The Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus set sail in August on its fifth expedition of 2024: E Mamana Ou Gataifale I (NA164). This expedition includes multi-vehicle exploration of midwater ecosystems across American Samoan waters.  

The midwater ocean twilight zone is an important source of food for many marine animals, including commercial species like tuna and swordfish. This expedition aims to cooperatively explore this zone in priority areas identified by the American Samoan management and science community. The expedition, funded by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI), will visit Vailuluʻu Seamount in the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (NMSAS) as well as other unexplored seamounts, to learn more about how open ocean and seafloor habitats interact. 

Image Credit: OET