A peer-reviewed study has captured the first video evidence of anchor and chain damage on the Antarctic seafloor, using SubC Imaging’s Rayfin camera during four research expeditions in 2022–2023.
The footage documents how routine anchoring can disrupt sensitive marine habitats in one of the planet’s most protected environments.
The study was led by ocean conservation nonprofit KOLOSSAL, in collaboration with scientists from the Marine Institute at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), and the University of Auckland. SubC Imaging provided the imaging hardware and lighting systems, along with remote technical support throughout the season.
Visualizing a Largely Unrecognized Threat
Researchers conducted underwater surveys at 36 sites around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia Island during the 2022–2023 austral summer. Using SubC’s high-resolution video systems, the team recorded 62 hours of 4K footage at surface level, midwater, and within one meter of the seafloor, capturing detailed imagery of both impacted and undisturbed marine environments.
In Yankee Harbour, a commonly used anchorage, researchers observed multiple signs of physical disturbance, including:
- Crushed sponge colonies, with a near miss to three giant Antarctic volcano sponges (Anoxycalyx joubini), believed to be among the oldest animals on Earth, potentially up to 15,000 years old
- Striations and grooves caused by anchor chains dragging across the seafloor
- Mud deposits and sediment displacement from anchor deployment and retrieval
- A marked lack of benthic biomass in damaged areas compared to nearby healthy sites
Undisturbed areas nearby supported diverse marine life, including sea stars, sea spiders, crinoids, dragonfish, Antarctic scallops, and the same long-lived volcano sponges.
Above: Undisturbed Antarctic seafloor captured by SubC Imaging’s Rayfin camera, showing a diverse benthic community including a bright orange Antarctic sun star.
While anchor-related seafloor damage has been well documented in tropical and temperate regions, this is the first direct video evidence from polar waters. The study notes that many Antarctic species are endemic, sessile, and extremely slow-growing, traits that make them particularly vulnerable to mechanical disturbance. In some habitats, recovery can take more than a century.
Why It Matters
As sea ice retreats, ships are increasingly entering previously inaccessible areas of the Southern Ocean. During the 2022–2023 season alone, at least 195 vessels were recorded anchoring in Antarctic waters, often in depths shallower than 82.5 meters, home to some of the continent’s most delicate ecosystems.
Despite protections under the Antarctic Treaty, anchoring activity is still largely unregulated. The study’s authors emphasize that anchor and chain damage is often localized but long-lasting. In cold, high-latitude marine environments, ecological recovery can take decades or longer due to the extremely slow growth of resident species.
International Collaboration Supports Critical Research
The study was made possible through a partnership that included the Fisheries and Marine Institute at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, which helped fund travel and coordinate logistics. SubC Imaging contributed the Rayfin camera, lighting system, and provided ongoing remote technical support to ensure successful imaging in one of the world’s most challenging underwater regions.
Chad Collett, CEO of SubC Imaging, commented, “Our mission has always been to provide high-quality tools that help researchers, scientists, and operators better understand the underwater world. This study is a perfect example of how visual data can drive awareness of issues we don’t usually see, and need to.”
Recommendations for Mitigation
The study outlines several mitigation strategies to reduce future damage:
- Creating a public database of anchorage activity using AIS tracking and ship logs
- Restricting anchoring in ecologically sensitive zones
- Encouraging the use of dynamic positioning systems (DPS) instead of anchors
- Installing moorings or designating anchor-specific zones in high-traffic areas
With Antarctic sea ice reaching historic lows in recent seasons, shallow, ice-free waters are becoming more accessible to ships. The study underscores the urgent need for updated policies and conservation measures to protect these vulnerable marine habitats.
