Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series NMSP-07-04

U.S. Department of Commerce 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Ocean Service 

Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management 

Observations of Deep Coral and Sponge Assemblages in 

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Washington 

Cruise Report: NOAA Ship McArthur II Cruise AR06-07/07

National Marine Sanctuary Program July 2007 
About the Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Ocean Service (NOS) 

administers the National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP). Its mission is to identify, 

designate, protect and manage the ecological, recreational, research, educational, 

historical, and aesthetic resources and qualities of nationally significant coastal and 

marine areas. The existing marine sanctuaries differ widely in their natural and 

historical resources and include nearshore and open ocean areas ranging in size from 

less than one to over 5,000 square miles. Protected habitats include rocky coasts, kelp 

forests, coral reefs, sea grass beds, estuarine habitats, hard and soft bottom habitats, 

segments of whale migration routes, and shipwrecks. 

Because of considerable differences in settings, resources, and threats, each marine 

sanctuary has a tailored management plan. Conservation, education, research, 

monitoring and enforcement programs vary accordingly. The integration of these 

programs is fundamental to marine protected area management. The Marine 

Sanctuaries Conservation Series reflects and supports this integration by providing a 

forum for publication and discussion of the complex issues currently facing the National 

Marine Sanctuary Program. Topics of published reports vary substantially and may

include descriptions of educational programs, discussions on resource management 

issues, and results of scientific research and monitoring projects. The series facilitates 

integration of natural sciences, socioeconomic and cultural sciences, education, and 

policy development to accomplish the diverse needs of NOAA’s resource protection 

mandate. 
Observations of Deep Coral and Sponge Assemblages in 

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Washington 

Cruise Report: NOAA Ship McArthur II Cruise AR06-06/07 

M.S. Brancato1

, C.E. Bowlby1, J. Hyland2, S.S. Intelmann

1

, and K. Brenkman

1

1 NOAA/NOS National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP), Olympic Coast National 

Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS), 115 East Railroad Ave., Suite 301, Port Angeles, WA, 

98362

2 NOAA/NOS, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for 

Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR), 219 Fort 

Johnson Road, Charleston, SC, 29412-9110

Silver Spring, Maryland

July 2007 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. (USN-ret.) 

Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

National Ocean Service 

John H. Dunnigan, Assistant Administrator 

National Marine Sanctuary Program

Daniel J. Basta, Director 
DISCLAIMER 

Report content does not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the National Marine 

Sanctuary Program or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, nor does 

the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or 

recommendation for use. 

REPORT AVAILABILITY 

Electronic copies of this report may be downloaded from the National Marine Sanctuary 

Program web site at www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov. Hard copies may be available from 

the following address:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 National Marine Sanctuary Program

 SSMC4, N/ORM62 

 1305 East-West Highway 

Silver Spring, MD 20910 

COVER 

Red tree coral, Primnoa pacifica with darkblotched and sharpchin rockfish. Photo credit: 

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, taken using the ROPOS ROV digital still 

camera. 

SUGGESTED CITATION

Brancato, M.S., C.E. Bowlby, J. Hyland, S.S. Intelmann, and K. Brenkman. 2007. 

Observations of Deep Coral and Sponge Assemblages in Olympic Coast National Marine 

Sanctuary, Washington. Cruise Report: NOAA Ship McArthur II Cruise AR06-06/07. 

Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series NMSP-07-03. U.S. Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Sanctuary Program,

Silver Spring, MD. 48 pp. 

CONTACT

Mary Sue Brancato 

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary 

115 East Railroad Ave., Suite 301 

Port Angeles, WS 98362 

360-457-6622 

Mary.Sue.Brancato@noaa.gov
ABSTRACT 

From May 22 to June 4, 2006, NOAA scientists led a research cruise using the ROPOS 

Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to conduct a series of dives at targeted sites in the 

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS) with the goal of documenting deep 

coral and sponge communities. Dive sites were selected from areas for which OCNMS 

had side scan sonar data indicating the presence of hard or complex substrate. The team

completed 11 dives in sanctuary waters ranging from six to 52 hours in length, at depths 

ranging from 100 to 650 meters. Transect surveys were completed at 15 pre-selected 

sites, with additional observations made at five other sites. The survey locations included 

sites both inside and outside the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Conservation Area, known 

as Olympic 2, established by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, enacted on June 

12, 2006. Bottom trawling is prohibited in the Olympic 2 Conservation Area for nontribal fishermen. The Conservation Area covers 159.4 square nautical miles or about 15 

percent of the sanctuary. Several species of corals and sponges were documented at 14 of 

the 15 sites surveyed, at sites both inside and outside the Conservation Area, including 

numerous gorgonians and the stony corals Lophelia pertusa and Desmophyllum dianthus, 

as well as small patches of the reef building sponge Farrea occa. The team also 

documented Lophelia sp. and Desmophyllum sp. coral rubble, dead gorgonians, lost 

fishing gear, and other anthropogenic debris, supporting concerns over potential risks of 

environmental disturbances to coral health. 

KEY WORDS 

Deep coral and sponges, marine sanctuary, ROV, rockfish, side scan sonar, Lophelia, 

gorgonians, coral distribution, EFH, Olympic 2 Conservation Area, seafloor disturbance. 

i
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Topic Page

Abstract and Key Words......................................................................................... i 

Table of Contents.................................................................................................... ii 

List of Figures and Tables....................................................................................... iii 

Introduction............................................................................................................. 1 

Objectives ............................................................................................................... 4 

Methods .................................................................................................................. 5 

Results..................................................................................................................... 14 

Discussion............................................................................................................... 37 

Acknowledgements................................................................................................. 44 

References............................................................................................................... 45 

ii
LIST OF FIGURES 

Figure Number and Title Page

Figure 1 – Map of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary ........................ 3 

Figure 2 – Areas of the Olympic Coast NMS surveyed with high resolution side 

scan sonar off the NOAA Ship McArthur II (denoted by AR) and F/V Mystery 

Bay .......................................................................................................................... 6 

Figure 3 – Survey site 6, illustrating the manually delineated polygon as drawn 

around mosaicked side scan sonar data, the ROV navigation track for the 

transects surveyed, and the segmented habitat classification polygons according 

to Greene et al. (1999). ........................................................................................... 7 

Figure 4 – 2006 ROV dive sites in OCNMS and within the EFH Conservation 

Area Olympic 2....................................................................................................... 9 

Figure 5 – Dive sites classified in relation to trawl intensity (low or med/high), 

whether scientifically trawled and whether inside or outside the EFH 

Conservation Area Olympic 2 (in, out)................................................................... 10 

Figure 6 – Launch of the ROPOS ROV off the NOAA Ship McArthur II............. 12 

Figure 7 – Bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica with extended 

polyps at survey site 0............................................................................................. 19 

Figure 8 – Bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica with crinoids 19 

Figure 9 – A bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica that has 

been knocked over but is still alive with polyps extended at survey site 1. ........... 20 

Figure 10 – Colonies of gorgonian Plumarella longispina all oriented to take 

advantage of the currents at survey site 1 ............................................................... 21 

Figure 11 – The giant cup coral Desmophyllum dianthus amidst the arms of 

crinoids Florometra serratissima at survey site 1. ................................................. 21 

Figure 12 – Red tree coral colony Primnoa pacifica with crinoids adorning the 

branches at survey site 2 ......................................................................................... 22 

Figure 13 – Several giant cup corals Desmophyllum dianthus surrounded by a 

zoanthid anemone at survey site 2 .......................................................................... 23 

Figure 14 – Scleratinian Lophelia pertusa colonies on a wall at the base of

which is a lithoherm................................................................................................ 23 

iii
Figure 15 – Small colonies of gorgonian Swiftia pacifica on a seafloor covered 

in hydroids, brachiopods and ball sponges at survey site 3 .................................... 24 

Figure16 – Bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica with polyps 

extended at survey site 3 ........................................................................................ 24 

Figure 17 – Rosethorn and redbanded rockfish at the base of a wall with 

scleractinian Lophelia pertusa and giant cup coral Desmophyllum dianthus at 

survey site 6 ............................................................................................................ 25 

Figure 18 – Two species of gorgonians Swiftia, S. pacifica and S. beringi at 

survey site 6. ........................................................................................................... 26 

Figure 19 – A damaged bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica at 

survey site 11beringi at survey site 6...................................................................... 27 

Figure 20 – Skeletal remains of scleractinian Lophelia pertusa and giant cup 

coral Desmophyllum sp. at survey site 11............................................................... 27 

Figure 21 – Living colonies of the hydrocoral Stylaster sp. – possibly an 

undescribed species at survey site 11...................................................................... 28 

Figure 22 – A bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica covered 

with brittlestars and a crinoid atop at survey site 13............................................... 29 

