The Salas y Gomez and Nazca ridges off the coast of Chile are locations of shocking biodiversity. Many studies used different strategies to analyze these ridges from varying angles, yet everyone concluded that the area is one of the most important to keep protected from harm. The ridges became known as an ecologically or biologically significant marine area (EBSA), and so the Conference of the Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity states that EBSA’s, having been evaluated based on seven criteria, are areas that require special care and monitoring to keep them safe from damage.
Throughout history, these ridges struggled due to excessive fishing (like many other coasts, unfortunately), which very negatively impacted shark populations, along with many varying fish populations. The ridges are also particularly vulnerable as they are near the center of the South Pacific Gyre, meaning water containing nutrients essential for supporting life is often drawn out in the currents created by Elkman pumping. Although the diversity of this ecosystem was observed in more detail and the area was marked to have extra limits of protection, people were no longer allowed to fish, and the life lurking deep beneath the surface was given the peace and the time necessary for it to thrive.
Just a couple of months ago, in February 2024, on an expedition by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, scientists sent an underwater robot deep below the surface of the Salas y Gomez and Nazca ridges and discovered 100 (and are still counting) new species.
Not all have been expounded upon, as there is still an incredible amount of data to be collected without disturbing this newfound ecosystem. Currently there is a limited amount of information as to what was found within those thriving depths, but what we can see in the few photos released are the particularly strange and fascinating creatures highlighted in these discoveries.
These images are only a few of the species found and a small piece of the multitude of interesting research to dive into as this data develops further, and so I highly recommend continuing to search for more on the topic if you find it interesting!
