Recent explorations off Vancouver Island, Canada, continue to unveil the hidden wonders of the ocean's depths. In 2019, marine biologist Cherisse Du Preez led a team that discovered an active underwater volcano, previously believed to be dormant [2, 3].
Rising approximately 1,100 meters from the ocean floor, at depths between 1,500 and 1,600 meters, the volcano emits warm, mineral-rich water [2, 6, 7]. This creates a unique environment that fosters thousands of live skate eggs, often referred to as "mermaid purses," belonging to the Pacific white skate [2].
These large eggs, which require about four years to hatch, benefit from the volcano's consistent thermal output, acting as a natural incubator [2, 3, 4]. This unique habitat functions as both a coral garden and a secure nursery, safeguarding the embryos until they are ready to descend to the depths typical for their species [2, 5]. This discovery highlights the crucial connection between geological processes and marine life cycles, emphasizing the importance of protecting these fragile environments from climate change and human activities [2].