BIODIVERSITY AND BIORESOURCES OF DEEP-SEA ECOSYSTEMS OF THE NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC

Abstract

Modern problems of the investigation of marine biodiversity and bio-resources and their inventory in the deep-sea of the World Ocean are considered. The discussion of these problems is also based on the data of aseries of deep-water marine expeditions of the National Scientific Center of Marine Biology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (NSCMB FEB RAS) in the deepest areas of the Far Eastern Seas and adjacent waters of the North-West Pacific. New results of a series of the deep-sea expeditions within the special RAS Project “Fundamental problems of investigation and conservation of the deep-sea ecosystems in the potentially ore-reach areas in the North-West Pacific” are briefly introduced and discussed (project of RAS № 3.1902.21.0012). Several “unique” deep-sea ecosystems found in the ore bearing sites and the active fishing areas in the North-West Pacific are described. Some safety opportunities for these “unique” ecosystems and possible limitations in the use of dangerous mining and fishing techniques disturbing deep-sea landscapes are considered, including various conservation statuses.