Millions of eggs found on an underwater volcano – details of the discovery

A research team has discovered an underwater volcano off the coast of Canada that turned out not to be extinct but still geothermally active. The volcano serves as a natural nursery for Pacific white skates: millions of eggs were found on its crater. Scientists warn of the ecosystem's vulnerability to industrial fishing.

A research team off the coast of Canada has discovered that an underwater mountain, previously thought to be an extinct volcano, still retains geothermal activity. Mineralized fluids have created a warm microclimate on the crater's summit, turning it into a natural incubator for Pacific white skates. The surface is covered with rectangular capsules about half a meter long; preliminary estimates range from 100,000 to one million eggs. For comparison, a similar site near the Galapagos Islands in 2018 had only a couple of dozen egg cases. Scientists have for the first time captured on video the process of egg-laying. The heated water accelerates embryo development, shortening the standard four-year cycle. The site has no protected status, and scientists warn of the threat from industrial fishing.