Recently, Pauline Ridings, a Resource Management Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in Prince Rupert, B.C., sent along the accompanying photograph. Using CN38, page 91, in our book Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest, she tentatively identified the dominant species as the ‘pink soft coral’ that, at the time, had not been formally described as a scientifically acknowledged species. After examining some close up detail from a 2nd image she also took, we were able to verify Pauline’s theory.
An avid sport diver, Pauline found this accumulation of pink soft coral on the eastern side of Maskelyne Island, at the mouth of Work Channel, northern B.C. This dive site is subject to strong current and definitely one for the advanced diver. She started seeing the beautiful coral at about 60ft (18m) and noted its abundance increased as she moved deeper – and ultimately, as far down as she could scan. As shown in the photograph, it covered much of the bottom. A majority of the colonies were a peach pink colour but a few white colonies appeared here and there.
To date, this ‘new’ species has been recorded at either extreme of the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) as well as several locations in southeast Alaska. However, most sightings have been of a few colonies rather than carpeting the bottom as observed by Pauline.
Presently, Dr. Gary Williams, cold water coral expert from the California Academy of Sciences is preparing a scientific paper documenting this soft coral as well as various Pacific Northwest gorgonian species. In a recent communication, he states this project is on “the short list”. ■
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