July 2, 2026
Since 2021, NOAA and the U.S. Department of the Interior have led fieldwork for the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC) restoration projects, which restore deep-sea coral habitats injured by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This data collection occurs throughout the northern Gulf, including in or around Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, which includes important reference sites that inform restoration in other areas of the Gulf.
Now, you can explore all expeditions from 2021 to 2025 in the newly updated MDBC StoryMap! Dive in to see how each mission accomplished specific objectives guided by the types of data the teams need to collect to inform restoration. These data include multibeam sonar maps of the seafloor; images and video of habitats from remotely operated vehicles and autonomous underwater vehicles; conductivity, temperature, and depth profiles of the water column; water samples for nutrient and environmental DNA analysis; seafloor sediment samples; and coral samples for further laboratory analyses. Check out the StoryMap to see detailed maps, photos, and descriptions of all past expeditions and learn more about MDBC’s work.
 |
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CT
Register for the webinar here.
During the webinar, MBDC will share updates from the 2025 field season, discuss ongoing restoration for 2026, and present how experts will be synthesizing data and samples to refine and implement effective restoration strategies for the Gulf. Following these presentations, there will be an opportunity for questions.
|
|
