By DIVE Staff
The Ocean Census has launched a new expedition to the depths of the Arctic Ocean, which it says is ‘set to redefine our understanding of the biodiversity of the deepest Arctic Ocean marine habitats.’
Led by The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census Alliance, UiT (The Arctic University of Norway), and ROV specialists REV Ocean, the Arctic Deep Expedition will bring together a multidisciplinary team of 36 scientists and media experts from 15 leading academic institutions to explore, research, and document the region.
‘Ocean Census has a rare opportunity to delve into some of Earth’s most extreme and uncharted habitats,’ said Professor Alex Rogers, Science Director at Ocean Census. ‘From hydrothermal vents, abyssal plains, and mid-ocean ridges to seamounts and gas and oil seeps.
‘These remarkable environments harbour an abundance of undiscovered life forms, and we anticipate uncovering hundreds of new species, ranging from sponges to corals, sea anemones, snails, small crustaceans and animals which feed off chemical energy like beard worms.’
The team set sail from Tromsø, Norway, on 3 May onboard the Institute of Marine Research’s RV Kronprins Haakon. Equipped with REV Ocean’s 6000-metre-rated ROV Aurora, the expedition will sample and film the remote and enigmatic marine environment of the Fram Strait passage between Greenland and Svalbard.
The research area encompasses a wide range of deep-sea habitats, including the Knipovich Ridge, Dumshaff Abyssal Plain, Jøtul vent field, Svyatogor Ridge, Alta Seamount, and Molløy Deep – the deepest point in the Arctic Sea at 5550 metres – some of which are being targeted for deep-sea mining.
The Arctic Deep Expedition forms the first leg of UiT’s Extreme24 mission, which will head off to explore the Borealis mud volcano in the Barents Sea following the conclusion of the Ocean Census component of the programme.
‘We are excited to support UiT and Ocean Census on the Extreme24 cruise to the Arctic and Barents Sea,’ said Nina Jensen, CEO of REV Ocean. ‘This is a unique opportunity to explore some of the most remote and uncharted regions of our planet, while making the best use of REV Ocean´s Aurora ROV.’
Following the expedition, in October 2024, a taxonomic workshop will be hosted by Ocean Census and UiT at their university labs in Tromsø to accelerate the species discovery and taxonomic work from the specimens collected.
The resulting curated collection will be housed at the Arctic University Museum of Tromsø, providing a valuable resource for future research endeavours and contributing to the global understanding of marine biodiversity in the region.
‘In our relentless pursuit to unveil the mysteries of the ocean depths, the Ocean Census Arctic Deep Expedition stands as a testament to our commitment to marine discovery and conservation,’ sadi said Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation. ‘Through collaborative efforts and cutting-edge technology, we strive to shed light on the undiscovered life thriving in the Arctic depths, paving the way for a deeper understanding of our planet’s precious ecosystems.’
