4.1. Effects on glass sponges
One of the major concerns regarding unburied submarine cables
is their potential to be moved by tides and currents causing
repeated physical disturbance to the seabed and communities in
the cable corridor (OSPAR Commission, 2009; Sultzman et al.,
2002). We have not seen any evidence of cable movement across
the surface of the sponge reef. Our observations suggest that direct
physical damage is likely limited to the footprint of the cables
themselves.