South Pacific seamounts expedition
We’re embarking on an exciting journey to uncover the secrets of the deep. Follow along and read more about what’s at stake below.
Oceans campaigner Ellie Hooper, along with a team of technicians and scientists recently set out from Wellington aboard a scientific voyage to explore the seamounts of the South Pacific.
The story so far
This month Greenpeace Aotearoa is embarking on a Seamount Expedition.
Our mission is to explore the deep seas of Aotearoa and the South Pacific, using special underwater cameras to capture images of the life that lives there, and for our onboard science team to start identifying them.
Like all deep sea work, there will be serious challenges along the way. But we’re committed to this important work, and we’d love you to come on the journey with us.
Why are we going on a seamount expedition?
We want to shine a light on what’s in the dark. Seamounts are home to vital to ocean health. But so few seamounts have been studied, meaning really we don’t know much about these ecosystems and what’s found on them.
That’s why we’re doing this research. Working with scientists and using deep sea cameras, our aim is to survey habitats including seamounts, record the species that live there and contribute to the knowledge base for these seldom explored areas.
Expedition Updates
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Seamount Expedition Day 22-24: Choppy Seas to in the Zone
Today we finally survey a seamount within New Zealand waters. We always wanted to make it here, but the weather was wild and this turns out to be our one opportunity.
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Seamount Expedition Day 17 – 21: Back to Port
The weather’s about to turn so after a couple of dives in the morning on Challenger and some good results, we head for Wellington. It’s strange to see land after two weeks at sea.
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Seamount Expedition Day 16: Cheers and high fives
After an overnight steam to another seamount on Challenger, we’re sending down the camera again. After yesterday, I’m definitely apprehensive that we’re just going to see more of the same destruction, but there’s a surprise in store.
Where did we go?
We have several sites of interest that are feasible to visit with the equipment we have. Exactly where we go will be determined by the weather and the waves, but one site we are especially interested in is where the Tasman Viking, a Westfleet trawler, pulled up 37kg of coral last year. Our aim is to survey the site to assess the damage.
Why are seamounts important?
We know that seamounts and underwater hills, knolls and ridges are ocean lifelines, providing homes to coral and sponges, breeding grounds for fish and feeding spots for migrating whales.
Seamounts are sometimes called oasis of the ocean because of all the life they support. These vital areas need more research and ultimately more protection.
What’s so bad about bottom trawling?
The NZ bottom trawling fleet is one of the greatest threats to seamounts in Aotearoa and the South Pacific high seas. New Zealand only country still trawling in the South Pacific high seas.
When trawlers drag their heavy, weighted nets over these areas, they bulldoze precious coral that has taken decades or centuries to grow.
The coral that comes up in nets is just the tip of the iceberg. Scientists warn that the actual damage on the seafloor could be a hundred times worse.
New Zealand Seamounts Map
Read more about the data behind the map.
Ways to take action
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