Expanding Pacific research and exploration of submerged systems: Advancing federal ocean science and resource management through interagency partnership

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) have partnered on offshore oceanographic research and mapping expeditions to advance the science of understanding benthic habitats, marine geology and geologic hazards in part to inform responsible ocean resource management on the U.S. West Coast. The result of this massive field effort is a total of 35 oceanographic research expeditions that completed 90,000 square kilometers of high-resolution seafloor mapping, documented over 350,000 occurrences of deep-sea corals and sponges as well as benthic invertebrate fauna and fishes, and collected thousands of geological and biological specimens for further study. In total, the Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems (EXPRESS) campaign was the first federally led offshore research campaign on the West Coast that accomplished substantial field work collecting a wealth of information on seafloor geology and habitats while enhancing collaboration among federal agencies and with private organizations.