Surrounded by the sea, it can be easy to believe we know all there is to know about the creatures living there. But as recent discoveries show, we have much still to learn.
Get an in-depth look at some of our deep-sea neighbours on Aug. 29, with a live presentation from 11 a.m. to noon at the Royal BC Museum, or 'Zoom-in' from the comfort of your home. Hosted in partnership with the Northeast Pacific Deep-Sea Exploration Project (NEPDEP), the free public livestream event is a must-see for any aspiring marine biologist or marine life enthusiast, featuring insights into hydrothermal vents, cold-water coral, cephalopods, skates and more.
"Our coming 'Ship2Shore' livestream event offers a great opportunity for the public to learn what the NEPDEP team has been working on over the past month," says Hugh MacIntosh, Collections Manager, Invertebrate Zoology, Royal BC Museum. "Attendees will hear about their discoveries and have the chance to ask questions. The event is free and can be attended in person or via Zoom, making it an accessible learning opportunity for everyone."
NEPDEP is an international collaboration of scientists, communicators and marine planning professionals from Federal and Indigenous governments, non-profit institutions and academia. Currently on its sixth exploration mission, NEPDEP aims to discover, explore and monitor life deep below the waves for research and conservation purposes.
While NEPDEP has made many notable discoveries since its inception in 2018, one of the more well-known recent findings was the discovery of hydrothermal vents in seamounts, which serve as important 'nurseries' for at least two species of skate.
"The discovery of these deep-sea skate nurseries highlights the importance of collaborative projects like NEPDEP," MacIntosh says. "It's easy to assume that we've explored everything on our planet, but there's still much to discover and endless mysteries to solve."
NEPDEP also played a key role in the recent designation of Pacific Canada's largest marine protected area, Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxwiqak – Tsig̱is. This massive 133,016-square-kilometre marine protected area safeguards every known hydrothermal vent and the majority of seamounts in Canada, contributing directly to global ocean conservation and ensuring these areas remain protected and available for future research.
Join the Royal BC Museum and the NEPDEP team for the next Sea2Shore - Live from the Deep Sea event on Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Royal BC Museum conference hall, located at 675 Belleville St. in downtown Victoria, or via Zoom from your home. Register to join through Zoom online here.
Find more information about the Royal BC Museum at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for the latest updates on exhibitions and events. Visit nepdep.com for more information on their current exploration and discoveries!