From August 14 – September 9, 2025, 8 CSSF team members supported the Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) aboard the R/V Isabu for their MIRAE 2025 Expedition. The science team’s objectives were to implement their new drilling program for subsea crust. [Add: More context from the science team]. Our team’s main objective was to drill as many crust core samples as possible.

From August 12 – September 2, 2024, 6 CSSF team members supported Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Pacific Region (DFO Pacific) aboard the CCGS John P. Tully for the Northeast Pacific Deep-sea Exploration Project’s (NEPDEP) 2024 expedition. The focus of this expedition was to discover, explore and monitor deep-sea ecosystems. Specifically, this included ‘Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas’ in existing, planned and potential marine protected areas (MPAs). In addition to members of DFO, ship- and shore-based participants included scientists and professionals from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Canadian BioGenome Project, Council of the Haida Nation, Hakai Institute, NOAA Fisheries, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Royal BC Museum, University of Calgary, University of Gothenburg, University of Victoria and University of Washington.

Read more: NEPDEP 2024 Expedition

From May 3 – June 13, 2025, 8 CSSF team members supported the Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) aboard the R/V Isabu for their 2025 Indian Ocean Expedition. The scientific objective was to detect mineral resources beneath the seafloor. [Add: Science Team objectives, expedition participants, work that required the use of an ROV].

Read more: KIOST’s 2025 Indian Ocean Expedition

From July 11 – August 8, 2024, 4 CSSF team members piloted the CCGS Amundsen’s ROV, ASTRID (Amundsen Science Technology for Remote Innovation and Discoveries) in the Labrador Sea as part of contract work to support Amundsen Science.

Leg 2a of the 2024 Amundsen Expedition was led by the Nunatsiavut Government in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and several other research programs led by other organisations, including ArcticFish, Arctic Kelp, Avaaforfish, Natural Resources Canada’s marine mapping programs, the Northern Contaminants Program and the Ocean Frontier Institute’s Sustainable Nunatsiavut Futures program. Leg 2a took place along coastal Labrador, as well as in the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay, Canada. Two programs required the use of an ROV during Leg 2a, 1) the Imappivut Initiative and 2) DFO’s Benthic Refuges Program. For these, the science objectives were to further study previously identified biodiversity hot spots and investigate new biodiversity hot spots, with the guidance of local Nunatsiavut knowledge, as well as to characterize benthic habitats within or adjacent to Marine Refuges.