Figure 23 – Possibly a crab pot, buoy and line at survey site 18............................ 30 

Figure 24 – Trawl track at survey site 18. .............................................................. 30 

Figure 25 – A bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica on 

overturned cobble at survey site 30 ........................................................................ 31 

Figure 26 – Mostly dead branches from a bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia 

arborea pacifica at survey site 30........................................................................... 32 

Figure 27 – Bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica with a hermit 

crab halfway up branch on left, at survey site 31 ................................................... 33 

Figure 28 – Fishing line entangled in a bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia 

arborea pacifica at survey site 31........................................................................... 33 

Figure 29 – Gorgonian colonies Plumarella longispina at survey site 31.............. 34 

Figure 30 – Gorgonian colony Swiftia beringi at survey site 40 ............................ 35 

iv
Figure 31 – Gorgonian colony Swiftia spauldingi on a seafloor covered in 

hydroids and the bryozoan Myriozoum at survey site 45........................................ 36 

Figure 32 – Red tree coral Primnoa pacifica festooned with darkblotched 

rockfish at survey site 10 ........................................................................................ 37 

Figure 33 – A colony of scleractinian Lophelia pertusa that appears healthy 

with polyps extended at survey site 6 ..................................................................... 38 

Figure 34 – Long-line gear wrapped around the stalk of a dead gorgonian coral 

covered by an encrusting white sponge and brittle stars at survey site 1 ............... 40 

Figure 35 – A partially incinerated waste dump with metal cans, line and a 

plastic weave bag still evident at survey site 12 ..................................................... 40 

Figure 36 – Bubble gum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica with what 

appears to be a gravid sharpchin rockfish beneath it at survey site 2..................... 41 

Figure 37 – Bubble gum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica with 18 

shark eggs cases, crinoids and a basket star attached at survey site 1 .................... 42 

Figure 38 – Red tree coral Primnoa pacifica with darkblotched and sharpchin 

rockfish resting in the branches at survey site 10 ................................................... 42 

Figure 39 – An assemblage of cloud sponges with Swiftia pacifica, squat 

lobsters, bryozoans, brittlestars and other sponge species...................................... 43 

Figure 40 – An assemblage of cloud and boot sponges with a seastar, fish and 

several species of crustaceans in association.......................................................... 43 

v
LIST OF TABLES 

Table Number and Title Page

Table 1 – Sites surveyed in OCNMS...................................................................... 11 

Table 2 – Sites surveyed in OCNMS within each stratified category .................... 14 

Table 3 – Coral species documented in OCNMS ................................................... 15 

Table 4 – Sponge species documented in OCNMS................................................ 16 

Table 5 – Fish species documented in OCNMS ..................................................... 17 

Table 6 – OCNMS Survey sites characteristics from ROV-mounted CTD .......... 18 

vi
INTRODUCTION

The shelf and canyon habitats of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary 

(OCNMS) off the coast of Washington are areas of high primary productivity and 

biodiversity. They also support extensive groundfish fisheries, both commercial and 

tribal. However, only limited information is available on deep benthic habitats within the 

sanctuary. The present report provides preliminary results of a survey conducted in MayJune 2006, using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) equipped with digital video and still 

cameras, to learn more about the presence and condition of deep coral and sponge 

assemblages within the OCNMS and potential risks of environmental disturbances. The 

cruise is a follow-up to an earlier pilot survey conducted in June 2004 (Hyland et al. 

2005). 

Prior to this project, the distribution of corals and sponges in the OCNMS was much less 

known, limited to anecdotal reports by fishermen, coastal tribal members, scuba divers, 

previous submersible cruises undertaken by OCNMS, National Marine Fisheries Service 

trawl survey bycatch information, and some museum specimens collected by independent 

researchers. The most comprehensive peer-reviewed report that includes the OCNMS is 

a database compiled by researchers at the Marine Conservation Biology Institute 

(Etnoyer and Morgan 2003), which includes records from the Smithsonian National 

Museum of Natural History, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

Fisheries RACEBASE, Canadian Museum of Nature-Department of Fisheries and 

Oceans (CMN-DFO), California Academy of Science, among others. This latter report 

identified relatively few records on the continental shelf of the North American west 

coast, but this was thought to be an information gap largely reflecting research and 

reporting effort. Subsequent research in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary 

and along the coasts of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska have greatly 

increased the records of corals in these areas, though research effort is still limited due to 

lack of funds (Stein et al. 1992; Heifetz 2002; Cairns and Williams 2005; Conway et al. 

2005; DeVogelaere et al. 2005; Jamieson et al. 2005; Whitmire and Clarke In Press). 

Only one species of zoantharian coral in the family Antipathidae (“black corals”), i.e.

Bathypathes sp., had been documented in the literature within OCNMS waters prior to 

the present project (Etnoyer and Morgan 2003; Etnoyer and Morgan 2005). OCNMS had 

unpublished data from its 2000-2004 surveys of benthic recovery along a fiber optic 

cable route (Brancato and Bowlby 2005), indicating the presence of the gorgonians 

Paragorgia sp., Swiftia sp., and an unidentified paramuriceid coral; the hydrocoral 

Stylaster venustus; Balanophyllia cup corals; plus numerous sponges. However, newly 

identified in the OCNMS, as a result of the 2004 pilot effort (Hyland et al. 2005; Bowlby 

et al. 2006), is the lithoherm1

-forming scleractinian coral Lophelia pertusa. Lophelia 

 

1

 Throughout this report, the term lithoherm is used as a general term for mounds of rubble and 

living Lophelia pertusa observed. Composition of the mounds has not been evaluated at this time

to determine if they are compacted lithified sandy carbonate sediments forming a solid pavement 

or strictly mounds of rubble with some living polyps.

1 
pertusa is common in the North Atlantic Ocean, forming extensive lithoherms. It has 

also been documented from southern California to British Columbia; but not as extensive 

lithoherms as in the north Atlantic (Cairns 1994; Conway et al. 2005; Jamieson et al. 

2005; Whitmire and Clarke In Press). In OCNMS, most of the live Lophelia pertusa 

observed occurred on rock faces, with a lithoherm occurring at the base of the rock face. 

Also newly identified in OCNMS, as a result of the 2006 survey, are the scleractinian cup 

corals Desmophyllum dianthus, a potentially undescribed species of the hydrocoral 

Stylaster; and several other coral species. Corals were found at 14 of the 15 sites 

surveyed. 

Although the 2006 cruise greatly increases our knowledge of coral distribution in the 

sanctuary, only a minor portion of the sanctuary has been photographically surveyed to 

date. Reliable information to help locate potential coral sites (e.g., using data derived 

from side scan sonar or multibeam bathymetry surveys) is currently only available for

approximately 26 percent of the sanctuary (see Intelmann 2006; Intelmann et al. 2007). 

Within this mapped area, hard substrates existing within a specific depth criterion that 

may provide coral habitat have been identified at 48 sites. Quantitative ROV dive 

transects have been completed at 15 of these 48 sites. Because of the cost and logistical 

challenges associated with conducting acoustic surveys in deeper waters by towed array, 

the currently mapped areas within OCNMS using side scan sonar are primarily at depths 

< 400 m, yet some corals are found only in deeper areas. For instance, bamboo corals 

(family Isididae) and bubblegum corals (family Paragorgiidae) have been documented in 

deeper waters just outside sanctuary boundaries (Etnoyer and Morgan 2003). 

The continental shelf in the sanctuary extends from 8 to 40 miles from the shore (Figure 

1). Three submarine canyons cut into the shelf and slope within the sanctuary boundary: 

i.e., the Nitinat, Juan de Fuca, and Quinault canyons. The Juan de Fuca trough and 

canyon wind their way southwestward from the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The upper part of 

this feature – the Juan de Fuca Trough – is a complex, glacially carved, underwater fjordlike system. Farther offshore the trough becomes the Juan de Fuca Canyon that cuts 

across the outer continental shelf and slope, terminating in deep water at the base of the 

continental slope. Many of our dive targets were located along the trough, consisting 

largely of glacial deposits; however, some sites included glacial erratics left either by the 

retreat of the Cordilleran ice sheet from Canada and the Olympic Peninsula, or carried to 

their location by icebergs from the sheet and deposited on the primarily sand or silt shelf 

substrate. 

2 
Figure 1. Map of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary showing shelf and 

canyon topography off the Washington coast of the United States. 

3 
OBJECTIVES 

Overall study objectives and related research questions are presented below. Not all of 

these objectives can be addressed with a single year of data. This report primarily 

addresses objectives 1, 3 and 6. Additional analysis of existing video and photographs, 

plus the results from future cruises will be used to continue addressing the study 

objectives. 

Objective 1: Locate coral and sponge assemblages in the sanctuary. 

