Most are unaware of the existence of one of the most beautiful ecosystems that is located in the Atlantic Ocean near the eastern coast of the United States. The Hudson Canyon starts at the mouth of the Hudson River and extends out some 400 nautical miles across the ocean. It connects to the deep ocean basin at over 3 km below sea level. The walls of the Hudson Canyon proper are three quarters of a mile high under the water, which is comparable to the Grand Canyon, a land-based canyon with cliffs over a mile high. Amazingly, the Hudson Canyon is one of the world’s largest underwater canyons.

For a while, we did not know much about this mysterious canyon, but in the last decade we have gained important information about its structure along with the species that inhabit it. Many may assume that such a dark, deep ecosystem could sustain few forms of complex life, but we now know that the Hudson Canyon is filled with deep sea corals and sponges. It is also home to a variety of fish species, including summer flounder, black sea bass, and tilefish.

One reason for the recent interest in the Hudson Canyon is the possible existence of methane deposits, which could serve as a clean source of energy in the form of natural gas. Unfortunately, the Marine Conservation Organization states that “the flanks of the canyon are unstable and susceptible to caving in over time or abruptly, which could trigger tidal waves or tsunamis." Because of this, it is important for scientists to continue mapping the canyon and study the natural geological processes that take place in it.

We know that canyons can often serve as transporters of sediment, nutrients, and pollution from the land to the ocean depths. This is especially relevant to the Hudson Canyon because between 1986 and 1992, it contained the world’s largest discharge of underwater sewage. Much of this was due to New York City, which used to dump its sewage and garbage directly into the Hudson River, which then feeds into the Canyon. As a result, it is possible that many parts of the Canyon’s seabed are covered in sludge from sewage. Scientists believe that it may be possible to use new maps of the Hudson Canyon to track contaminants that originated in six abandoned dump sites that are located off the New York Harbor.  All of this sewage likely poses a threat to the diverse sea life that calls the Hudson Canyon home, which makes scientists especially interested in monitoring the activity in the canyon.

The Wildlife Conservation Society has created a project called “Protect Hudson Canyon" to protect the whales, sea turtles, fish, and corals, among many other species, that rely within it. It encourages people to send a pre-written message to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration saying that they believe the Hudson Canyon should be officially designated a National Marine Sanctuary, which would protect it from oil, gas, and mineral extraction threats that would probably harm many of its species. Although former President Obama did ban future oil and gas development in the region, WCS believes that this sanctuary status will protect it more permanently. It seems that each day, there is a new ecosystem at risk, so we must do all we can to preserve the ones that remain, and with our help, there is no reason why the Hudson Canyon cannot continue to exist with tons of beautiful life!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Canyon

https://marine-conservation.org/media/shining_sea/place_atlantic_hudson.htm

https://secure.wcs.org/campaign/protect-hudson-canyon