Kuuniisii ancestors have strong spiritual and cultural connections with all places and beings in Haida territories. This expedition will go to the NEPDEP 58* seamount, near G̲angx̲id Kun Cape St. James.

This very unique area provides habitats for all kinds of sea life, including an incredible coral garden that we discovered is a nursery ground for at least three different Ts’íit’aa | Ts’iiɢ̲a | skate species! Additionally, we have discovered that the seamount has hydrothermal activity causing it to vent warm water on the summit.

Our research will gather more data to further explore the hydrothermal dynamics around this seamount.

*NEPDEP 58 is a placeholder name for an incredible seamount that will be named by coastal First Nations.