🦐 Discovery of 100 new marine species in New Zealand

• A team of researchers has discovered at least one hundred new marine species in the Bounty Trough off the south coast of New Zealand.
• The expedition found dozens of molluscs, three fish, a shrimp, and a predatory squid.
• The Ocean Census organization aims to discover at least 100,000 new marine species over the next ten years.

An unexpected treasure trove of marine life

We just reported on a hundred new marine species found off the coast of Chile. Now, it's time again, but this time off New Zealand.

In February, a team consisting of 21 researchers embarked on an expedition to the largely unexplored waters of the Bounty Trough, off the south coast of New Zealand, in hopes of finding a treasure trove of new species. Their discovery exceeded expectations with the finding of one hundred new marine species. A number that is expected to grow.

Among the discovered species were dozens of molluscs, three fish species, a shrimp, and a type of predatory squid. A particularly interesting discovery was a star-shaped animal that caused a lot of puzzlement among the researchers and could possibly be a type of coral.

The technology they use

During the expedition in February, the researchers first mapped the area with an imaging system and video cameras to ensure it was safe for their equipment and to ensure that no vulnerable animal communities could potentially be harmed.

Then, they used a sampling tool called the Brenke sled, which has two nets, one near the seabed and the other one meter above. To find larger animals, the researchers used other methods, such as baited nets.

By trawling at depths of 4,800 meters, the researchers collected 1,791 samples. This expedition and the discovered species highlight the enormous diversity of life that has yet to be explored in our oceans and emphasize the need for continued exploration to fully understand the complex ecosystems that exist beneath the surface.

Aiming to discover 100,000 new species

It is estimated that at least two million species live in the oceans, of which only ten percent are known.

Ocean Census is a nonprofit organization that was founded last year by the Nippon Foundation and the UK-based ocean exploration foundation Nekton. The goal is to discover at least 100,000 new marine species over the next ten years.

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