Objective 2: Define (map) the area of coverage of any “major” assemblages. 

Objective 3: Identify to the lowest taxonomic level possible, the species providing 

biogenic structure. 

Objective 4: Characterize the diversity, abundance and richness of species associated 

with coral-sponge habitat areas. Related research questions follow: 

• Is the species diversity/abundance/richness of non-coral and sponge 

species different in coral/sponge areas than in adjacent areas without 

coral or sponges?

Objective 5: Document evidence of potential environmental disturbances that may 

present risks to deep coral and sponge health. Related research questions 

follow: 

• Evaluate fishing/harvest pressures on coral-sponge assemblages and 

their associated fauna and how these vary due to fishing intensity. 

• Is the condition of coral/sponges different in trawlable versus 

untrawlable habitats? 

• Within trawlable habitats, is the condition of corals/sponges different 

between two levels of fishing intensity?

• Is the condition of coral/sponges different in closed areas than nonclosed areas? 

Objective 6: Document the substrate/habitat (and any other environmental features) the 

coral and sponge assemblages inhabit. 

Objective 7: Collect and assess fish-habitat association information. 

 Objective 8: Monitor recovery of trawlable habitats within the Olympic 2 EFH 

Conservation Area to characterize changes in epifauna over time. 

4 
METHODS 

Pre-Cruise Planning 

Because gorgonian and stony corals generally recruit to hard substrates, side scan sonar 

data were reviewed by OCNMS scientists to delineate potential hard-bottom substrates to 

serve as ROV dive targets. Towed deep-water side scan sonar surveys were conducted in 

OCNMS off the F/V Mystery Bay in September 2002 (Intelmann and Cochrane 2006) and 

from the NOAA ship McArthur II in 2004, 2005 and 2006 (Intelmann 2006, Intelmann et 

al. 2007). These particular surveys were restricted to water depths < 400m to optimize 

the capabilities of the survey kits involved. The resulting side scan sonar imagery from 

these surveys covers approximately 11 percent of the sanctuary (Figure 2). Potential 

hard-bottom features were initially identified from side scan sonar mosaics for which 

habitat classification had not yet been conducted. Polygons were manually delineated 

using ArcGISTM (Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), Redlands, 

California). An example of this process is illustrated in Figure 3 using survey site 6. 

Shown in the figure is a manually delineated polygon (black outline) encompassing a 

candidate hard-bottom feature identified from side scan sonar imagery, the ROV 

navigation track lines showing the transect survey that was conducted within the polygon, 

and post-acoustic survey habitat classification results following the scheme of Greene et 

al. (1999). These hard-bottom approximations based on side scan data represented the 

population of known potential coral-sponge habitat in the sanctuary. Since only 21 

percent of the sanctuary is currently mapped with side scan sonar, (26 percent with side 

scan or multibeam), we expect the population of known potential coral-sponge habitat in 

the sanctuary to increase over time. Because this cruise focused on a depth range of 80 to 

1000 m, the high resolution side scan for OCNMS fitting this depth range was further 

limited to 11 percent of the sanctuary.

In addition to the side scan sonar imagery, multi-beam bathymetry was also queried for 

the purpose of limiting dive depths and evaluating bathymetric relief. Since only a small 

portion of the sanctuary has been mapped using high resolution multi-beam

echosounders, a few areas of interest were evaluated by using dated single-beam

soundings to create an interpolated surface through kriging. Hard bottom targets <80m

were eliminated since the literature indicates that soft corals are generally found in waters 

>80m depth. Areas >1000m in depth were also removed from consideration because the 

dive limit of our ROV operations was 1000m. 

Although the majority of the candidate ROV dive sites were chosen by reviewing 

acoustic derived data, some corals (e.g., black corals and bamboo corals) occur at depths 

much greater than our current acoustic data set spans. Thus, to supplement these data and 

expand the range of candidate ROV dive depths, we used additional information on 

locations of “untrawlable habitat” as defined by NOAA Fisheries (Zimmermann 2003) 

and/or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW, Jagielo et al. 2004) based 

on inaccessibility of scientific trawl survey methods. NOAA Fisheries and WDFW 

provided GIS layers illustrating what each have defined as untrawlable habitat. The 

assumption with untrawlable areas is that they represent hard, uneven substrate that may 

prevent trawl gear from operating effectively. So in theory they are untrawled areas, at

5 
Figure 2. Areas of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary surveyed with high 

resolution side scan sonar off the NOAA Ship McArthur II (denoted by AR) and F/V 

Mystery Bay. Each color indicates an area surveyed during a particular cruise and year. 

These surveys cover only 11% of the sanctuary. (modified from Fig. 1 of Intelmann et al.,

2007). 

6 
Figure 3. Survey site 6, illustrating the manually delineated polygon as drawn around 

mosaicked side scan sonar data, the ROV navigation track for the transects surveyed, and 

the segmented habitat classification polygons according to Greene et al. (1999). See 

below for key to codes. 

Habitat Codes: 

First letter = Megahabitat: based on depth, where >200m = Flank (F) and < 200 m

= Shelf (S); 

Second letter = Bottom Induration: where mixed (m) = mixed hard and soft 

substrates, and soft (s) = sediments such as mud, silt, clay, or sand; 

Third letter = Meso/Macrohabitat: description relating to scale of features, where 

in this example exposed (e) =bedrock exposure; 

7 
Codes following asterisks relate to video observation of microhabitat, with codes 

as follows: encompassed by parentheses ( ) describes substrate where: e=exposed 

bedrock, w=sheer wall, p=pebble, g=gravel, c=cobble, b=boulder; in brackets [] 

describes biota where: f=flat fish, r=rockfish, c=coral, g=gorgonian, o=other 

sessile organisms, l=lingcod 

Code Example: Fhe *(ew)[cgr] = Flank, hard exposed bedrock wall with corals, 

gorgonian and rock fish. 

least avoided for scientific trawling purposes, however, not necessarily by commercial 

trawling, which may use small footrope roller gear to allow access to more substrate 

types. This hard, uneven substrate at appropriate depths also represents potential coralsponge habitat. Information on the geographic extent of the untrawlable habitats were 

imported into GIS and overlays were created to allow both: (1) the delineation of 

additional deeper canyon sites for ROV dives, and (2) the classification of the various 

polygons generated from the side scan sonar data into trawlable versus untrawlable 

categories. The latter classifications provide an additional basis for evaluating 

differences in coral assemblages in relation to potential environmental controlling factors. 

We also attempted to classify the sites by fishing intensity a priori using logbook trawl 

set-points; however, these data did not prove to be of high enough resolution for this 

purpose. Bycatch data from NOAA Fisheries were evaluated for the presence of corals 

and sponges, but because NOAA Fisheries staff (M.E. Clark and C. Whitmire pers. 

comm. 2006) indicated inconsistent reporting of bycatch by observers, this information 

was not used to prioritize potential dive sites. 

Thus we identified 48 candidate ROV dive sites as the sample population, defined as the 

area of suspected coral and sponge habitat. We then overlaid the boundaries of the 

Olympic 2 EFH Conservation Area (NOAA Fisheries 2006) onto the map of the study 

sites. The Pacific Fisheries Management Council/NOAA Fisheries scheduled the 

Olympic 2 Conservation Area to go into effect on 12 June 2006, which was shortly after 

we completed the cruise. Olympic 2 is closed to bottom trawling for non-tribal fisheries. 

Tribal fishing occurs in the sanctuary since the sanctuary is located within the combined 

usual and accustomed (U&A) fishing areas of the four Washington coastal treaty tribes 

(Makah, Quileute, Hoh, and Quinault). The Tribes’ treaty fishing rights are based on 

1855 treaties with the United States and apply to fish species found within each Tribe’s 

respective U&A area. Each tribe is responsible for managing the treaty fishing activities 

of its members and co-manages the resource with state and federal agencies. Tribal 

fishing allocation and management measures in federal waters are developed on a 

government-to-government basis within the Pacific Fishery Management Council process 

and then regulated by the individual tribal governments. 

Because of the place-oriented nature of tribal fisheries, with each tribe limited to fishing 

within its U&A areas, as well as other legal standards established for treaty fisheries, 

restrictions such as rockfish conservation area closures or EFH closures do not apply to 

8 
tribal fisheries. To meet resource conservation needs, management measures for tribal 

fisheries are developed in consultation with NOAA Fisheries and adopted through PFMC 

as part of the annual Federal regulations. 

With the overlay of the Olympic 2 EFH Conservation Area boundaries onto the map of 

the study sites, the 48 sites were divided into four strata: 1) scientifically trawled and 

inside the EFH Conservation Area; 2) scientifically trawled and outside the EFH 

Conservation Area; 3) not scientifically trawled and inside EFH Conservation Area; 

and 4) not scientifically trawled and outside the EFH Conservation Area (Figure 4). 

