Scientists and students from seven countries have begun identification the samples collected during the 2009 Seamounts Cruise, a biological survey of seamount ecosystems funded by IUCN and the Global Environment Facility.
12 November: Scientists and students from seven countries gathered in Grahamstown at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) to identify samples collected during the 2009 Seamounts Cruise. The Cruise conducted a biological survey of seamount ecosystems, as part of the Seamounts Project, funded by IUCN and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
As a result of the expedition, nearly 7,000 samples were gathered and labeled, including an unexpected diversity of fish, shrimps, squid and other marine creatures. IUCN expects the results of the project to help improve conservation and management of Indian Ocean resources, as well as future management of deep-sea ecosystems in the high seas globally. [IUCN News story]