ROV exploration of deep-water coral habitats of southwest Australian submarine canyons

This report summarises the main outcomes from an oceanographic cruise aboard the R/V Falkor between 26th January 2020 to 26th February 2020, that explored deep‐sea habitats located in the Southern Ocean and southeast Indian Ocean offshore southwest Australia. This cruise represents the first ROV exploration of the Bremer canyon systems, ~175 km east of Albany, and Mount Gabi, a seamount at the interface of the Southern and Indian oceans ~90 km south of Augusta, as well as the adjacent continental margins around these key study sites. We also revisited the Perth Canyon, ~60 km east of Perth, mostly exploring new sites to expand on our first expedition to this system in 2015.