June 2025

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June 2025 | Oceanography

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advancement in our understanding of the geophysics, vent biol­

ogy, and oceanography of the MPA.

The observations collected by cabled sensors and during

the repeated visits for infrastructure maintenance are freely

available (unless there is a known student thesis that could be

affected by early release of the data). There is growing under­

standing of hydrothermal ecosystems’ functions, their connec­

tivity to other ecosystems, their benefit to humanity, and their

role in the ocean’s chemical balance. However, a clear picture of

the “value” of hydrothermal sites to weigh against disturbance,

for example by deep-sea mining or scientific sampling, is not

complete (Turner et al., 2019). The objective of continuous, long

time-series monitoring of vent sites by seafloor observatories is

to enable observation of natural disturbances and how succes­

sion proceeds afterwards to understand what level of anthro­

pogenic disturbance or scientific sampling might be tolerated.

In addition, real-time monitoring is essential for monitoring

episodic natural perturbations. A framework is being devel­

oped among the Canadian government and scientific institu­

tions for a rapid response to a perturbation of the hydrother­

mal system at the Endeavour Segment to gain observations of

the changes in the water column chemistry and the benthic

and pelagic ecosystems.

The Endeavour MPA is remote, 300 km offshore and in

2.2 km of water, and seemingly clear of threats that impact

coastal oceans. However, it is not isolated from ocean acidifi­

cation, microplastic pollution, hypoxia, and even storm inten­

sity. Real-time data and regular, yearly maintenance visits to

Endeavour monitor change due to natural processes, pollution,

and climate change.

With the Endeavour MPA subsumed into the much larger off­

shore TḥT MPA (Figure 6), now encompassing multiple eco­

logically or biologically significant marine areas, remote moni­

toring strategies are expected to change in accordance with new

MPA conservation and management goals. While the cabled

seafloor sensors will play a crucial role, other complementary

monitoring and infrastructure upgrades are needed to continue

increasing scientific understanding, to contribute to improved

management or conservation, and to monitor the effectiveness

of the new MPA protections.

REFERENCES

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FIGURE 6. Map showing the boundaries (yellow polygon) of the offshore

TḥT MPA. Boundaries encompass all known hydrothermal vent fields

within Canada, at least 47 seamounts, and hundreds of seamount-like

features. The ONC observatories are delineated by orange squares.

Image credit: ONC

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