The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is leading a 45-day project to discover new species and map marine ecosystems across Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories.
The CSIRO Research Vessel, RV Investigator will carry a team of scientists to map unexplored underwater regions and increase knowledge of marine ecosystems.
It comes as the Australian Government has the establishment of a new Marine Protected Area covering up to 740,000 square kilometres in the region under consideration.
Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley said scientists would collect data and information around the Indian Ocean Territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
“This pioneering voyage will visit places never seen by humans before as it studies marine life in the proposed Australian Indian Ocean Territories Marine Park area,” Ms Ley said.
“This is an international marine treasure on Australia’s doorstep, one that is, from a scientific perspective, relatively undisturbed and undiscovered,” she said.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Christian Porter said scientists would conduct more than 200 biodiversity surveys during the voyage.
“The research team will use a high-tech multi-beam sonar to map the structure of the seafloor, and cameras, nets and sleds to sample habitats from depths of 60 metres to depths well into the midnight zone and beyond at around 5.5 kilometres below the surface,” Mr Porter said.
The voyage involves collaboration between Museums Victoria, Parks Australia, the CSIRO, Bush Blitz, Australian Museum, Western Australian Museum, South Australian Museum, James Cook University, University of the Sunshine Coast and the University of Tasmania.
