Submarine technology for the study and conservation of deep coral gardens and cold-water coral reefs
Difficult access has historically limited the study of deep-marine ecosystems. Only in the last decades, advanced submarine technology has made the exploration of deep marine bottoms increasingly affordable, allowing for the identification and characterization of highly-diverse coral-dominated communities. Remotely Operated Vehicles, manned submarines, and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles have been used in the past to characterize the ecology and conservation status of coral gardens and cold-water coral populations in the Cap de Creus canyon and in the Menorca Channel (Western Mediterranean Sea). This presentation focuses on the use of these underwater technologies for the ecological research, management and conservation in the deep-sea. Moreover, future developments and possibilities will be proposed and discussed.