Expedition Finds New Fish Species

[mrmoshe]

Expedition finds new fish species

South Australian scientists have ended a three-week expedition to survey deep canyons off the south-east coastline and Kangaroo Island.

It is the first time such research has been done in Australia, with the scientists finding fish species in waters more than 1,000 metres deep.

They caught 101 different species, one of them a black fish not seen before, and took samples of rock and sediment from areas where the continental shelf drops more than 1,000 metres.

Chief scientist David Currie says the expedition has uncovered important information.

"It's really about getting a synoptic picture of the standing stock around these canyon systems and that has implications for the management and how that affects adjacent marine protected areas," he said.

"We've found hi biodiversity, particularly around the head of the du Couedic canyons, extensive sponge gardens on the edge of the continental shelf, also found quite dramatic topographical relief.

"We've found cliff faces that drop over one kilometre in height, so quite outstanding imagery."