Glass Sponge Reef Habitat in the Pacific Northwest
Paul Johnson, School of Oceanography, University of Washington
R/NP-6
Glass sponge reefs have recently been discovered in deep waters near Grays Canyon off the Washington coast. Little is known of these habitats, long inaccessible to humans. This project will use sophisticated imaging technologies to create maps and oceanographic profiles of the sponge reefs and their non-sponge inhabitants, which can include commercially important shrimp and rockfish. Areas that have been damaged by commercial trawl fishing will also be identified and compared to pristine areas of the reefs.
- For a presentation of the most recent findings, please see "Glass Sponge Reefs and Methane Bubble Plumes" (7.6MB PDF)
- For additional information, please contact Paul Johnson, johnson@ocean.washington.edu.