World's Largest Fish Breeding Grounds Found Under the Antarctic Ice (science.org) 20
sciencehabit shares a report from Science.org: The most extensive and densely populated breeding colony of fish anywhere lurks deep underneath the ice of the Weddell Sea, scientists aboard an Antarctic research cruise have discovered. The 240 square kilometers of regularly spaced icefish nests, east of the Antarctic Peninsula, has astonished marine ecologists. "We had no idea that it would be just on this scale, and I think that's the most fantastic thing," says Mark Belchier, a fish biologist with the British Antarctic Survey and the government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands, who was not involved in the new work.
In February 2021, the RV Polarstern -- a large German research ship -- was breaking through sea ice in the Weddell Sea to study marine life. While towing video cameras and other instruments half a kilometer down, near the sea floor, the ship came upon thousands of 75-centimeter-wide nests, each occupied by a single adult icefish -- and up to 2100 eggs. "It was really an amazing sight," says deep-sea biologist Autun Purser of the Alfred Wegener Institute, who led the ship's underwater imaging. Sonar revealed nests extending for several hundred meters, like a World War I battlefield scarred by miniature craters. High-resolution video and cameras captured more than 12,000 adult icefish (Neopagetopsis ionah). The fish, which grow to about 60 centimeters, are adapted to life in the extreme cold. They produce antifreezelike compounds, and -- thanks to the region's oxygen-rich waters -- are among the only vertebrates to have colorless, hemoglobin-free blood.
Including three subsequent tows, the team on the RV Polarstern saw 16,160 closely packed fish nests, 76% of which were guarded by solitary males. Assuming a similar density of nests in the areas between the ship's transects, the researchers estimate that about 60 million nests cover roughly 240 square kilometers, they report today in Current Biology. Because of their sheer numbers, the icefish and their eggs are likely key players in the local ecosystem. [...] The vast colony, the researchers say, is a new reason to create a marine protected area in the Weddell Sea, an idea has been proposed five out of the past 6 years to the intergovernmental treaty organization that regulates fisheries there.
In February 2021, the RV Polarstern -- a large German research ship -- was breaking through sea ice in the Weddell Sea to study marine life. While towing video cameras and other instruments half a kilometer down, near the sea floor, the ship came upon thousands of 75-centimeter-wide nests, each occupied by a single adult icefish -- and up to 2100 eggs. "It was really an amazing sight," says deep-sea biologist Autun Purser of the Alfred Wegener Institute, who led the ship's underwater imaging. Sonar revealed nests extending for several hundred meters, like a World War I battlefield scarred by miniature craters. High-resolution video and cameras captured more than 12,000 adult icefish (Neopagetopsis ionah). The fish, which grow to about 60 centimeters, are adapted to life in the extreme cold. They produce antifreezelike compounds, and -- thanks to the region's oxygen-rich waters -- are among the only vertebrates to have colorless, hemoglobin-free blood.
Including three subsequent tows, the team on the RV Polarstern saw 16,160 closely packed fish nests, 76% of which were guarded by solitary males. Assuming a similar density of nests in the areas between the ship's transects, the researchers estimate that about 60 million nests cover roughly 240 square kilometers, they report today in Current Biology. Because of their sheer numbers, the icefish and their eggs are likely key players in the local ecosystem. [...] The vast colony, the researchers say, is a new reason to create a marine protected area in the Weddell Sea, an idea has been proposed five out of the past 6 years to the intergovernmental treaty organization that regulates fisheries there.
Tough fishing (Score:4, Informative)
Maybe the fish colonies thrive there because it's one place where fishing vessels can't come and overfish the shit out of that entire region of the ocean.
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or because, shock horror, ice fish live under icy water. Though the location is probably a blessing for them as they are pretty tasty.
I think the point is that if they had been living in a more accessible region of the ocean:
a) The adult population would be decimated by overfishing
b) The colonies themselves would have been fished directly, possibly to the point of drag-netting.
It's quite possible that 1000 years ago the ocean floor was covered with fish colonies from many different species. But now, the only ones remaining are the ones like the Icefish that are super isolated.
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Not anymore after this discovery. :(
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I'm glad they published this. Mankind can now get to work figuring out a way to catch them all.
(for a very nice profit!)
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The actual reason is that icefish have no hemoglobin in their blood to transfer oxygen. They are able to get it directly from the sea. That part of the sea is rich in oxygen.
Although if fishing vessels could get there, they'd wipe them out. We could also have Japanese fishing vessels claiming they needed them for "research".
Re: Tough fishing (Score:2)
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Maybe the fish colonies thrive there because it's one place where fishing vessels can't come and overfish the shit out of that entire region of the ocean.
"Challenge Accepted" - China
It will end when there is nothing left to destroy (Score:1)
In February 2021, the RV Polarstern -- a large German research ship -- was breaking through sea ice in the Weddell Sea to study marine life.
So basically destroying their habitat in the name of science. The human race will eventually triumph over all life on this planet, including its own.
For now (Score:4, Insightful)
Breaking News.... (Score:2)
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"For research," of course.
Unfortunately they taste good and are large (Score:1)
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A few factory trawlers would decimate this population in a few years, particularly since the nursery area is now well publicized."
You mean submersible trawlers?
All that and more. (Score:1)
I worked in the local Oregon fisheries from 1964 to 1975.
The waste during those years decimated the sea baste population.
These fish were 50 to 100+ years old. None survived the trip to the surface.
Most years, they were worth nothing, for a few years $.05/Lb.
Most had parasitic cysts in the flesh, You would too if you lived to 100.
The flesh was some of the most delicious fish I have ever tasted.
I can only see the Asians figuring out a way to "harvest" this species.
We need to shut any exploitation down.
This is
First come, first served (Score:2)
already on it (Score:1)
The Matrix (Score:1)