- Theme
- European Atlas of the Seas
The ocean covers over 70% of Earth’s surface, and about 90% of that is deep sea, defined as depths greater than 200 metres [1]. Despite its vastness, much of it remains unexplored. At the same time, human activities, from fishing to resource extraction, are expanding into these depths, often faster than our understanding of the ecosystems living there.
Some of the most at-risk areas are known as vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). These include communities built by species like deep-sea corals, sponges, and crinoids—organisms that grow slowly, provide habitat for other species, and are easily damaged [2]. Certain fishing methods can disturb the seafloor, physically impacting these habitats, while overfishing can disrupt entire food webs and ecosystem functioning [3].
Protecting VMEs is now central to deep-sea conservation, particularly in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Tools like Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are essential, but there is a key limitation: protection is often based on where VMEs have already been physically observed to occur [4]. At the same time, industrial activities continue to be licensed in areas with little to no observations, meaning damage can occur before these ecosystems are even identified [4]. This mismatch has contributed to ongoing biodiversity loss. To address this, scientists are increasingly supporting using imagery data to better assess seafloor conditions and detect VMEs early, before significant impacts take place [5]
Digital innovation is opening new doors for identifying VMEs. One of such efforts is the Deep Vision project, officially launched on 4 March 2026, bringing together vast biodiversity datasets to map deep-sea ecosystems across the Atlantic Ocean Basin. With the aid of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, Deep Vision aims to predict where VMEs are likely to occur, even in unexplored areas, supporting more informed conservation decisions in deep ocean, including the areas of the ocean beyond national jurisdiction [2].
Existing spatial prioritisation efforts already show what data-driven conservation can achieve. A study provided data as part of the Horizon 2020 ATLAS project highlighted the priority areas for conservation of several VMEs of the deep sea, taking into account the predicted change in habitat under a business-as-usual climate change scenario, the connectivity between different areas as well as the economic implications for human activities like fishing and deep-sea mining. Take a look at the Map of this week to discover which deep-sea areas are prioritised for conservation.
Wish to learn more?
- Discover the educational resources developed by the Horizon 2020 ATLAS project.
- Follow news and updates from the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition to stay informed on deep-sea research, policy, and conservation efforts.
- Revisit our previous Map of the Week on marine biodiversity to learn more about the BBNJ Agreement (United Nations High Seas Treaty), now entered into force, which will play a key role in protecting biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
- Look into information on how deep-sea fisheries are managed, including efforts to reduce seafloor impacts and better define and conserve VMEs in international waters.
- Explore Challenger 150, a global programme endorsed by United Nations Ocean Decade that aims to map life in the deep ocean, expand observations, and build the scientific foundation needed for sustainable management of the deep ocean.
- Learn more about the deep-sea with the Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI).
The data in the map is provided by Horizon 2020 Atlas project.
The European Atlas of the Seas is powered by the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). Don’t miss the latest news, register for the monthly EMODnet News Digest.
[1] https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/ocean-fact/explored/
[3] https://www.fao.org/in-action/vulnerable-marine-ecosystems/background/en/