The annual Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources meeting started Hobart on Monday, where presentation were made with the data collected through camera underneath the sea. Creatures have been captured using camera technology in the Southern Ocean.
The one which is a deep-sea cucumber known as a “headless chicken monster” has been filmed in the Southern Ocean. It is the first time the species has been seen in east Antarctica. Enypniastes eximia has only been seen in the Gulf of Mexico previously. The used camera technology has been developed by Australian researchers.
Dr Dirk Welsford, Australian Antarctic Division program leader said, “Some of the footage we are getting back from the cameras is breathtaking, including species we have never seen in this part of the world. The housing that protects the camera and electronics is designed to attach to toothfish longlines in the Southern Ocean, so it needs to be extremely durable.“We needed something that could be thrown from the side of a boat and would continue operating reliably under extreme pressure in the pitch black for long periods of time’ he added.
Australia’s commissioner Gillian Slocum said, the 10 day meeting will push for a new east Antarctic marine protected area including proposals on how to respond to climate change.
“The Southern Ocean is home to an incredible abundance and variety of marine life, including commercially sought-after species, the harvesting of which must be carefully managed for future generations, “he added.
> Alma Siddiqua
Headless Chicken Monster in Southern Ocean
