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Wellington, New Zealand - 06 February 2024
A pioneering expedition to discover new species in one of the most remote parts of the deep ocean is about to set sail from New Zealand.
Ocean Census scientists will spend 21 days investigating the unexplored Bounty Trough off the coast of New Zealand’s South Island. They will search to a depth of 5000 metres looking for marine species new to science. Undiscovered corals, sponges, fish, molluscs, sea stars and urchins are just some of the treasures the Ocean Census team hope to return with.
The mission is a cooperation between The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census Alliance, New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
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New Zealand's 15,000kms of coastline are among the most stunning in the world.
Though a vast area off the eastern shore is still a deep-sea mystery
The Bounty Trough is one of the world’s least well understood ocean ecosystems
But that is all about to change
SOUNDBITE SADIE MILLS EXPEDITION CO-LEADER. NIWA
The research vessel Tangaroa will be home to a joint Ocean Census , NIWA research team
The vessel has purpose built equipment to withstand huge changes in pressure so the scientists can search to 5000 metres below
A deep-sea camera system will scan the darkest reaches
SOUNDBITE DR. KAREEN SCHNABEL, MARINE BIOLOGIST, NIWA
New Zealand's national museum already curates a specimen collection that is the envy of the science world
The global ocean has an estimated two million species - little more than 10% has been described
SOUNDBITE DR. TOM LINLEY, MUSEUM OF NEW ZEALAND FISH EXPERT
SOUNDBITE ANDREW STEWART, MUSEUM OF NEW ZEALAND FISH EXPERT
In New Zealand traditional Māori knowledge of the ocean predates modern science.
The Ocean Census Bounty Trough Expedition will add valuable data
Providing a new baseline of its subsea riches and adding hundreds of new species to its wealth
7 February 2024
