A major scientific effort is underway to uncover elusive deep-sea species in Australian and New Zealand waters, using cutting-edge genetic technology. The project, led by the Minderoo Foundation in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), will employ environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect rare and undiscovered marine creatures.
With thousands of fish species potentially at risk of extinction, scientists hope this initiative will fill in the gaps in conservation data and reveal the hidden biodiversity of the deep.
The Challenge Of Tracking Deep-sea Species
One of the biggest obstacles in marine conservation is the lack of data on many species. While some sharks, rays, and fish are known to be endangered, there are hundreds of species for which scientists have little or no population data. Without this information, it is impossible to determine whether they are at risk of extinction or thriving in the depths.
The problem is particularly severe in deep-sea environments, where many species live beyond the reach of traditional research methods. Some, like the rare white shark, sawfish, and hammerhead, are already recognized as threatened, but others remain completely unknown.
Using eDNA To Unlock Ocean Secrets
To tackle this challenge, researchers are turning to environmental DNA (eDNA), a technology that detects tiny genetic traces left behind by organisms in water samples. This allows scientists to identify species without having to capture or observe them directly.
At the second annual eDNA conference in Wellington, the Minderoo Foundation announced that it would analyze 10,000 samples to assess 600 marine species across Australia and New Zealand. The goal is to:
- Identify where these species are currently found.
- Detect areas where they have disappeared.
- Compare findings with historical data to track population changes.
‘Dark Biodiversity’ And The Search For New Species
Beyond tracking known species, the project is expected to uncover entirely new forms of marine life. Deep-sea environments are known to harbor mysterious and undiscovered creatures, often confined to small, isolated habitats.
“We know we’ve got dark biodiversity out there — species that haven’t even been described yet,” said Michael Bunce, director of Minderoo’s OceanOmics program.
“When we get into the deep sea, we’re discovering new species. By nature, they are typically only found in very niche habitats, because if they were common we would have found them in the past.”
The Future Of Deep-sea Exploration
The combination of advanced genetic analysis and conservation science marks a new era in ocean research. Scientists can explore vast and inaccessible underwater regions without disturbing fragile ecosystems.
As the project progresses into 2025, the findings could reveal not only the presence of endangered species but also hidden populations and unknown creatures that have never been classified before.
The deep ocean remains one of the last great frontiers of discovery, and with tools like eDNA, scientists are beginning to unlock its secrets—one genetic trace at a time.
