Observations of deep coral and sponge assemblages in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Washington

Report on research cruise conducted from May 22-June 4, 2006, using the ROPOS Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to conduct dives at targeted sites in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, to document deep coral and sponge communities. Survey locations included sites both inside and outside the Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Area, and were selected from areas for which the sanctuary had side scan sonar data indicating the presence of hard or complex substrate. The team documented several species of corals and sponges at 14 of the 15 sites surveyed, as well as coral rubble, dead gorgonians, lost fishing gear, and anthropogenic debris.