Summary of:

Dr. Daniel Moore, who is the expedition science manager of Ocean Census, discussed the lack of
data on an area off the east coast of New Zealand and the alliance's goal to identify 100,000 unknown
species in the next 10 years. A team of scientists spent three weeks sorting deep-sea finds to confirm
whether they are newfound species, with one mysterious creature initially thought to be a sea star or
sea anemone. Dr. Michela Mitchell, a taxonomist at the Queensland Museum Network, suggested
that the find could be a new type of deep-sea coral, potentially representing a significant discovery for
the planet's unique biodiversity. The team also captured two eelpouts that could be new to science,
showcasing the exciting and surprising nature of their deep-sea exploration. This research exemplifies
the crucial importance of further exploration and study of uncharted areas to expand our
understanding of the planet's biodiversity.

Ocean Census/NIWA

The research paper details the methods used in an ocean census conducted by NIWA, which
involved towing three different types of sleds to collect samples from the seafloor. These included a
traditional beam trawl for collecting samples with a net, a heavy-duty seamount sled for rocky
surfaces, and a device for sampling the water just above the seafloor, as well as a towed underwater
camera. The census aimed to address the significant gaps in scientific knowledge about ocean
depths. Despite an estimated 2.2 million species in Earth's oceans, only 240,000 have been
described by scientists, highlighting the vast amount of unexplored biodiversity. The study sheds light
on the need for further exploration and understanding of the ocean depths and the potentially vast
number of unknown species residing there. For more information, the reader can visit the Ocean
Census website at www.cnn.com/2024/03/11/world/100-species-ocean-census-new-zealand-scn?
cid=ios_app.