Dom João de Castro Bank () is a large submarine volcano located in the central north Atlantic Ocean, between the islands of São Miguel and Terceira in the archipelago of the Azores.
History
The first historical reference correlated with the submarine volcanoes between São Miguel and Terceira occurred after two ships of the French corsair Henry Tourin sank in the spring of 1718.
The last major eruption associated with this region occurred on 31 December 1720. Beginning as a submarine eruption, it eventually built into a Surtseyan eruption that resulted in the formation of a circular island long and in altitude. A maximum seismic event was recorded from the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, equivalent to levels III/IV on the Mercalli Scale.
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D. João de Castro Bank showcases significant biodiversity, with approximately 220 identified species. Fish species observed near the bank include Bermuda chub (Kyphosus sectatrix), triggerfish (family Balistidae), needlefish (family Belonidae), wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri), and giant oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris). The dominant species of aquatic flora are Sargassum seaweeds.
The bank is an important fishing ground for demersal fish, such as the black seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus) and blackbelly rosefish (Helicolenus dactylopterus), as well as pelagic tuna species (Thunnus and others).
On 27 July 1996, in a scientific expedition organized by the Clube Naval de Ponta Delgada, marine biology researchers from the University of the Azores completed a study identifying species localized within the bank.