Diving Expedition to a Methuselah of the Sea

Coelacanths have been in existence now for more than 400 million years. Scientists have investigated the way of life of this ancient, nocturnal fish

Tauchfahrt zu einem Methusalem der Meere

Der Quastenflosser existierte bereits vor 400 Millionen Jahren. Forscher haben die Lebensweise dieses archaischen, nachtaktiven Fisches untersucht

Manned submersible „JAGO“

The manned submersible „JAGO“ is a human occupied underwater vehicle (HOV) designed for personal exploration and research in all types of aquatic systems and habitats. The seafloor along the continental shelf and slopes within the ocean twilight zone is JAGO’s main target area. The DNV-GL classed 2-person submersible has a maximum operating depth of 400 m. The two occupants, the pilot and one observer, are seated at 1 Atmosphere in a steel pressure hull with two large acrylic windows. The submersible’s small size and lightweight construction (3 T) allows worldwide operations from on board a wide variety of vessels as well as transport in a single standard 20-foot container together with all support equipment. Typical applications include personal observation of the sea bed and water column, video and photo documentation, selective non-intrusive sampling, placement of sensors and experiments, underwater inspection, as well as location and recovery of object

Interactions of fishes with particular reference to coelacanths in the canyons at Sodwana Bay and the St Lucia Marine Protected Area of South Africa

The deep demersal fish fauna at depths of 100–400min canyons off the St Lucia Marine Protected Area along the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal is compared with similar fish communities at the Comoro Islands and in the Indo-Pacific region. Fifty-four fish species were seen or photographed from the submersible Jago or by the discovery team of scuba divers in the coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae, habitat of the canyons off Sodwana Bay. An additional 94 fish species known from depths of 100–200 m along the coast of northern KwaZulu-Natal are likely to occur in the canyon habitat. The fish fauna of the Sodwana canyons shares at least 18 species with the deep demersal fish community off tropical coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region. Thirty-seven of the Sodwana canyon fishes are also known from the coelacanth habitat in the Comoros

1. Wochenbericht FS Alkor Reise AL533

JAGO-AUV-FieldTrials, Äolische Insel

The South African coelacanths — an account of what is known after three submersible expeditions

Using the manned submersible Jago, the habits, distribution and number of coelacanths within all main submarine canyons of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park were studied during 47 survey dives, with a total bottom time of 166 hours at depths ranging from 46 to 359 m, between 2002 and 2004. Twenty-four individuals were positively identified from three of the canyons, primarily from inside caves at or close to the canyon edges at depths of 96–133 m with water temperatures between 16 and 22.5°C. The population size of coelacanths within the canyons is assumed to be relatively small; coelacanths are resident but not widespread nor abundant within the park

Coelacanth population, conservation and fishery activity at Grande Comore, West Indian Ocean

The only known population of coelacanths, in the Comores, western Indian Ocean, is endangered by human predation. Historical catch data from Grande Comore reveal that annual catch rates increased steadily from 1954 until the 1970s. This trend was temporarily interrupted due to an international policy introducing motorized boats and promoting offshore fishing techniques. Coelacanths are only caught from traditional unmotorized outrigger canoes as an incidental by-catch of deep water line fishing. A complete survey of all motorized and unmotorized vessels in 1995 at Grande Comore in comparison to earlier years indicated that a recent decreased use of motors and increase of unmotorized canoe fishing has led to an increase in coelacanth catches. Conservation measures and strategies for reducing the fishing pressure exerted on coelacanths are discussed. The southwest coast of Grande Comore should be designated as a nature reserve and protected area where immediate protection measures should be taken, an opinion which is supported by Comorian authorities

Fishes of the deep demersal habitat at Ngazidja (Grand Comoro) Island, Western Indian Ocean

Underwater observations of the coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae Smith, 1939, from a research submersible provided opportunities to study the deep demersal fish fauna at the Comoro Islands. The demersal habitat in depths of 150–400 m at the volcanic island of Ngazidja is low in fish diversity and biomass, compared with the shallow-water coral reef habitat of Ngazidja or the deep demersal habitats of other localities in the Indo-Pacific region. The resident deep demersal fish fauna at Ngazidja is dominated by the coelacanth, an ancient predator that is specially adapted for this low-energy environment. Other large fish predators are scarce in this environment, because of the heavy fishing pressure from local fishermen. Eighty-nine fish taxa (including 65 recognizable species) were recorded from videotapes, photographs, visual observations, fishermen’s catches and ancillary attempts to sample the fish fauna with baited fish traps, gill nets, and hook and line. Although no coelacanth feeding events were seen, seven fish species are known from coelacanth stomach contents, and 64 other fish species in this habitat are considered potential prey of this dominant predator

Archangelopsis jagoa, a new species of benthic siphonophore (Physonectae, Rhodaliidae) collected by submersible in the Red Sea

A new species of rhodaliid siphonophore, Archangelopsis jagoa sp, nov., is described from three specimens collected at depths between 250 and 370 m in the Gulf of Akaba, Red Sea, by the submersible JAGO. Comparisons are made with the established species of that genus and observations, both in situ and on the living animals in captivity, are reported

2. Wochenbericht FS Alkor Reise AL533

JAGO-AUV-FieldTrials, Äolische Inseln Wochenbericht 05.-18.02.202