Stunning new footage from a recent deep-sea expedition in New Zealand southern waters has revealed the rich biodiversity and delicate beauty of our undersea habitats, where some coral formations have remained untouched for hundreds of years.
The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) used to obtain the footage has captured breathtaking images of deep-sea coral communities hundreds of metres beneath the ocean’s surface – offering a rare glimpse into a mysterious and rarely explored world.
The footage, filmed during a joint German–New Zealand expedition aboard the German research vessel RV Sonne, shows an incredible variety of life thriving in the cold, dark depths of the ocean.
Scientists on board, including Department of Conservation (DOC) Senior Science Advisor, Lyndsey Holland, were able to explore ocean areas around New Zealand that had never been surveyed in such detail at depths up to a kilometre deep – revealing coral species previously unknown to occur in some areas, and potentially several new species.
“This was an amazing opportunity to use cutting-edge technology to observe areas of the seafloor that are rarely accessible, including seamounts, the depths of Fiordland, offshore areas of Rakiura and the Chatham Rise. We still don’t fully understand what’s down there,” says Ms Holland.
“The high-resolution footage shows these beautiful, fragile coral gardens – including in areas we didn’t know had corals. The footage is mesmerising to watch and reminds us how important and fragile these ecosystems are.
“Corals are legally protected in New Zealand, so a better understanding of which corals are where can help us focus efforts to protect them. It’s also a valuable resource for future research.”
DOC and research partners, including NIWA, are continuing to analyse the footage and data collected during the voyage, with follow-up research already underway
The deep-sea highlights video is available to view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZoGJTFdNvk.
