June 2025

Welcome to interactive presentation, created with Publuu. Enjoy the reading!

June 2025 | Oceanography

11

INTRODUCTION

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are designated regions set aside

to manage conservation efforts, with the primary aim of pre­

serving and protecting marine life. Effective conservation con­

siders the overall ecosystem functions, encompassing the physi­

cal, geological, and geochemical aspects of the habitat, and their

relationships with biological communities, as well as the func­

tional relationship among the ecosystems within the MPA and

the neighboring undesignated marine areas (e.g.,  Hays et  al.,

2020). Preservation efforts also extend to the cultural signifi­

cance of the marine area and the sustainable use of its resources

(Gomez et al., 2021).

Managing an MPA involves balancing multiple—often com­

peting—concerns, such as habitat protection and sustainable

use. Effective management must be informed by a strong sci­

entific understanding of an evolving ecosystem, which requires

continuous collection of key observations. For MPAs situated

in the deep sea, this can be facilitated remotely through sensors

delivering time-series observations and recurrent collection of

physical samples that help to interpret the continuous sensor

data. However, the impacts on the protected area from sensor

deployment and data collection as well as of recurring scientific

and maintenance expeditions also need to be considered in the

MPA management plan (e.g., Cuvelier et al., 2022).

In 1984, the human-occupied vehicle Alvin confirmed the

existence of “unusually large” sulfide structures and biological

communities supported by hydrothermal venting off the west

coast of Canada (Tivey and Delaney, 1986). These structures and

communities were localized to the Endeavour Segment of the

Juan de Fuca Ridge within Canada’s exclusive economic zone.

Upon discovery, and with its fortuitous proximity to coastal

ports, the Endeavour Segment became a mecca for scientific

research, enabling the dissemination of what some describe as

its magical nature and broad recognition in Canadian society of

Endeavour’s unique features and their environmental and socio­

economic significance (Tunnicliffe and Thomson, 1999).

Although the size of hydrothermal vent fields is relatively small

globally, their ecological significance is high; and even though

they are generally located in the remote deep sea, they are threat­

ened by human disturbance (Van Dover, 2012). The process of

hydrothermal venting concentrates minerals at the discharge

sites, making them ideal candidates for deep-sea mining. The

scientific interest they generate can also raise threats of overzeal­

ous sampling and other disturbances (Turner et al., 2019).

As a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity

(1993), Canada resolved to protect 30% of its oceans by 2030.

In 2003, Canada began this process by establishing the 97 km2

Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents (EHV) MPA as Canada’s first

MPA and the world’s first protected hydrothermal vent site

(Figure 1). Established under Canada’s Oceans Act, the primary

conservation objectives were to ensure that human activities in

the area contributed “to the conservation, protection, and under­

standing of the natural diversity, productivity, and dynamism of

ABSTRACT. Designating marine protected areas (MPAs) is an increasingly utilized policy instrument for preserving marine eco­

systems and biological diversity while also allowing for sustainable use. However, designation is only the first step and cannot

be successful without monitoring mechanisms to drive an effective and adaptive management plan. This article discusses the use

of the NEPTUNE real-time seafloor observatory—originally designed to understand the complex interdisciplinary nature of the

Endeavour mid-ocean ridge spreading center—as a tool to inform MPA management. We describe the ways in which geophysical

and geological forces control biological habitat and water column biogeochemistry, and highlight research enabled by the observa­

tory that increased our understanding of Endeavour’s hydrothermal vent ecology and these dynamic processes. Endeavour is natu­

rally undergoing change, so an understanding of the multidisciplinary mechanisms and factors controlling its environment provides

key management information.

FIGURE 1. The boundaries (white-lined box) and the five main active vent

clusters (shaded boxes) of the Endeavour Marine Protected Area are

delineated here on a bathymetric map. Coordinate system: WGS 1984

UTM Zone 9N. Image credit: Ocean Networks Canada

Made with Publuu - flipbook maker