This 21-day expedition will utilize the ROV, 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.
Located in the South-Central Pacific, the Cook Islands are comprised of 15 islands surrounded by over 770,000 square miles of ocean, the vast majority of which remains unmapped and unexplored. This deep-sea region contains extensive abyssal plains, seamounts, and volcanic ridges, making it one of the most geologically and biologically significant ocean areas in the Pacific. Together, these features form the foundation of Marae Moana, a large-scale marine managed area that extends over the entire EEZ of the Cook Islands, established to balance ocean conservation with sustainable resource use.
This expedition will collect deep-sea data to support and inform resource management decisions, including improving the understanding of seabed environments and natural and mineral resources throughout the region. Together, the team will generate a rich foundation of data to stimulate further exploration, research, and management activities; data collected on this mission will be provided to the Cook Islands Government and archived in publicly available repositories. This expedition is supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, in partnership with Ocean Exploration Trust and the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority.