Figure 4. 2006 ROV dive sites in OCNMS and within the EFH Conservation Area 

Olympic 2. 

In addition to the 48 core sites described above, sites within the Strait of Juan de Fuca 

were selected as “weather sites” to allow ROV dives to continue during any periods of 

high winds off the coast that prevented sampling of core sites. From previous 

submersible dives and review of side scan sonar data, OCNMS had documented that 

these sites met the depth and substrate criteria, and fishing intensity was known to be low 

9 
in these areas (open to tribal fishers only), though trawlable in terms of substrate. With 

these sites the number of potential dive sites totaled 55. 

For the 2006 survey, half of the polygons within each of the three populated strata were 

then randomly selected by applying random number generation to the list of sites. About 

one third of these successfully surveyed during this cruise (Figure 5, Table 1). Our 

intention is to sample the remainder of the polygons in future years in order to meet 

overall project goals. 

Figure 5. Dive sites classified in relation to trawl intensity (low or med/high), whether 

scientifically trawled and whether inside or outside the EFH Conservation Area Olympic 

2 (in, out). 

10 
During the cruise we also had access to more detailed commercial trawl logbook data 

through participating NOAA Fisheries scientist Curt Whitmire. These catch data were 

used to develop a density algorithm for further classifying the dive sites into low versus 

medium-high trawl intensity. The levels of fishing intensity were assigned to the already 

randomly selected survey sites. In order to examine patterns in fishing effort in the 

vicinity of the randomly selected survey sites, fishing intensity (i.e., density of spatial 

effort) was calculated for the limited-entry groundfish trawl fishery. Logbook data were 

obtained from the states of California, Oregon and Washington and were queried for set 

and up points of trawl events. Logbook data were filtered to remove mid-water trawls

and spurious data (e.g., trawls intersecting land). Trawl-set and up points were plotted in 

a GIS and converted to lines connecting set and up points. Line density (units = km/km2

) 

was calculated in ArcGISTM software (ESRI, Redlands, California) using a 1-km search 

radius and cell size of 100 m. In other words, the total linear distance of all lines within a 

1-km search radius was computed and assigned to a square cell (0.01 km2

) centered in the 

search radius. Density values were classified by quantiles of high, medium, and low 

fishing intensity. The ROV polygonal stations were attributed a fishing intensity based 

on which class constituted a majority of intersecting area. 

Table 1. Sites Surveyed In OCNMS Selected Through Stratified Random Approach 

Survey Site Trawl Closure 

Area 

Untrawlable1 Fishing Intensity 

0 inside No medium

1 inside Yes medium

2 inside Yes – Z medium

3 inside Yes medium

6 outside Yes – J high

7 outside Yes – J high

11 inside No low

12 outside Yes – Z medium

13 inside No low

18 outside Yes low

20 outside Yes low

30 inside Yes medium

31 inside Yes low

40 inside Yes – J low 

45 outside No low

Sites Attempted

8 inside Yes – J low 

10 inside No low

17 outside Yes low

44 outside No low

49 outside Yes high

1

”Yes” indicates that both Zimmermann (2003) and Jagielo et al. (2004) illustrate the survey site 

as untrawlable using scientific survey methods. “No” indicates that both Zimmermann (2003) 

and Jagielo et al. (2004) illustrate the survey site as trawlable. Sites indicated as “Yes – Z” or

“Yes – J”, indicate that only one of the two, Zimmermann or Jagielo, respectively, indicated the 

area was untrawlable. 

11 
Dive Operations 

From 22 May to 4 June 2006, ROV dives were conducted aboard the 224-foot NOAA 

ship McArthur II, Cruise AR06-06/07, using the ROPOS workclass ROV. In addition to 

the McArthur II crew and officers, 14 scientists and ROV staff participated using all 

berths available. Operations were conducted around the clock to maximize ROV dive 

time, with the scientists and ROV crew working 12-hour shifts. Although rough weather 

was forecasted, we only had to reposition twice due to weather — these were the two 

dives in the relatively calmer waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The remaining nine 

dives were conducted along the outer coast up to 20 miles offshore, one of which was at 

the head of the Juan de Fuca Canyon. Dive plans were developed to take advantage of 

nearest neighbor dive sites to minimize launch and recovery operations, particularly 

during night operations when fewer ship crew were on active duty. 

Figure 6. Launch/recovery of the ROPOS ROV off the NOAA Ship McArthur II. 

To aid in conducting transects, the navigation screen for the ROV pilot included the 

polygons and evenly spaced transect lines. The obstacle avoidance sonar on the ROV 

was used throughout the dives to aid in locating hard substrates and trawl tracks. When 

trawl tracks were evident, the sonar was recorded to document the tracks.

The scientific party, in addition to eight ROV operators (from Canadian Scientific 

Submersible Facility), consisted of only six members due to berth limitations. Principal 

investigators were Ed Bowlby (OCNMS), Mary Sue Brancato (OCNMS) and Jeff Hyland 

(National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science). Additional scientists included Curt 

Whitmire (NOAA, Northwest Fisheries Science Center), Peter Etnoyer (then with 

Aquanautix Consulting), and Outreach and Education Coordinator Robert Steelquist 

(OCNMS). 

12 
Data Recording 

The sites selected were surveyed by video transect and digital photography. Both a 

vertical and forward facing video camera were used along with a vertical digital camera. 

The video transects will be randomly or systematically sampled during post-cruise 

processing to address various research questions and the digital photographs are being 

reviewed as well to determine if they can be used for similar purposes. The sample units 

obtained during post-processing will include parameters such as the following: densities 

of megafauna, living/dead, broken/whole, size (area and height), and evidence of fishing 

activity (gear, tracks, etc.). The survey design provides a basis for addressing nonstatistical objectives (e.g., locating coral and sponge assemblages in the sanctuary and 

looking for any evidence of environmental disturbances that may pose risks to coral 

health) as well as those of a more quantitative nature (e.g., is the species 

diversity/abundance/richness of non-coral species significantly different in coral areas 

than in adjacent areas without corals?). 

More than 100 invertebrate samples were collected as vouchers and brought onboard the 

ship generally following the protocols of Etnoyer et al. (2005). Photos were taken of 

each organism in situ prior to collection and again once on deck. In some cases, highermagnification images were obtained using a stereomicroscope. Tentative identifications

were made on board whenever possible and the organisms preserved in 70 % isopropyl 

alcohol, ethanol, or 10 % buffered formalin depending on species. All samples were 

transferred to fresh fixative once on board and, depending on species, the fixative 

changed from formalin to alcohol. 

The ROV was equipped with a Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) recorder with a 

dissolved oxygen (DO) sensor that recorded data during each dive from about 1m off the 

seafloor. The files were downloaded, filtered and trimmed with only the data for each 

survey site used in this report. Because the instrument was time-code linked to the 

navigation file, we were able to isolate the portion of the profile related to the bottom

time at each site surveyed. CTD data are missing for a few of the sites because the 

instrument stopped recording due to battery failure. In future dives, the CTD was 

connected to the ROV power source, thus the reliance on batteries was alleviated. The 

mean values for salinity, temperature, DO and depth were calculated. 

Current speeds encountered at the dive sites were estimated by the ROV pilot by turning 

the ROV into the current and applying forward speed and by observing the direction and 

speed of movement of marine snow while sitting stationary. 

Post-Cruise Species Identifications and Evaluation 

Coral samples from the 2006 survey were identified courtesy of three taxonomists: Dr. 

Stephen Cairns at the Smithsonian Institute; Dr. Beth Horvath at Santa Barbara Museum

of Natural History/Westmont College; and Dr. Gary Williams at the California Academy 

of Sciences. A description of the potentially new species of the hydrocoral Stylaster may

be undertaken at a later date by Drs. Stephen Cairns and Alberto Linder, when additional 

13 
samples are collected; only three specimens of this species were collected on this cruise. 

Genetics and molecular stress evaluation of the corals are currently underway at NOAA 

Fisheries (Dr. Ewann Berntson) and NCCOS (graduate student Sara Polson), 

respectively. Sponge identifications from the 2006 survey are currently underway by Dr. 

Henry Reiswig, Professor Emeritus, University of Victoria. Previous identifications of

species observed again on the 2006 survey were made by Dr. Alberto Linder (then a 

graduate student at Duke University), Marine Taxonomic Services (led by Dr. Howard 

Jones, Corvallis, Oregon), and Drs. Henry Reiswig and Bill Austin (Marine Ecology 

Station, Nanaimo, British Columbia). 

RESULTS 

Fifteen sites were successfully surveyed, meaning sufficient number of transects were 

conducted to delineate the site for quantitative analysis (Table 2). Of these 15, six were 

outside the Closure Area and nine were inside. Three of the sites outside the Closure 

were within low fished areas and three were within moderately to highly fished areas. 

Four of the sites inside the Closure area were in low fished areas while five were within 

moderately to highly fished areas (Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 5). 

Table 2. Sites Surveyed In OCNMS Within Each Stratified Category. 

Low Fishing

Intensity, 

Trawlable 

Low Fishing

Intensity, 

Untrawlable 

Medium/High

Fishing 

Intensity, 

Trawlable 

Medium/High

Fishing 

Intensity, 

Untrawlable 

Inside 

Conservation

Area 

31, 40, 11, 13 1, 2, 3, 30 0 

Outside 

Conservation

Area 

18, 20 45 6, 7, 12a none 

a

Survey site 12 was the only site for which no hard substrate was found. 

At this point, work is still underway to quantify information from the transect surveys. 

Coral identifications are largely complete, while sponge and other invertebrate and fish 

identifications are still underway. Thus far, 18 corals have been identified in OCNMS 

from the 2006 survey, including scleractinids, gorgonians, and hydrocorals (Table 3). 

14 
Table 3. Coral Species Documented in OCNMS. 

Class/Subclass Order Family Genus species

Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Caryophylliidae Lophelia pertusa

 Desmophyllum

dianthus

 Balanophyllia

elegans 

 Caryophyllia

alaskensis

Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea

a Alcyoniidae Anthomastus cf. 

ritteri 

Primnoidae Plumarella

longispina 

Primnoa pacifica

Plexauridae Swiftia pacifica

Swiftia beringi

Swiftia spauldingi

Muriceides sp. 

Paragorgiidae Paragorgia 

arborea pacifica

Pennatulacea Halipteridae Halipteris cf. 

california

Virgulariidae Virgularia sp. 

Umbellulidae Umbellula sp. 

Anthoptilidae Anthoptilum 

grandiflorum

Hydrozoa/Hydroidolina Anthoathecatae

b

Stylasteridae 

Stylaster sp.

(potentially new 

species)

 Stylaster venustus 

cf = compared with a Some taxonomists recognize the Order Gorgonacea as separate from the Order Alcyonacea. For 

this report we have not made a distinction. 

b The Order containing lace corals (family Sterlasteridae) was previously called Filifera or 

Stylasterina. 

15 
More than 40 sponge species have been identified in OCNMS (Table 4).

Table 4. Sponge Species Documented in OCNMS (Partial).1 

Class Order Family Species 

Calcarea Calcarea sp. Indet.

Clathrinida Clathrinidae Clathrina sp. Indet.

Sycettida Sycettidae Scypha sp. 

Demospongiae Demospongiae sp. 1

 Demospongiae sp. 2

 Demospongiae sp. 3

Demospongiae sp. 4

Hadromerida Suberitidae Prosuberites sp. 

Suberites simplex 

Halichondrida Halichondridae Halichondria sp. cf. fibrosa

Axinellidae Ceractinomorpha sp. Indet. 

Axinellida sp. Indet. 

Poecilosclerida Mycalidae Mycale sp. A 

Mycale sp. B cf. bellebellensis

Hamacanthidae Vomerula sp. 

Guitarraidae Guitarra abbotti 

Guitarra sp. 

Esperiopsidae Isodictya sp. 

Myxillidae Iophon chelifer var. californiana

Lissodendoryx sp A 

Lissodendoryx sp B 

Myxilla sp. 

Tedaniidae Tedania gurjanovae 

Tedania sp. 

Hymedesmiidae Acanthancora sp. 

Hymedesanisochela rayae 

Hymedesmia sp. 

Phorbas sp. 

Stylopus sp. 

Clathriidae Microciona sp. cf. primitiva

Clathria sp. 

Haplosclerida Chalinidae Haliclona sp. A 

Haliclona sp. B 

 Haliclona sp. C 

 Haliclona sp. D 

Haliclona sp. E 

Orina sp. Indet. 

Adociidae Sigmadocia sp. 

Hexactinellida Hexactinosa Scopularia sp. Indet.

Hexactinosa Aphrocallistidae Aphrocallistes vastus

Heterochone calyx

Farreidae Farrea occa

Lyssacinosa Rossellidae Rhabdocalyptus dawsoni 

1

Sponge samples are currently being worked up by Henry Reiswig. Those presented were 

identified by H. Reiswig in OCNMS on previous surveys and many were observed again in 2006. 

16 
At least 30 species of fish were observed during the 2006 survey (Table 5). 

Table 5. Fish Species Documented in OCNMS (Partial). 

Family Scientific Name Common Name 

Scorpaenidae Sebastes helvomaculatus Rosethorn rockfish 

Sebastes zacentrus Sharpchin rockfish 

Sebastes elongatus Greenstriped rockfish 

Sebastes flavidus Yellowtail rockfish

Sebastes aurora Aurora rockfish

Sebastes ruberrimus Yelloweye rockfish

Sebastes babcocki Redbanded rockfish

Sebastes pinniger Canary rockfish

Sebastes crameri Darkblotched rockfish 

Sebastes melanostomus Blackgill rockfish

Sebastolobus altivelis Longspine thornyhead

Sebastolobus alascanus Shortspine thornyhead

Pleuronectidae Microstomus pacificus Dover sole 

Eopsetta jordani Petrale sole 

Hippoglossus stenolepis Pacific halibut

Atheresthes stomias Arrowtooth flounder

Paralichthyidae Citharichthys sordidus Pacific sanddab

Zoarcidae Various species Eelpouts

Agonidae Various species Poachers

Rajidae Raja binoculata Big skate 

Raja rhina Longnose skate 

Hexagrammidae Ophiodon elongatus Lingcod

Anoplopomatidae Anoplopoma fimbria Sablefish 

Myxinidae Eptatretus stoutii Pacific hagfish 

Chimaeridae Hydrolagus colliei Spotted ratfish 

Cottidae Undetermined species Sculpins

Site Descriptions 

Mean temperature, salinity and DO values varied little between sites, with the shallower 

sites being predictably slightly warmer, and with slightly higher DO than the deeper sites 

(Table 6). The mean depths of the sites surveyed ranged from 89 to 313m, with the 

majority of sites in the 200-300m range. Temperature ranged from 6.5 to 7.9 C, with 

shallower sites (89-131m depth) about one half degree warmer than deeper water sites. 

Salinity ranged from 32.0 to 34.0 psu, except at survey sites 30 and 40, at which the mean 

salinity was low, measuring 30.1 and 26.7 psu, respectively. Dissolved oxygen ranged 

from 2.2 to 4.6 mg/L (all sites included) and from 2.2 to 3.4 mg/L with the two 

shallowest sites excluded. 

17 
Table 6. OCNMS Survey Site Characteristics From ROV-Mounted CTD (Mean). 

Survey Site Dissolved Oxygen 

(mg/L) 

Salinity (psu) Temperature (oC) Depth (meters)

0 3.0 32.0 6.9 313 

1 3.3 33.9 6.8 249 

2 ND1 ND ND 276 

3 3.0 33.2 7.0 245 

6 2.9 33.8 6.9 232 

7 3.4 33.8 7.2 193 

11 2.9 33.6 6.5 280 

12 2.2 34.0 6.5 289 

13 2.6 33.7 6.7 247 

18 4.5 33.7 7.7 131

20 ND ND ND 103 

30 3.0 30.1 6.8 173

31 3.4 33.9 6.7 205 

40 3.0 26.7 6.8 201 

45 4.6 33.3 7.9 89 

Sites Attempted

8 ND ND ND 290 

10 2.5 34.0 6.6 261 

17 ND ND ND 107 

44 3.7 33.8 7.2 121 

49 2.7 34.0 6.5 318 

1

ND=no data. 

A description of each of the sites surveyed and the predominant coral species found at 

each is provided below. For general location refer to Figure 4.

Survey Site 0 

The first documentation of Lophelia pertusa in OCNMS was made at survey site 0 in 

2004 on the companion pilot study survey. These colonies could not be located again in 

2006, in spite of an extensive survey attempt. Rubble that appeared to be scleractinian 

skeletal material was located, as well as other live corals, including the hydrocoral 

Stylaster sp. and the gorgonians Paragorgia arborea pacifica and various Swiftia species.

Survey site 0 is inside Olympic 2 Conservation Area. NOAA Fisheries bycatch data 

reviewed prior to the survey revealed sponges or corals near this site had been retrieved 

as bycatch. The site substrate was mainly cobble and pebbles with scattered boulders. 

Current speed was quite variable over the course of the approximate 16-hour dive at this 

site, ranging from 3/4 knot to 2 knots and changing directions several times, coming from

the south, the west and then the south again. Depth at this site ranged from 254 to 372 

meters. Lost fishing gear was documented at this site 

18 
Figure 7. Bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica with extended polyps at 

survey site 0.

Figure 8. Bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica with crinoids. The front 

lower branches of this colony appear to be broken off. The white lace coral Stylaster

sp.can also be seen on the boulder in the fore and background at survey site 0. 

Paragorgia arborea pacifica colonies up to a meter tall were observed, while Stylaster

sp. colonies were fairly consistently under 20 cm tall. 

19 
Survey Site 1 

Numerous corals were observed at survey site 1, a site that included rock outcrop, 

boulders cobble and clay, and a steep, crumbly wall with benches. Corals at this highly 

diverse site included the gorgonians Paragorgia arborea pacifica, Plumarella longispina, 

Primnoa pacifica, various Swiftia species and Muriceides sp. The giant cup coral 

Desmophyllum dianthus was also located at this site, as well as the hydrocoral Stylaster

sp. Survey site 1 is inside Olympic 2 Conservation Area. NOAA Fisheries bycatch data 

reviewed prior to the survey revealed sponges or corals near this site had been retrieved 

as bycatch historically. Current speed was minimal throughout the dive, never exceeding 

0.75 knots and generally coming from the east or south throughout the 35 hours at this 

site. Visibility was good for Washington waters at about 5m. Depth ranged from 136 to 

367 meters at this site. Lost fishing gear, particularly long line gear, was documented at 

this site that was classified as medium fishing intensity but is not inside the trawl closure 

area. 

Figure 9. A bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica that has been knocked 

over but is still alive with polyps extended at survey site 1. 

20 
Figure 10. Colonies of gorgonian Plumarella longispina all oriented to take advantage of 

the currents at survey site 1. These colonies range in size from about 25 to 40 cm tall. 

Figure 11. The giant cup coral Desmophyllum dianthus amidst the arms of crinoids 

Florometra serratissima at survey site 1. Desmophyllum dianthus corals were commonly 

6 to 15 cm long.

21 
Survey Site 2 

Lophelia pertusa was documented at this site, as well as at least five other coral species, 

including large colonies of Primnoa pacifica. This site included a glacial erratic more 

than 8m tall amidst a seafloor of sand and clay with an occasional boulder. At the base of 

the glacial erratic, was a 7m wide Lophelia lithoherm, though with limited vertical relief. 

Often occurring at the same sites as Lophelia pertusa, was the giant cup coral 

Desmophyllum dianthus. NOAA Fisheries bycatch data reviewed prior to the survey 

revealed sponges or corals near this site had been retrieved as bycatch historically. 

Current speed was minimal throughout the dive, never exceeding 1 knot except for one 5 

hour period of about 2 knots, and generally coming from the south or east but 

occasionally switching to come from the west or north over the course of the approximate 

14 hour dive. Depth ranged from 195 to 328 meters. Lost long-line gear and trawl tracks 

were documented at this site, which is now located within the Olympic 2 Conservation 

Area.

Figure 12. Red tree coral colony Primnoa pacifica with crinoids adorning the branches at 

survey site 2. Primnoa pacifica colonies more than a meter tall were observed at this site 

and survey site 10. 

22 
Figure 13. Several giant cup corals Desmophyllum dianthus surrounded by a zoanthid 

anemone at survey site 2.

Figure 14. Scleratinian Lophelia pertusa colonies on a wall at the base of which is a 

lithoherm. Also in the photo is the giant cup coral Desmophyllum dianthus and a 

blackgill rockfish at survey site 2. 

23 
Survey Site 3 

This low relief site had a muddy bottom with occasional cobble and boulders but it also 

included a rocky ledge forming a small wall. Swiftia pacifica and Swiftia beringi were 

the primary corals at this site but Paragorgia arborea pacifica was also observed. 

Survey site 3 is inside Olympic 2 Conservation Area. This site was surveyed for about 7 

hours during which time the current speed remained steady at 2 to 2.5 knots from the 

south. Depth ranged from 200 to 270 meters. 

Figure 15. Small colonies of gorgonian Swiftia pacifica on a seafloor covered in 

hydroids, brachiopods and ball sponges at survey site 3. Swiftia pacifica colonies were 

generally no more than about 15 cm tall. 

Figure 16. Bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica with polyps extended 

at survey site 3. Another colony can be seen at the base of the slope. 

24 
Survey Site 6 

This site included a long rock wall, steep on its eastern side and occasional boulders. 

Along the wall were visible slides of Lophelia rubble and live Lophelia pertusa on the 

vertical surfaces. This site also included at least five gorgonian coral species, including

two Swiftia species, and the giant cup coral Desmophyllum dianthus. We surveyed this 

site for approximately 14 hours and encountered very little current throughout (less than 

0.5 knots) though the direction changed over time from the northwest, to from the west

and eventually from the south. Due to the wall and slope at this site, the depth range was 

considerable. At the top of the wall the depth below the surface was only 44 meters, 

while at the deepest part of the site it was 289 meters. Lost fishing gear was observed, 

including a good sized net and some line. This area is highly fished and located outside 

the Olympic 2 Conservation Area. 

Figure 17. Rosethorn (left) and redbanded rockfish (right) at the base of a wall with 

scleractinian Lophelia pertusa and giant cup coral Desmophyllum dianthus at survey site 

6. Lophelia can also be seen at the base of the wall in front of the rosethorn rockfish. 

25 
Figure 18. Two species of gorgonians Swiftia, S. pacifica (red) and S. beringi (white) at 

survey site 6. Swiftia pacifica and S. beringi colonies were generally no more than about 

15 cm tall. 

Survey Site 7 

Survey site 7 was similar to site 6, with a smaller wall and less diverse biota, located 

outside the Olympic 2 Conservation Area and highly fished. The wall appeared to be 

clay pavement and was riddled with burrows. Hard rock outcrop also was evident. Cup 

corals and various Swiftia species, were evident as well as lost fishing gear. This site was 

a small site and only surveyed for about an hour. Currents remained less than 0.5 knots 

from the west. Depth ranged from 170 to 216 meters. No photos are included for this 

site because they are not publication quality. 

Survey Site 11 

This site was dominated by sand with occasional boulder patches. Currents were 

moderate throughout the 3.5 hours surveying this site, at about 1.25 knots from the 

northeast. The depth at this site ranged from 276 to 292 meters. This site included a 

considerable area of dead Lophelia sp. and Desmophyllum sp. and a broken Paragorgia 

arborea pacifica colony. In addition to the dead and damaged corals, at least three 

species of living corals were found at the site: Plumarella longispina, Primnoa pacifica 

and Stylaster sp. Survey site 11 is inside Olympic 2 Conservation Area. 

26 
Figure 19. A damaged bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica at survey 

site 11. 

Figure 20. Skeletal remains of scleractinian Lophelia pertusa and giant cup coral 

Desmophyllum sp. at survey site 11. 

27 
Figure 21. Living colonies of the hydrocoral Stylaster sp. – possibly an undescribed 

species at survey site 11.

Survey Site 12 

No hard substrate was located in survey site 12 – the only site for which this was the 

case. Post cruise review of the digital video along with the side scan imagery revealed 

that areas assumed to be relief pockets were actually soft sediment pockets. This was a 

featureless site consisting mostly of silt and gravel and no corals were observed over the 

course of the approximate 5 hour survey of this site. Survey site 12 is outside Olympic 2 

Conservation Area. A partially incinerated waste pile was observed at this site (see 

Discussion). Currents were negligible at less than 0.5 knots and the direction varied. 

Depth ranged from 261 to 304 meters. 

Survey Site 13 

Site 13 was surveyed for about 5 hours during which the currents remained less than 0.5 

knots with no direction defined. The depth ranged from 222 to 279 meters. This site 

included cobble and boulders on a silty seafloor and a small rock outcrop. Trawl tracks 

were evident at this site that is located outside Olympic 2 Conservation Area. At least 

four gorgonian corals, the cup coral Desmophyllum dianthus and the hydrocoral Stylaster 

sp. were present, as well as small patches of the reef building sponge Farrea occa. 

28 
Figure 22. A bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica covered with 

urvey Site 18

ite 18 consisted of a boulder field surrounded by cobble. We surveyed the site for about 

brittlestars and a crinoid atop at survey site 13. 

S

S

7.5 hours during which time current speeds started at a high of about 1.25 knots, slowing 

to less than a knot after the first 1.5 hours and remaining low for the rest of the survey. 

Depth ranged from 118 to 207 meters. Lost fishing gear, netting and trawl tracks were 

evident at this site. At least one coral species was observed but not identified. Several 

sponges and sponge fragments were observed. Survey site 18 is outside Olympic 2 

Conservation Area. 

