The Ocean Census Arctic Deep Expedition, financed by the Ocean Census Alliance and REV Ocean, has embarked on a journey to explore one of the planet's least understood regions—the deep Arctic Ocean (Arctic Deep - Ocean Census).
Departing in May 2024 aboard the RV Kronprins Haakon, the expedition team comprised 36 scientists and media experts from 15 leading institutions. Their mission was to document the biodiversity of the Arctic's deep-sea habitats, which include the Knipovich Ridge, Dumshaff Abyssal Plain, and the Molløy Deep—the Arctic Sea's deepest point at 5550 meters.
This expedition was part of UiT's EXTREME24 mission and utilized REV Ocean’s state-of-the-art 6000-meter-rated ROV Aurora to study the enigmatic marine environments of the Fram Strait. The research will provide critical insights into diverse ecosystems, some of which are under threat from deep-sea mining and other extractive activities.
In conjunction with the expedition, the Ocean Census and UiT have hosted a taxonomic workshop in Tromsø, supported by the UArctic Thematic Network on Arctic Marine Biodiversity. The workshop focuses on identifying and cataloging species collected during the expedition, with specimens to be preserved at the Arctic University Museum of Norway. These natural history collections are invaluable, providing historical records of species across time and place, crucial for understanding environmental changes, particularly in the Arctic where climate change impacts are profound.
To ensure these discoveries have a lasting impact, the specimens are stored in the collections of the Arctic University Museum of Norway which has its collection focus on Arctic fauna. This will allow for the detailed study of valuable specimens, making them accessible worldwide for research, education, and public exhibitions.
For further information, please contact:
Andreas Altenburger
Andreas.altenburger@uit.no