Found below the waters of the South West Indian Ocean, Coral Seamount is one of only two locations known to support cold-water coral gardens and reefs. The seamount forms the foundation of a community that supports a large variety of Antarctic species, and has therefore been recently named a Hope Spot by Mission Blue. At depths ranging from 300 to 1200 meters, the habitat is composed primarily of corals and glass sponges, with squat lobsters and other crustaceans, echinoderms, crinoids, sea stars, fish, sharks, rays, and octopi choosing to make the seamount home. Ocean above the seamount hosts a pelagic community completely different to those found farther north, and breaking the water's surface reveals a community of seabirds, including wandering albatross, white-chinned petrels and others.
Historically fished, the seamount was declared a voluntary Benthic Protected Area (BPA) by the Southern Indian Ocean Deep-Sea Fishers Association (SIODFA) in 2006 on the basis of a high by-catch of corals from exploratory trawling. However, evidence, including recently abandoned fishing equipment, suggests that fishing activity is still ongoing. Dr. Alex Rogers has proposed that the area be named an Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Area under the Convention for Biological Diversity, but more protection is needed to ensure that these deep sea ecosystems are protected from destructive activity.
