Murihiku Regeneration
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Structure and Context
    • Office of Upoko
    • Te Rūnaka o Awarua
    • Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc.
    • Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka
    • Hokonui Rūnanga
    • Our Partners
    • Job vacancies
  • Events
    • He Ao Hou - New Futures Murihiku Teacher PD Day
    • Energy and Innovation Wānanga 2024
    • Energy and Innovation Expo 2023
    • Science and Innovation Wānanga 2021
  • Our Mahi
    • Te Ara Aukati Kore - Education, Training, and Capability
    • Southern Ocean - Murihiku ki te Tonga
    • The Energy Transition Programme
    • Te Ao Tūroa - Environment
    • Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities
    • Regional System Leadership
    • Taonga Species Research
  • Latest News
  • Contact

News article

Murihiku ki Te Tonga Acquires Globally Significant Antarctic Sample Collection

On July 19, 2023, the Murihiku ki Te Tonga – Ross Sea Sector Research & Monitoring Programme took possession of a globally significant collection of scientific samples from Antarctica. The samples include a wide range of top predator species – Antarctic toothfish, Adélie penguins, South Polar skuas, Weddell seals, minke whales, and killer whales – and took six expeditions to Antarctica to collect.

Key top predators in the Ross Sea. Clockise from Top left: South polar skua, Type-C killer whale and Antarctic toothfish, Weddell seal and Pagothenia borchgrevinki, crabeater seal, Adélie penguin, and minke whale. Photos: P.H. Ensor (killer whale), R. Currey (minke whale), R. EisertKey top predators in the Ross Sea. Clockise from Top left: South polar skua, Type-C killer whale and Antarctic toothfish, Weddell seal and Pagothenia borchgrevinki, crabeater seal, Adélie penguin, and minke whale. Photos: P.H. Ensor (killer whale), R. Currey (minke whale), R. Eisert

The primary objective of this research, led by Dr Regina Eisert, is to support the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area (MPA). The Ross Sea region MPA due south of Murihiku is the world’s largest MPA and administered by CCAMLR, an international association that regulates Southern Ocean fisheries using ecosystem-based management. In 1997, New Zealand started a fishery for toothfish in the Ross Sea region that expanded to include vessels from other CCAMLR nations. Antarctic toothfish is a valuable, large and high-fat fish exported primarily to Asia and the USA. In 2017, CCAMLR established the MPA following an extended campaign driven by New Zealand and the USA.

Steve Bamford of Boxman Christchurch in front of the TITAN refrigerated container, or ‘reefer’, that contains the bulk of the sample material. This reefer is capable of keeping contents at -40°C. This is very important for ensuring the integrity of scientific specimens long-term, as animal tissues are not fully frozen at normal freezer temperatures. Photo: R. EisertSteve Bamford of Boxman Christchurch in front of the TITAN refrigerated container, or ‘reefer’, that contains the bulk of the sample material. This reefer is capable of keeping contents at -40°C. This is very important for ensuring the integrity of scientific specimens long-term, as animal tissues are not fully frozen at normal freezer temperatures. Photo: R. EisertWhile the MPA was a major achievement, ongoing research & monitoring are mandatory to maintain the region’s protected status and demonstrate that existing restrictions on fishing are effective. Major gaps remain in our understanding of how the Ross Sea food web works and how removal of toothfish affects other species, for example Weddell seals and killer whales that also like to eat toothfish and may depend on it.

The Murihiku Antarctic sample collection is unique worldwide in containing sequential samples from key top predators spanning the entire period from the pre-MPA baseline until after the establishment of the MPA (2013-2020). Murihiku ki Te Tonga is continuing this critical scientific research.

Part of the collection is stored in extreme cold temperature freezers (-80°C). Photo: R. EisertPart of the collection is stored in extreme cold temperature freezers (-80°C). Photo: R. EisertMurihiku Regeneration is working with TITAN Containers NZ, supplier of state-of-the-art refrigerated containers, and Boxman Christchurch. Through the Ministry of Primary Industries, Boxman Christchurch recently acquired the certification needed to receive and store biological specimens from Antarctica. Secure and reliable sample storage is key to building capability for research, science and innovation and signals another milestone achievement for Murihiku Regeneration.

Posted: 24 July 2023

Prev article
All articles
Next article

© 2024 Murihiku Regeneration • Website by RS

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Structure and Context
    • Office of Upoko
    • Te Rūnaka o Awarua
    • Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc.
    • Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka
    • Hokonui Rūnanga
    • Our Partners
      • MSD Community Connection Service
    • Job vacancies
  • Events
    • He Ao Hou - New Futures Murihiku Teacher PD Day
    • Energy and Innovation Wānanga 2024
    • Energy and Innovation Expo 2023
      • He Ao Hou - New Futures Murihiku 22 May
      • Live Streaming of Wānanga 23 and 24 May
      • Hosts and Key Speakers 23-24 May
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 23 May
        • Opening Addresses
        • Global Session
        • Empowering partnerships: government's role in Aotearoa's energy transition
        • Climate Economics
        • Regional Infrastructure
        • Social regeneration and innovation
        • Regional Innovation
        • The importance of the Māori economy through this change
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 24 May
        • Regional Leadership Panel
        • Regional Plans and Priorities
        • Southern Green Hydrogen
        • Tiwai Smelter Future
        • Southland Aquaculture
        • Regional Case Studies: Decarbonisation
        • Innovation and Bluff Re-imagining
        • Confirming Priorities: wrap-up and closing
    • Science and Innovation Wānanga 2021
  • Our Mahi
    • Te Ara Aukati Kore - Education, Training, and Capability
      • He Ao Hou: New Futures Murihiku
      • Kia Tū Pathway Planning Programme
        • Kia Tū in schools
        • Kia Tū SIT Trade Training Programme
      • Anamata Māia: Bold, Confident Futures Service
        • Core Service Values
        • Our Kaimahi - Staff
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Ocean - Murihiku ki te Tonga
      • Subantarctic Islands
      • The Ross Sea Sector
      • Murihiku ki Te Tonga: Programme Overview
        • MKTT Research & