Review by Ailbhe Travers, WACMN
On Sunday February 9th, we attended an eye-opening Q&A session at the WA Maritime Museum, where researchers from the Mindaroo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre shared incredible insights into their ambitious two-year deep-sea exploration project around the WA coast.
A line-up of experts
A panel of deep-sea experts, chaired by Prof. Alan Jamieson, shared their extensive knowledge and answered questions from the audience, including:
Dr. Todd Bond – Deputy Director of the Centre, leading groundbreaking research on deep-sea ecosystems.
Dr Yakup Niyazi – Specialist in deep-sea mapping, revealing WA’s underwater landscapes in high definition.
Dr. Andrew Hosie – Curator, Crustacean and Worm Collections at WA Museum
Dr Prema Arasu – Research Fellow, Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre, a writer and poet interested in the phenomenology of the deep sea.
What We Learned:
The team deployed long-term observatories and baited landers in marine parks like Gascoyne, Perth Canyon, and the South-West Corner, capturing never-before-seen footage and data on WA’s hidden deep-sea worlds. We heard about show-stopping sea cucumbers, magnesium nodules found on the ocean floors that can take over one MILLION years to grow to the size of your fist, crazy crabs, deep sea sharks and tales of capturing cutting edge, world first scientific baseline data with the help of a bog-standard plastic bottle!
Most importantly, we learned about the importance of demystifying the ‘deep’ – it’s not a place of scary monsters, but a vital, thriving ecosystem that needs our protection!
This inspiring Q&A urged us to flip the narrative from a fear of the relative ‘unknown’, to curiosity, wonder and marvel at the possibilities and opportunities awaiting us in one of the most fascinating and underappreciated parts of our oceans.
🗣 Our Questions & Key Takeaways:
How can the public support deep-sea research?
• Attend public talks and exhibitions.
• Follow Deep Sea WA online.
• Advocate for an end to deep-sea mining.
• Support studies on microplastic pollution in the deep.
Don’t miss the chance to explore these discoveries yourself! The Exploring WA’s Deep Sea exhibition is now open at the WA Shipwrecks Museum, showcasing the latest research and footage from this fascinating project.
Learn more & get involved:
- Mindaroo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre
- Exploring WA’s Deep Sea Exhibition
Images – Mindaroo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre