MARE, in partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries, United States Geologic Society, and the California Academy of Sciences recently returned from an expedition to locate deep-sea corals and sponges, map sea floor habitats, and assess essential fish habitats that are undergoing regulation changes. Our ROV Beagle made 17 dives in 8 study areas visiting never before seen areas off the coast during this 10-day research expedition.

Highlight: California Academy of Sciences scientist, Gary Williams, described a new species of yellow octocoral collected during this expedition.