29 
Figure 23. Possibly a crab pot, buoy and line at survey site 18. 

Figure 24. Trawl track at survey site 18. 

30 
Survey Site 20 

At survey site 20, sea pens were documented. Survey site 20 is outside Olympic 2 

Conservation Area. This was also a site near where the NOAA Fisheries bycatch data 

indicated sponges or corals had been brought up as bycatch. This site included boulders, 

cobble and areas with sand waves. We surveyed the site for about 2 hours during which 

currents were negligible. Depth ranged from 91 to 216 meters. No photos are included 

for this site because they are not publication quality. 

Survey Site 30 

The substrate at survey site 30 varied with pebble, cobble and boulders. This is another 

site near which the NOAA Fisheries bycatch database indicated sponges or corals were 

part of the bycatch. Paragorgia arborea pacifica was the predominant coral at this site, 

but various Swiftia species., Plumarella longispina and a hydrocoral were also 

documented. Dead or damaged Paragorgia was also found at this site. Survey site 30 is 

inside Olympic 2 Conservation Area. This site was surveyed for about four hours, 

encountering currents 1 knot or less, starting and ending from the north, but switching 

from the southeast in the middle. The depth at this site ranged from 153 to 191 meters. 

Relatively low average salinity (30.1 psu) was calculated at this site but the coral species 

did not appear to differ from those observed at other sites. 

Figure 25. A bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica on overturned cobble 

at survey site 30. 

31 
Figure 26. Mostly dead branches from a bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea 

pacifica at survey site 30. 

Survey Site 31 

The substrate at survey site 31 was somewhat similar to 30 but with more mud in addition 

to the pebble, cobble and boulders. The site was surveyed for about 4 hours, 

encountering negligible currents (< 0.5 knots) mainly from the west. Depth ranged from

187 to 211 meters. Several gorgonians, including Paragorgia arborea pacifica were 

documented, as well as sea pens and hydrocorals. Survey site 31 is inside Olympic 2 

Conservation Area. Lost fishing gear entangled on corals was observed at this site. 

32 
Figure 27. Bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica with a hermit crab 

halfway up branch on left, at survey site 31. 

Figure 28. Fishing line entangled in a bubblegum coral colony Paragorgia arborea 

pacifica at survey site 31. 

33 
Figure 29. Gorgonian colonies Plumarella longispina at survey site 31. 

Survey Site 40 

Paragorgia arborea pacifica and various Swiftia species were documented at this muddy 

mixed substrate site of pebble and gravel with occasional boulders. Survey site 40 is 

inside Olympic 2 Conservation Area. This tiny site was surveyed for only about an hour 

in currents of only about 0.2 knots from the northeast. This site had the slightest change 

in depth over the survey area, ranging from 189 to 208 meters. Average salinity was low 

(26.7 psu) but this may be an artifact of the short dive time. 

34 
Figure 30. Gorgonian colony Swiftia beringi at survey site 40. 

Survey Site 45 

Approximately 9 hours were spent surveying this site in variable currents from 0.5 knots 

up to 3 knots, with current direction moving from the southwest, southeast, northeast, 

east, northwest and west over time. Depth ranged from 53 to 110 meters at this site. This 

site is at the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca (Figure 4), explaining some of the high 

currents encountered and demonstrating their unpredictability in that surface tidal 

currents were dramatically different from conditions on the bottom. The substrate 

consisted of cobble with some boulders and rock outcrop. This site is inhabited by 

Stylaster venustus, the cup coral Balanophyllia elegans, and Swiftia spauldingi, among 

other species. Survey site 45 is outside Olympic 2 Conservation Area. 

35 
Figure 31. Gorgonian colony Swiftia spauldingi on a seafloor covered in hydroids and 

the bryozoan Myriozoum at survey site 45. This particular colony is only about 12 cm

tall.

Other Attempted Sites

We attempted to survey five additional sites that we could not complete for a variety of 

reasons including prohibitive bottom currents, equipment problems, proximity to 

commercial fishing vessels, etc. However, such attempts were not totally unsuccessful. 

The largest Primnoa pacifica colonies recorded on this cruise were observed at one of 

these sites on the last day just before the dive was terminated to return to port. The 

branches of the colony shown in Figure 32 are adorned with rockfish. 

36 
Figure 32. Red tree coral Primnoa pacifica festooned with darkblotched rockfish at 

survey site 10. 

DISCUSSION 

New Records of Coral Species in OCNMS 

OCNMS has unpublished data from its 2000-2004 surveys of benthic recovery along a 

fiber optic cable route (Brancato and Bowlby 2005), indicating the presence of the 

gorgonians Paragorgia sp., Swiftia spp., and an unidentified paramuriceid coral; the 

hydrocoral Stylaster venustus; plus numerous sponges. However, newly identified in the 

OCNMS, as a result of the 2004 pilot effort (Hyland et al. 2005; Bowlby et al. 2006), and 

documented again at three additional sites in our 2006 cruise is the lithoherm-forming 

scleractinian coral Lophelia pertusa. Lophelia pertusa is common in the North Atlantic 

Ocean, but rarely found in the Northeast Pacific off the coast of Washington state and 

British Columbia (Cairns 1994; Conway et al. 2005; Jamieson et al. 2005; Whitmire and 

Clarke In Press). Also newly identified in the OCNMS as a result of the 2006 survey are 

scleractinian cup corals, Desmophyllum dianthus, though these species have been 

documented in British Columbia waters to the north (Cairns 1994; Jamieson et al. 2005). 

A potentially undescribed species of the hydrocoral Stylaster (pers. comm.. S. Cairns 

2007) was also documented at several sites in OCNMS. A variety of octocoral 

specimens were collected on the 2006 cruise as well, including nine families representing 

12 species. In total, 18 species of coral recently have been identified thus far in OCNMS 

37 
to add to the one historic record. Because only a small area was surveyed and at a limited 

depth range, we expect we have just started developing the species list for OCNMS.

Observations of Lophelia pertusa 

As mentioned above, Lophelia pertusa was located at four sites in 2006, but only two of 

these sites had what appeared to be live healthy colonies. The other two sites, including 

the one surveyed originally in 2004, consisted primarily of skeletal rubble. From our 

2004 and 2006 surveys, we have noted Lophelia lithoherms (or bioherms) but nothing 

near as large as those documented in the North Atlantic. In OCNMS, the lithoherms 

observed thus far have been less than 1m in height, though fairly expansive (~7m) in 

width, and composed primarily of dead skeletal remains with a scattering of living 

polyps. The healthiest colonies appeared to be those living on verticals walls, underneath 

which were lithoherms of living and dead skeletal material. The 2004 survey site at 

which Lophelia pertusa was first documented in OCNMS (Hyland et al. 2005) was resurveyed again in 2006 using an extensive search pattern. The lithoherm that was seen 

previously could not be relocated, though skeletal rubble of Lophelia was documented in 

the area. 

Figure 33. A colony of scleractinian Lophelia pertusa that appears healthy with polyps 

extended at survey site 6. 

Corals Both Inside and Outside Conservation Area 

Corals were documented at all but one of the sites surveyed in 2006, thus at five sites 

outside and nine sites inside the Olympic 2 Conservation Area (Figure 4) that went into 

effect just days after the 2006 cruise was completed. The two most diverse sites, Survey 

38 
Site 1 and Survey Site 6, are located inside and outside the Conservation Area, 

respectively. Survey Site 6 is one of the sites at which Lophelia pertusa was 

documented. The one site where we did not find corals, Survey Site 12, located outside 

the Conservation Area, was mistakenly interpreted as having hard substrate when 

reviewing the unprocessed side scan data. The use of hard substrate and depth as an 

indication of potential coral habitat worked well for this study and will be used again in 

the future. Classified polygon data are preferred to image mosaicks because the features 

can be finely delineated allowing for more focused use of ROV survey effort. 

Evidence of Human Activity 

Evidence of human activity was observed on the seafloor throughout the sanctuary, from 

occasional debris to cable trenching to rolled cobble and boulders (see Figure 25). 

Evidence of human disturbance was documented at sites both inside and outside the 

Conservation Area. Observations included trawl tracks, lost fishing gear (e.g., long-line), 

and other debris. 

Lost long-line fishing gear, rolls of line, netting, and crab pots, were located at several 

sites, with line caught on bottom features at one site measuring more than 100m in 

length. Fishing line caught on corals was also documented, as shown above for Survey 

Site 31 and below at Survey Site 1 (Figures 28 and 34). Trawl tracks were also visible on 

the ROV’s obstacle avoidance sonar and depending on the substrate, visible on the 

ROV’s video monitors at several sites (see Figure 24). Other marine debris, usually cans 

and bottles, was evident as well. At one site there was a significant debris pile with

partially incinerated waste, line, a plastic weave bag, and numerous cans still remaining. 

