Mysteries and Mountains of the Deep Sea – Conserving Deep-Sea Biodiversity and Habitats

Date: September 1, 2004

The deep sea is one of the last frontiers on the planet – the home to breathtaking landscapes of mountains, hills, ridges and troughs that very few of us will ever see. Until a short time ago, it was assumed that there was little life in the cold and dark waters of the deep sea, which cover more than half the world’s surface. New technologies, however, have turned that

belief on its head. Today, scientists and the fishing industry know that the deep sea is teeming with life, most of which remains undiscovered. Scientists, in fact, have speculated that as many as 10 million species may inhabit the deep sea – biodiversity comparable to the world’s richest tropical rainforests.

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