Just a few hundred metres from the coast, the Gouf de Capbreton is a spectacular underwater canyon carved into the continental shelf and slope of the Bay of Biscay. Its head, exceptionally close to the coast, extends out to sea via a vast system of underwater valleys and channels that gradually descend towards the abyssal plain, at a depth of over 4,000 metres. Shaped over geological time by erosion, sediment movement and powerful underwater currents, the Gouf forms a genuine link between the coastline and the deep sea.

This exceptional topography creates a wide variety of habitats. Common dolphins, blue-and-white dolphins, sperm whales, Cuvier’s beaked whales and sunfish are found in its waters, whilst its depths are home to cold-water corals, cephalopods and a still largely unknown abyssal fauna.

This canyon, exceptional both for its geology and the richness of its biodiversity, constitutes a unique natural heritage. Faced with this wealth, which remains largely unknown, a question arises: should we step up our efforts to better understand, preserve and pass on the Gouf to future generations?