Science & Technology

Australian Oceans Study Brings the Deep to Life

May 11th, 2001

CSIRO marine scientists have provided an insight into the shape of Australia's deep ocean marine environment following a comprehensive survey of the seafloor of south-east Australia.

Using sophisticated echo-sounders and deep ocean video cameras, the research voyage was part of a study of marine resources that will underpin a new approach to ocean planning and management in southern Australian waters.

The voyage made the deepest sampling trawls so far conducted in Australian waters and has given scientists the opportunity to evaluate and refine advanced underwater survey techniques. Novel sampling equipment including deepwater video was used to establish environmental conditions and the associated marine life, revealing fish and invertebrates new to science as well as reefs and unique canyons.

The research was conducted during a seven-week, $2.7 million research program on board the CSIRO research vessel Southern Surveyor. The program was funded by CSIRO and the National Oceans Office as part of the latest investigation of marine life in waters off Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.

CSIRO marine ecologist and project leader, Dr Alan Butler, says scientists aboard the Southern Surveyor used special acoustic mapping techniques to obtain images of seafloor topography never seen in detail before.

"In the marine world, our knowledge is strongest at or near the 57,000 kilometre long coastline.

"Out on the continental shelf, and in the much deeper basins, technology, time and resources have been the impediment to building a profile of Australia's marine back yard - the physical conditions as well as life in the deep. At ocean depths below 1,500 metres - which is more than 70 per cent of the entire Australian marine jurisdiction - very little is known.

"There are considerable difficulties and limitations for scientists researching in these deep ocean environments," he explains, "but from this cruise alone, the way we can increase our knowledge of ocean conditions and marine life has jumped substantially."

He says that under international obligations, Australia has until 2004 to build a basic understanding of its marine resources over the 16 million square kilometers of ocean for which it has responsibility.

"Voyages like these are helping scientists increase their knowledge of the deep oceans. New ecological communities and marine species are being discovered at a faster rate today, than at any time over the previous 200 years."

The research voyage was commissioned by the Hobart-based National Oceans Office (NOO) to help provide baseline data and prove scientific methods for deep ocean studies. It was funded by the NOO and CSIRO Marine Research, and the research work done by CSIRO in collaboration with the Australian Geological Survey Organisation (AGSO).

For a comprehensive cruise overview, visit the web site at:
www.marine.csiro.au/voyage/index.html