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Mysteries of the deep | How Dr. Paige Maroni and Secret Atlas are transforming polar science

Dr Paige Maroni is a marine biologist with a PhD from the University of Western Australia, and she’s on a mission to explore the ocean’s most remote and mysterious corners. 

Since 2024, she has partnered with Secret Atlas, via Yachts for Science, on polar expeditions to Svalbard and Greenland. These journeys don’t just offer extraordinary scenery and wildlife encounters — they give guests a front-row seat to live scientific discovery, letting them witness cutting-edge ocean research first-hand, interact with scientists, and be part of a global conservation mission, all without compromising the thrill of adventure.

Paige’s work has already led to astonishing discoveries, including previously unidentified underwater species. She is also pioneering tools to sequence genomes of deep-sea organisms in remote locations, helping to decode the evolutionary story of some of the ocean’s least-known life forms.

Through her research, she aims to shed light on the hidden biodiversity of polar and deep-sea ecosystems, guide global conservation efforts, and inspire the public to care about these fragile environments.

Paige shares with us the sparks that ignited her passion for marine biology, the ground-breaking work she carries out aboard Secret Atlas, and the far-reaching implications her research has for science, conservation, and our understanding of the oceans.

How would you describe the work you were doing on board with Secret Atlas?

On board Secret Atlas’s vessels, operating throughout Svalbard and later in Greenland, we conduct rapid benthic biodiversity assessments across all micro cruise itineraries. Essentially, we are mapping and documenting the sea floor biodiversity wherever the ship travels.

When the ship stops—either because there’s wildlife on land to see, a historical site of interest, or other activities—we deploy our remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Sometimes we join the guests on their activities; other times we work while they’re off exploring. The ROVs dive to the sea floor, whether that’s 20 metres, 50 metres, or 100 metres, and we conduct systematic surveys of the area.

We typically operate in transect lines, squares, or, if surveying a wall, from top to bottom or bottom to top. During these dives, we generate both video and still imagery and collect data on water temperature, depth, pressure, and salinity. All video footage is meticulously recorded. Our goal is to build a robust dataset that allows reviewers, policy makers, and stakeholders to understand what each fjord’s sea floor looks like.

From this, we aim to fill knowledge gaps about Svalbard and Greenland’s benthic biodiversity: documenting unreported species, tracking species’ depth ranges, and exploring links between habitat type and organisms. We also compare fjords, checking for similarities across adjacent or opposite sides of Spitsbergen, and look for depth associations—for example, which species consistently appear at 10 metres versus 100 metres.

Why is it so important to study the underwater ecosystems around Svalbard and Greenland?

This is a great question. There are several critical reasons that drive both the importance and urgency of this research.

First, the existing data on both pelagic organisms—those that live in the water column—and benthic organisms—those that live on the seafloor—is incomplete and under-represented in current scientific literature. For example, 50% of all benthic data published globally up until 2025 comes from the shallowest 2% of the seafloor, and 50% of all pelagic data comes from the top 80 metres of the water column. There’s still a vast amount we don’t know.

Second, polar regions are experiencing the impacts of climate change at magnitudes and rates among the highest in the world—a statement supported directly by the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Third, these regions are increasingly exposed to fishing pressure, both commercial and illegal.

Together, these three challenges—limited data, rapid climate change, and human activity—hinder effective conservation planning. Comprehensive information on species distributions, habitat conditions, and overall ecosystem health is essential for making informed decisions and protecting these critical environments.

How are Secret Atlas supporting you?

Truly, without Secret Atlas, this project simply would not be possible. One of the biggest challenges in marine science is conducting research at sea, especially in some of the most remote and unexplored parts of the ocean. These locations are typically too expensive or difficult to access using traditional research vessels. Access is often limited by high costs, competition for ship time on dedicated research vessels, and the funding required to support research crews.

Secret Atlas is already travelling to these remote locations. By using simple, low-cost research methods on vessels that are already going to these areas—and by tailoring our sampling plan to Secret Atlas’s itineraries—we can gather valuable scientific data without needing expensive charters or institutional ship time.

This approach allows us to study unique, little-known marine ecosystems in a way that is far more affordable, tractable, and scalable than traditional methods.

Why has no one else been able to carry out this type of research in Svalbard before?

Truthfully, the answer is access—access, access, and access. Most research around Svalbard has been conducted near the two main research stations because scientists can establish a base there and utilise the stations’ tenders or accessible land areas to reach study sites.

Outside of these research station fjords, however, access becomes increasingly challenging, expensive, and logistically complex—by an order of magnitude.

By working alongside Secret Atlas, we are provided with the necessary access to conduct research in these understudied and otherwise hard-to-reach environments.

What implications could your research have for the world of science?

This project is expected to generate significant scientific and conservation outcomes, particularly for polar and deep marine ecosystems, which remain among the most understudied and ecologically sensitive regions on the planet.

By documenting unexplored fjord systems, polar reefs, and deep ocean basins, the project will likely uncover many previously unreported species and extend known ranges of marine life both geographically and by depth. It will also validate global species distribution models through direct in situ observations, improving the accuracy of predictive biodiversity tools.

This enhanced understanding of habitat-species relationships and ecological connectivity is essential for guiding conservation strategies in rapidly changing climates. We also hope to provide evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of existing marine protected areas and identify gaps in their ecological coverage. These insights will support policymakers and resource managers in refining or expanding MPA networks and establishing new vulnerable marine ecosystem sites.

Science communication and public engagement are integral to the project. Through platforms like Secret Atlas, where we interact with guests and stakeholders daily, and through high-quality imagery and footage from the field, we aim to raise awareness of the threats facing these environments and promote broader societal support for their protection.