Pages above:
Spiral tube worms live in membranous tubes, and have a feathery, filter-feeding crown that can be quickly withdrawn into the tube when danger threatens.
Enlarge Image
Equipped with state of the art imaging equipment, including a remote
operating vehicle and a drop camera, we were able to survey parts of
the deep sea that have never been seen by human eyes, including corals,
sponges, a variety of fish, sea slugs and salps and even deep water
sharks.
Our intrepid expedition leader, Richard Page, who had to overcome the disappointment of broken cameras and remote operating vehicles that didn't actually operate, was nevertheless fascinated by what we found.
"Only a tiny part of this enormous stretch of the Atlantic Ocean has been investigated. Like the rest of the world's oceans, we are only just beginning to understand what is down there and what impact we are having on its survival."
"Every record helps us build up our understanding of these valuable marine ecosystems, and we have a much more detailed picture of some areas of the seabed than we had before. Now begins the detailed analysis," said Azores University Marine Scientist Frederico Cardigas.
Earlier in the expedition we worked with the International Fund For Animal Welfare (IFAW) collaborated on a whale watching survey of the area. Just three months after coming from the whaling grounds of the Southern Ocean, the team in the Azores was able to show the value to the environment -- not to mention the economy -- of whalewatching.
Photographs of individual whales will be added to the regional photo-id catalogue in the Azores, which is managed by IFAW.
So where to next, Ocean Defenders? Stay tuned for the next leg of the expedition as the Esperanza heads towards the Mediterranean.
Our intrepid expedition leader, Richard Page, who had to overcome the disappointment of broken cameras and remote operating vehicles that didn't actually operate, was nevertheless fascinated by what we found.
"Only a tiny part of this enormous stretch of the Atlantic Ocean has been investigated. Like the rest of the world's oceans, we are only just beginning to understand what is down there and what impact we are having on its survival."
"Every record helps us build up our understanding of these valuable marine ecosystems, and we have a much more detailed picture of some areas of the seabed than we had before. Now begins the detailed analysis," said Azores University Marine Scientist Frederico Cardigas.
Earlier in the expedition we worked with the International Fund For Animal Welfare (IFAW) collaborated on a whale watching survey of the area. Just three months after coming from the whaling grounds of the Southern Ocean, the team in the Azores was able to show the value to the environment -- not to mention the economy -- of whalewatching.
Photographs of individual whales will be added to the regional photo-id catalogue in the Azores, which is managed by IFAW.
So where to next, Ocean Defenders? Stay tuned for the next leg of the expedition as the Esperanza heads towards the Mediterranean.
GREENPEACE EMAIL
