Trinidad and Tobago Deep‑Sea Survey Maps New Cold Seeps and Species

Between June 29 and July 28, a month‑long expedition aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor charted 13 % of the nation’s largely unexplored deep waters, where 93 % of the territory lies beyond recreational diving depth. Using remotely operated vehicles, the team recorded dozens of active cold seeps and identified species that may be new to science. The effort, led by Trinidad and Tobago native deep‑sea ecologist Diva Amon and her SpeSeas organization, brought together scientists from the Caribbean, the U. S. , Canada and Spain. The survey fills critical gaps in knowledge of the southern Caribbean’s benthic ecosystems and provides a baseline for future conservation and research initiatives.