Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument Expedition
Explore an Extraordinary Ocean Wilderness
Journey to the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument through videos, livestreams, photography, and stories from sea.
Located about 130 miles southeast of Cape Cod, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is a remarkable ocean wilderness that few people will ever experience firsthand. In summer 2026, Mystic Aquarium and the University of Connecticut led an 8-day research expedition to explore this extraordinary place—and brought the experience to audiences on shore.
Aboard the Research Vessel Connecticut, an interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and storytellers studied the ecosystems and wildlife of this biodiversity hotspot, encountering whales and dolphins at the surface, sharks and other predators in the open ocean, seabirds overhead, and gelatinous animals drifting beneath the waves.
Every Discovery Begins with a Question
The expedition was driven by questions: How do sharks and other top predators use this remarkable habitat? Why do whales, dolphins, and seabirds travel hundreds of miles to feed here? Can traces of DNA suspended in seawater reveal what animals call this place home? How can scientists collect and study fragile jellies without destroying them?
To investigate these questions, the team combined innovative technology with careful observation, using an echosounder, underwater cameras, environmental DNA sampling, seabird surveys, plankton imaging and collections, and other research methods to build a more complete picture of this complex ecosystem.
Why This Place Matters
The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts is the only marine national monument in the U.S. Atlantic. Here, three massive submarine canyons carve through the continental shelf while four ancient seamounts—underwater mountains formed by extinct volcanoes—rise from the deep ocean floor. Together, these remarkable underwater landscapes shape powerful ocean currents that concentrate nutrients and create habitat for an incredible diversity and abundance of marine life.
These waters are home to whales, dolphins, sharks, tuna, seabirds, sea turtles, squid, and countless other marine species. Far below the surface, ancient deep-sea corals—some hundreds or even thousands of years old—provide shelter for thriving communities of life that hold many mysteries.
Expedition Videos
Experience highlights from the expedition and see the science, wildlife, and people behind the research.
Every Discovery Begins with a Question