A deep seismic survey conducted within the western part of New Caledonia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (Figure 1) during September-October 2004 revealed for the first time both the thinned continental and oceanic natures of the crust beneath the eastern Tasman Sea. The survey, which was conducted by an international group of scientists aboard the Institut Fran¿ais de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la MER (Ifremer) R/V L'Atalante, aimed at improving the understanding of the geological framework, crustal characteristics, and evolution of the submarine basin and ridge system located west of New Caledonia's mainland. The study area, located east of both Australia and the oceanic Tasman Sea Basin, is composed of continental fragmentsc the Lord Howe Rise and the Norfolk Ridge, which are separated by the New Caledonia and Fairway basins.