Open Ocean Trustees Extend Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities Restoration

26 March 2026

An image from an expedition. (Image credit: NOAA, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, UNCW Undersea Vehicles Program)

The Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC) restoration projects have made substantial progress in identifying key areas for restoration and developing techniques to address the complex injury to seafloor habitats from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group is evaluating a five-year continuation of previously approved activities to build on the robust capacity gained by the MDBC projects since their implementation phase began in 2022.

Although the Trustees initially proposed a supplement to Restoration Plan 2 and Environmental Assessment, after further review with the MDBC project managers and subject matter experts, it became apparent that a continuation of currently-approved restoration activities would be the most efficient way to meet our restoration goals, and a supplemental restoration plan is not needed at this time. This path capitalizes on the partnerships, field infrastructure, and momentum developed by the MDBC projects during the current implementation phase and represents the most efficient use of restoration funds.

Through a Resolution, the Trustees approved a five-year extension and budget increase of $12,500,000 for the MDBC Habitat Assessment and Evaluation project. With this extension, the project will continue its critical work to collect and analyze data to assess seafloor habitats, monitor baseline conditions, and evaluate direct restoration and protection activities. The Trustees are conducting a similar review of each of the other three MDBC projects to evaluate an extension and an increase in budget to continue their restoration activities. The Trustees’ reviews follow procedures for project changes outlined in the Deepwater Horizon Trustee Council Standard Operation Procedures. The Trustees’ project reviews and any approved modifications will be shared via the Trustees’ website.

More Information and Past Materials

For more information about the MDBC projects, please see materials from the MDBC May 6, 2025, webinar and look for an announcement soon for the 2026 webinar. The MDBC projects have held annual public webinars since 2021; prior meeting materials can be accessed on the Open Ocean Story Archive on the Trustees’ website. More details on the projects are available at the links below:

Additional information about field expeditions is available on the MDBC StoryMap.

morecoastal development

OceanScore Sees Growing Port Adoption of PortView as EU Ports Strategy Raises Pressure for Measurable Environmental Results

ENSO and Indian Ocean Dipole Control Coral Reef Refuges in Warming Seas

VIMS and NOAA Launch Advanced Forecasting Tools for Chesapeake Bay

latestnews

Final Permit Issued for Velella Epsilon Offshore Aquaculture Demonstration Project in the Gulf

Fisheries & Aquaculture

New Report Documents Marine Heatwaves and Species Shifts in Southwest England

Research

Hawaii Sea Grant Secures Federal Funding for Coastal Resilience and Marine Ecosystems

Environmental Policy

WHIRLS Campaign Targets Small-Scale Ocean Processes Near South Africa

Research

latest edition

issue II

By translating complex ocean data into actionable strategies, the applied marine science community plays a pivotal role in ensuring the long-term resilience of coastal environments while bolstering the global Blue Economy.

read now