4. Discussion
Most studies that examined the effects of submarine cables on
benthic communities found no significant impacts to megafaunal
species composition, abundance or biomass (Andrulewicz et al.,
2003; Kogan et al., 2006). However, two surveys assessing the effects
of cables on sensitive benthic habitats have documented severe,
but localized adverse impacts on cold-water hard corals
(Reiter and Deis, 2000; Sultzman et al., 2002). Our study was the
first to assess the effects of cables on glass sponge reefs and associated
megafauna.