Deep reefs, though hidden from most divers, are facing serious threats. While coral-bleaching and human impacts often highlight surface reefs, deep reefs aren’t immune from being damaged, either—in fact, they might even be hit hardest. Because of their depth, many assume deep reefs are protected. But in reality, deep reefs are often more burdened with plastic, fishing gear and marine debris than those at any other depth. Rising temperatures, driven by surface currents, warm the ocean down to 300 meters, stressing these fragile ecosystems. To make things worse, invasive lionfish feast on fish species that can live for over 100 years and exist in lower densities than in shallow reefs, species we've barely even discovered, posing yet another challenge for deep reef survival.
This place is really special because scientists think we might discover at least 30 new species in deep reefs every year for the next 26 years! So, deep reefs are some of the most amazing and diverse places on Earth, with fish that are closely connected to those in shallow water. Coral reefs, including the deep ones, are super- important to over 100 countries. Deep reefs give us jobs and food, and thety protect our coastlines.
