Deep-Sea Habitats in the Mariana Islands I

This expedition will focus on exploring the Mariana region- one of the most tectonically and volcanically dynamic locations on the planet, marked by the Earth’s deepest oceanic trench, some of the most active submarine volcanoes, and some of the oldest seafloor on the planet. This 23-day expedition will utilize the ROV, mapping, and telepresence systems of E/V Nautilus in combination with autonomous underwater vehicle Sentry to explore priority deep-sea areas identified by the management and science community, including abyssal plain habitats, seamounts, and other deep-sea areas offshore the Mariana Islands that support resource management priorities. This is the first of two consecutive E/V Nautilus expeditions that will explore poorly known deep-sea habitats around the Mariana Islands in 2026, and focus on the southeasternmost portion of the US EEZ around the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.