#WorldOceansDay: Marine scientists explore deep ocean habitats in KZN

The team, also comprising emerging marine scientists known as Ocean Stewards, is aboard the research vessel, the Angra Pequena.

They've spent several days traversing the ocean in KwaZulu-Natal. 

Dr Kerry Sink, a marine bio-diversity scientist and manager of the Marine Programme at the South African National Bio-Diversity Institute is part of the team.

Sink believes the country is on the right track in putting in place mechanisms to ensure the protection of South Africa's oceans environments.

The scientific knowledge gathered on their expedition will also be used to inform the development of ocean zoning plans and marine protected areas. 

To aid their exploratory mission, the team has been using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). 

Sink explains that South Africa originally acquired the ROV through the African Coelacanth Programme, initiated after the discovery of the species off Sodwana Bay.

Sink says the ROV has been instrumental in the discovery of underwater habitats and marine species, some of which they've seen for the first rime.

"We use this ROV to dive down into the water with a camera. The ROV can go down to a depth of 300 meters on a cable. It gives us live footage of the sea bed and the animals that live on the sea bed - and it can take photographs and video clips," she says.

They've been able to have a closer look at some of the fish by luring them to their vessel with a baited go-pro camera. 

Among some of the species the team was happy to see was the endangered Seventy-four, once a popular linefish in KZN. 

A fishing ban on the Seventy-four was put in place nearly two decades ago when the numbers of the species became critically low.

Sink was also excited about some of the other discoveries they've made this week.

"We discovered off the wreck of The Griqualand off Amanzimtoti a beautiful bed of gravel that was discovered with thistle corals. We found a sea fan reef also off Toti at a depth of 79 metres and we did our deepest dive to date on this Remotely Operated Vehicle, reaching a depth of 240 metres... and caught a glimpse of a deep-sea spider crab  - and that was really exciting for our team because it's a really strange animal to see," she said.

With one of the key messages on World Oceans Day being marine conservation, Sink reminds us that we derive a great deal from the ocean.

"Every second breath you take comes from oxygen delivered by the ocean, we rely heavily on the ocean for food and we rely on the ocean for many of the ingredients in your medicine cupboard.

She says it's important to keep the ocean environments healthy if we are to continue benefiting from them.

"Some of the key things that people can do is to choose their sea food wisely, to be careful about what goes down their [drains] - so use ocean-friendly ingredients and ocean-friendly chemicals, such as washing power," she advised.

The Angra Pequena is currently docked at Durban Harbour due to rough sea conditions.

As soon as conditions are favourable again, the vessel will sail toward the Tugela where the team's work to help build scientific knowledge will continue.