Highlight seabed images taken by ROV in the UK-1 area during expedition JC257 in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (Pacific Ocean, 2024)

A collection of benthic still images was obtained using an oblique-looking camera mounted on the UK ISIS Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), deployed from the RRS James Cook during cruise JC257 in the abyssal plain (~4200 m depth) of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, Pacific Ocean, in 2024. The images were obtained in an area under contract to UK Seabed Resources for exploration for deep-sea minerals through the International Seabed Authority. The expedition was independent from UK Seabed Resources. At the time of the expedition there had been no test mining in the area, so the images show natural baseline conditions. In some cases, there is equipment visible on the seafloor deployed during JC257 or on previous expeditions to the area. The images show the seabed covered by polymetallic nodules. The data were collected by scientists from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK as part of the NERC-funded Seabed Mining And Resilience To EXperimental impact (SMARTEX) project (NE/T003537/1).