A 21-day deep-sea exploration in the Cook Islands’ EEZ is concluding, having delivered exceptional images of the seabed and its life through a partnership between local and international institutions
The deep-sea expedition aboard the United States exploration vessel Nautilus successfully recorded deep-sea habitats and biodiversity in the Cook Islands seabed using cutting-edge technology.
The expedition, Deep-Sea Habitats of the Cook Islands, which ends next week, is utilising remotely operated vehicles, mapping and telepresence systems of E/V Nautilus to explore previously unsurveyed deep-sea priority areas identified by the management and science community in the Cook Islands. It focuses on imaging and cataloguing seabed habitats and biodiversity to improve understanding of the nation’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
