Survey to gather seabed data off Canadian East Coast
Canadian fisheries ambassador Loyola Sullivan
An international seabed survey of some previously unexplored deep waters will be conducted off Canada’s East Coast, the federal government announced last week. Loyola Sullivan, Canada’s ambassador for fisheries conservation, said the survey will be conducted in the northwestern Atlantic over the next two years.
Canada has joined Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and Russia in the study.
“Our objective through this project is to work collaboratively with our international partners to collect important new information from the sea floor,” Sullivan said in a statement. “Our findings will help us to better identify and protect sensitive areas, while allowing responsible fisheries to continue.”
The researchers, including Canadian scientists from the federal Fisheries Department, arrived in St. John’s on August 24th onboard the Miguel Oliver, a Spanish research vessel.
They have now concluded the first three-month leg of at-sea research, surveying over 24,000 square kilometres and collecting samples from around the Flemish Cap, the Flemish Pass and an area south of the Grand Banks.
Researchers also collected over 140 seabed and deepwater samples examining organisms living on the bottom of the sea, and 150 oceanographic samples examining water temperature and salinity conditions.
The study will include a total of six months of at-sea research supported by approximately 18 months of data analysis.
The study is primarily taking place onboard the Miguel Oliver, which is equipped with state-of-the-art marine research technology and can accommodate 22 researchers.
Complementary studies are also taking place onboard Spain’s Vizconde de Eza vessel and the Hudson, a Canadian Coast Guard ship.
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