Discharges and waste dumping are not allowed in the sanctuary and such debris needless 

to say was disappointing to find. Surface laid cables, potentially no longer operational,

were also seen, as was the cable trench for known buried cables. Due to their exposed 

structure and slow growth and recruitment rates, corals may be especially vulnerable to 

natural or human disturbance that result in physical disruption of the seafloor (Stone and 

Wing 2001; Andrews et al. 2002; Morgan et al. 2005; Morgan et al. 2006). Such

disturbances could require very long periods for the coral communities to recover.

39 
Figure 34. Long-line gear wrapped around the stalk of a dead gorgonian coral covered by 

an encrusting white sponge and brittle stars at survey site 1. 

Figure 35. A partially incinerated waste dump with metal cans, line (bottom center) and 

a plastic weave bag still evident at survey site 12. 

40 
Fish and Invertebrate Associations with Corals and Sponges 

The complex, three-dimensional structure of many corals and sponges makes them

excellent habitat for other species, including commercially important fishes and 

invertebrates (Stein et al. 1992; Krieger and Wing 2002; Husebø et al. 2002; Auster 2005; 

Wang 2005). We observed corals and sponges associated with diverse assemblages of 

invertebrates and fish. Shark egg sacks were seen attached to both Paragorgia arborea 

pacifica and Plumarella longispina colonies and rockfish of various species were 

observed resting on branches of Primnoa pacifica and at the bases of several species. 

Crab, shrimp, and a diverse array of echinoderms were observed associated with the 

corals and sponges, and nudibranchs were observed foraging on them. The biogenic 

structure serves a variety of functions — a foraging platform for some organisms, 

allowing them access to currents higher in the water column; a safe refugium for escape 

from predators; a source of food; an anchor for egg attachment; and perhaps a nursery 

area for some species. 

Figure 36. Bubble gum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica with what appears to 

be a gravid sharpchin rockfish beneath it at survey site 2. The central lasers are 10cm 

apart. 

41 
Figure 37. Bubble gum coral colony Paragorgia arborea pacifica with 18 shark eggs 

cases, crinoids and a basket star attached at survey site 1. 

Figure 38. Red tree coral Primnoa pacifica with darkblotched and sharpchin rockfish 

resting in the branches at survey site 10. 

42 
Figure 39. An assemblage of cloud sponges with Swiftia pacifica, squat lobsters, 

bryozoans, brittlestars and other sponge species (photo taken by OCNMS in 2004).

Figure 40. An assemblage of cloud and boot sponges with a seastar, fish and several 

species of crustaceans in association (photo taken by OCNMS in 2004). 

43 
This research effort has done much to improve our knowledge of deep coral and sponge 

he

al 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

inancial support for this study was provided primarily by FY05 NOAA Office of Ocean 

f

ns,

ia

habitat, and of species composition and associations, in the Olympic Coast National 

Marine Sanctuary. These preliminary results will be supplemented with results from

follow-up analyses of the video footage and digital-still photography obtained during t

2006 survey and by future efforts to survey the remaining sites in our sample population.

As habitat mapping continues, we expect an increase of potential coral habitat and the 

species list to expand, particularly as we are able to move into deeper waters. Addition

studies are required to further document the spatial extent of these habitats and changes to

the existing study sites over time. 

F

Exploration funds. Additional funding was provided by the National Undersea Research 

Program, the NCCOS-ONMS Partnership Agreement, and from NCCOS and Olympic 

Coast National Marine Sanctuary programs. Special appreciation is extended to Peter 

Etnoyer and Curt Whitmire for their scientific expertise on the cruise and their review o

the report, to Robert Steelquist for his outreach efforts and support on the cruise, and to 

Carey Floyd for her graphic design expertise. We also would like to thank the Canadian

Scientific Submersible Facility and the crew of the ROPOS ROV, as well as to the 

officers and crew of the NOAA Ship McArthur II, for a job well done. Post-cruise 

taxonomic identification of corals and sponges were made courtesy of Stephen Cair

Beth Horvath, Henry Reiswig, and Gary Williams. Post-cruise identifications of rockfish 

were made courtesy of Curt Whitmire, Waldo Wakefield and Milton Love. We would 

also like to thank Steve Joner (Fisheries Biologist, Makah Tribe), Stephen Cairns 

(Research Scientist/Curator, Smithsonian Institution), and Gary Williams (Californ

Academy of Sciences) for their scientific review and constructive comments. 

44 
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48 
NMSP CONSERVATION SERIES PUBLICATIONS 

To date, the following reports have been published in the Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series. All

publications are available on the National Marine Sanctuary Program website

(http://www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/). 

A Bioregional Classification of the Continental Shelf of Northeastern North America for Conservation 

Analysis and Planning Based on Representation (NMSP-07-03) 

M/V WELLWOOD Coral Reef Restoration Monitoring Report Monitoring Events 2004-2006, Florida Keys

National Marine Sanctuary, Monroe County, Florida (NMSP-07-02) 

Survey report of NOAA Ship McArthur II cruises AR-04-04, AR-05-05 and AR-06-03: Habitat classification

of side scan sonar imagery in support of deep-sea coral/sponge explorations at the Olympic Coast National 

Marine Sanctuary (NMSP-07-01) 

2002 - 03 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Science Report: An Ecosystem Report Card After Five 

Years of Marine Zoning (NMSP-06-12) 

Habitat Mapping Effort at the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary - Current Status and Future Needs

(NMSP-06-11) 

M/V CONNECTED Coral Reef Restoration Monitoring Report Monitoring Events 2004-2005 Florida Keys

National Marine Sanctuary Monroe County, Florida (NMSP-06-010) 

M/V JACQUELYN L Coral Reef Restoration Monitoring Report Monitoring Events 2004-2005 Florida Keys

National Marine Sanctuary Monroe County, Florida (NMSP-06-09) 

M/V WAVE WALKER Coral Reef Restoration Baseline Monitoring Report - 2004 Florida Keys National 

Marine Sanctuary Monroe County, Florida (NMSP-06-08) 

 

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Habitat Mapping: Survey report and classification of side scan

sonar data from surveys HMPR-114-2004-02 and HMPR-116-2005-01 (NMSP-06-07) 

A Pilot Study of Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus Walbaum 1792) Movement in the Conch Reef Research 

Only Area (Northern Florida Keys) (NMSP-06-06) 

Comments on Hydrographic and Topographic LIDAR Acquisition and Merging with Multibeam Sounding 

Data Acquired in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (ONMS-06-05) 

Conservation Science in NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries: Description and Recent Accomplishments 

(ONMS-06-04) 

Normalization and characterization of multibeam backscatter: Koitlah Point to Point of the Arches, Olympic 

Coast National Marine Sanctuary - Survey HMPR-115-2004-03 (ONMS-06-03) 

Developing Alternatives for Optimal Representation of Seafloor Habitats and Associated Communities in 

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (ONMS-06-02) 

 

Benthic Habitat Mapping in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (ONMS-06-01) 

Channel Islands Deep Water Monitoring Plan Development Workshop Report (ONMS-05-05) 

 

Movement of yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus Block 1790) and black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci 

Poey 1860) in the northern Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary as determined by acoustic telemetry

(MSD-05-4) 

The Impacts of Coastal Protection Structures in California's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

(MSD-05-3) 

49 
An annotated bibliography of diet studies of fish of the southeast United States and Gray's Reef National 

Marine Sanctuary (MSD-05-2) 

Noise Levels and Sources in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the St. Lawrence River

Estuary (MSD-05-1) 

Biogeographic Analysis of the Tortugas Ecological Reserve (MSD-04-1) 

A Review of the Ecological Effectiveness of Subtidal Marine Reserves in Central California (MSD-04-2, 

MSD-04-3) 

 

Pre-Construction Coral Survey of the M/V Wellwood Grounding Site (MSD-03-1) 

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary: Proceedings of the 1998 Research Workshop, Seattle, 

Washington (MSD-01-04) 

Workshop on Marine Mammal Research & Monitoring in the National Marine Sanctuaries (MSD-01-03) 

A Review of Marine Zones in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MSD-01-2) 

Distribution and Sighting Frequency of Reef Fishes in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (MSD01-1) 

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary: A Rapid Assessment of Coral, Fish, and Algae Using the 

AGRRA Protocol (MSD-00-3) 

The Economic Contribution of Whalewatching to Regional Economies: Perspectives From Two National 

Marine Sanctuaries (MSD-00-2) 

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Area to be Avoided Education and Monitoring Program (MSD00-1) 

Multi-species and Multi-interest Management: an Ecosystem Approach to Market Squid (Loligo opalescens) 

Harvest in California (MSD-99-1) 

50