Mystic Aquarium is thrilled to announce a historic virtual panel discussion celebrating the 8th anniversary of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. The event will feature a panel of experts who are making the latest and greatest scientific discoveries about the region. The event is open to the public and will take place on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 6:00 PM ET, and will be hosted via Zoom.

Summer 2024 was full of discoveries! In June, New England Aquarium scientists conducted aerial marine mammal surveys, recording a “dazzling array of whales and dolphins.” In July, Mystic Aquarium’s Senior Research Scientist, Dr. Peter Auster led an expedition on the R/V Connecticut to study the surface and mid-waters. Simultaneously, Dr. Martha Nizinski, of NOAA’s National Systematics Laboratory, led an expedition on the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow to explore some of the deep-sea parts of the Monument. Never before has such an interdisciplinary science team been able to study and share a comprehensive “top-to-bottom” snapshot of this special part of the ocean.

Join us for an evening of exploration and insightful discussion about one of our nation’s most treasured marine protected areas. The event is geared towards the public and will debut exciting expedition footage. Participants will have an opportunity to ask panelists questions about the marine monument, research topics, tools of the trade, and more. Register here. Panelists include:

• Peter Auster – Sr. Research Scientist at Mystic Aquarium and Research Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut
• Mary Beth Decker – Research Scientist, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Yale University
• Mael Glon – Endangered Species Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Meta Miner – Assistant Refuge Supervisor, North Zone, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Martha Nizinski – Research Zoologist, NOAA’s National Systematics Laboratory
• Orla O’Brien – Associate Scientist, Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium

Designated as a marine protected area in 2016, the Northeast Monument is located about 130 miles off Cape Cod, and spans an area roughly the size of Connecticut. The Northeast Monument features three undersea canyons and four seamounts that support a rich diversity and abundance of marine life. It represents the only highly protected area in the U.S. Atlantic, and the only entanglement-free zone for migrating marine mammals and sea turtles along the entire eastern seaboard.

“It remains a privilege to study this remote marine wilderness, a unique part of our natural heritage, and share this place with the public,” said Dr. Auster, who has been working in the area that is now the Monument since 1984. Mystic Aquarium and New England Aquarium were instrumental in the Monument’s initial designation and subsequent restoration of protections. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with such a talented team of interdisciplinary scientists to study the Monument,” said Meta Miner, Acting Superintendent for the Monument. “This expedition was the first time USFWS staff surveyed pelagic seabirds within the Monument and offers an exciting glimpse into which species utilize this special place.”

The Monument is co-managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.