“About two million years ago, a small archipelago off the coast of modern-day California slipped beneath the waves, receding into the ocean. Its birth had been a violent one, as volcanic eruptions piled basalt upward, pyramid-like, through the deep sea and toward the light. Ultimately, the water line was breached and mountainous islands rose into Read more about Expedition to San Juan Seamount[…]

We are delighted to announce that Congressmen Sam Farr (CA) and Ted Lieu (CA) have introduced the California Seamounts and Ridges National Marine Conservation Area Designation and Management Act (H.R. 5797) to protect a series of nine seamounts, ridges and banks in federal waters off the California coastline. Consisting of ancient islands, underwater volcanoes and mountain ranges, Read more about Federal Leaders Introduce Bill to Protect Seamounts off California[…]

Beneath the deep waters off the coast of California exist submarine mountains that rise thousands of feet off the seafloor and harbor an incredible diversity of marine life. These underwater mountains are known as seamounts, classically defined as seafloor features that are taller than than 1,000 m (3,300 feet), have steep sides, and are roughly Read more about Seamounts: Oases of Biodiversity in California’s Deep Waters[…]