In a historic feat, scientists from a joint Japanese-Australian expedition have successfully captured and filmed fish at depths exceeding 5 miles (8 kilometers) beneath the ocean’s surface. The expedition, led by Professor Alan Jamieson, chief scientist of the mission, achieved this remarkable discovery during a two-month voyage conducted by researchers from the University of Western Australia (UWA) and the Tokyo University of Marine Science.
The extraordinary find occurred in the Japan Trench, located south of Japan, where two snailfish, identified as the Pseudoliparis belyaevi species, were captured in traps set at a staggering depth of 8,022 meters. While the exact size of the fish remains unknown, this achievement marks the first instance of snailfish being caught below the 8,000-meter threshold. These snailfish are known to grow to a length of nearly 11 centimeters (4.3 inches).
The groundbreaking expedition also utilized remotely operated cameras, lowered from the research vessel DSSV Pressure Drop, to record an unidentified snailfish species swimming even deeper at 8,336 meters in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench, off the southern coast of Japan.
Professor Alan Jamieson, the founder of the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre, expressed his awe at the findings, stating, “The Japanese trenches were incredible places to explore; they are so rich in life, even all the way at the bottom.” He emphasized the importance of dispelling the notion that the deep sea is a frightening and mysterious realm, stressing that it constitutes a significant portion of our planet and merits comprehensive scientific study to understand its intricacies and how human activities impact it.
This remarkable discovery is part of a 10-year study aimed at unraveling the mysteries of the deepest fish populations on Earth. As scientists continue to explore the depths of the ocean, these findings open new windows into the astonishing biodiversity and resilience of life in the world’s most remote and extreme environments.
