UNCOVERING
DEEP-SEA
BIODIVERSITY
As less than 1% of the deep ocean has been seen by humankind, much of my research characterises what species live where, why they live there, how they interact with each other, and what function they play. This may seem simple but this fundamental knowledge is of the utmost importance as it forms the baseline against which all changes are weighed. You can’t effectively protect what you don’t know or manage what you don’t understand.
I’ve worked on most deep-sea habitats including hydrothermal vents, seamounts, abyssal plains, methane seeps, and wood and whale falls.
Humankind is already changing the deep ocean, with impacts expected to accelerate alongside our increased use. Much of my research seeks to understand the impacts of deep-seabed mining, oil and gas extraction, pollution, and climate change, so that we can better conserve our deep-ocean ecosystems.
UNDERSTANDING
HUMAN IMPACTS
ON THE DEEP-SEA
EXPLORING THE
CARIBBEAN
MY DEEP-SEA
MY BACKYARD
The Caribbean deep sea is one of the least explored globally.
This is due to a dearth of capacity in the region. I have participated in most of the recent exploratory cruises in the Caribbean – exploring hydrothermal vents in the Cayman Trench and methane seeps off Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago, and searching for the impacts of volcanic activity on deep-sea communities off Montserrat.
Ultimately, the lack of regional capacity and knowledge results in unaware populations and inappropriate or inadequate management decisions. To tackle this, a group of researchers, engineers, and practitioners, funded by National Geographic and the Inter-American Development Bank launched ‘My Deep Sea, My Backyard’.
This pilot project, from 2018-2019, empowered two small island developing states – the Republic of Kiribati and Trinidad and Tobago – to explore their own deep-sea backyards using low-cost technology, while also building lasting in-country capacity. Find out more on the SpeSeas and in Forbes.
