Live at Lunch: Deep Discoveries from the 2024 NEPDEP Expedition

Deep Discoveries from the 2024 Northeast Pacific Deep-Sea Exploration Expedition

The 2024 NEPDEP expedition occurred for 3 weeks in August offshore of Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. Our science team uncovered compelling new evidence that strengthens the case for existing and future protection of the extraordinary deep-sea ecosystems. We explored never-before-seen regions of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) at the Queen Charlotte glass sponge reefs and SG̲áan K̲ínghlas-Bowie seamounts, and ventured into the uncharted and unexplored proposed MPAs offshore of Haida Gwaii. The unexpected discoveries and personal encounters with deep-sea animals have left us speechless. 

The NEPDEP expedition and science were co-created by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Council of the Haida Nation, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, and Ocean Networks Canada, with the support of dozens of additional partners.

Speaker: Heidi Gartner, Deep-Sea Ecology Program Biologist and NEPDEP member. 

Live at Lunch is a monthly series where you can hear directly from curators, archivists, staff and researchers at the Royal BC Museum as well as fascinating community members and guests.