1977-present		Alaska Fisheries Science Center researchers conduct trawl and longline surveys in the Eastern Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska, documenting the presence of a range of corals, sponges and other invertebrates.
1981		Many Alaska corals remain scientifically unclassified, "and there are evidently several undescribed species present." (Cimberg, 1981; J.W. Orr, NMFS, personal communication).
1996		The Alaska Fisheries Science Center begins several seafloor habitat studies to determine the effect of fishing on the sea floor.
1997		Researcher Ken Krieger uses the Delta submarine in the Gulf of Alaska to observe an area where red-tree corals had been impacted by a research bottom trawl in 1990. The “trawl haul damaged mainly large colonies by removing most of the branches from 5 of 13 colonies.” Also noted was that “small coral colonies and other invertebrates attached to small boulders may be pulled over when snagged by longline gear.”
1999		Researchers conduct a 14-day cruise aboard the chartered fishing vessel Vesteraalen to gather underwater video footage in the Seguam Pass area, between Sequam Island and Amlia Island in the Aleutain chain. They make 25 successful camera tows, recording the images on videotape. They document a range of features, from what researchers term "gardens of benthic invertebrates" to underwater sand dunes.
1999		An experiment by principal investigator Lincoln Freese shows that a single pass of a commercial fishing trawl can "reduce densities and increase incidence of damage" to various invertebrates. A return to the trawl tracks one year later by a research submersible showed shows the tracks still clearly visible.
2000		World scientists at the First International Symposium on Deep Sea Corals in Nova Scotia conclude deep-sea corals are in need of research and conservation. Summary of trawl survey data by researcher Jon Heifetz suggests Aleutian Islands region harbors the highest diversity and abundance of cold water corals in the world (download pdf report).
2001		Documented accounts from fisheries observers -- biologists who spend months at sea aboard commercial fishing vessels -- suggest the Aleutians harbor a wide distribution of corals, write researchers David Witherell and Cathy Coon (download pdf).
2002		Using the manned submersible Alvin, researchers in the Gulf of Alaska bring back samples of seamount corals. These and other collections suggest deep-sea corals are likely to provide important habitat and refuge for a variety of fish and invertebrates.
2002		Researchers with the NMFS Auke Bay Laboratory begin a pilot research program to examine corals and associated communities in the Aleutian Islands.
2002		While exploring sites in the central Aleutians with the two-person submersible DSV Delta, the scientists record a "spectacular" profusion of coral and other marine life. They announce the find of unique coral "gardens," similar in complexity to tropical coral reefs.
2003		Alaska Fisheries Science Center researchers make more dives with the Delta submersible, visiting 10 sites and collecting video of the sea floor. They find widely distributed corals and sponges in varying densities. They collect 66 coral specimens for identification and study.
June 2003		A multidisciplinary research team led by Jennifer Reynolds from the University of Alaska Fairbanks maps sites in the central Aleutians with high-resolution multibeam bathymetry. This enables extrapolation of dive operations to a wide geographic area and lays the groundwork for deep-sea coral exploration later in 2004. See Anchorage Daily News story.
July 2004		Researchers dive with the DSV Delta, visiting new sites within the mapped areas.
July-August 2004		Jason II cruise. The deepest video observations to date of Aleutian corals "in situ," or in place.