Trapped nutrients from swirling water currents, plus small mobile animals like shrimps, are the major food source for deepwater fish. The currents also help remove waste products, keeping the ecosystem healthy. Sea mounts are isolated habitats, so each sea mount has its own unique and diverse ecosystem. Whale species including blue, fin, sei, minke and humpback all swim over deep sea mountains on their yearly migrations to and from Antarctica. Only the sperm whale dives to the world of these undersea mountains in their hunt for giant squid.
Sea mounts are unique and sensitive habitats.
Unfortunately, a great deal of damage has already been done. Scientists liken the damage to the destruction of rainforests on land. Commercial trawl fishing is the biggest pressure. Over-fishing of sensitive fish stocks, such as Orange Roughy. Once depleted, sea mount species require decades, if not centuries, to recover.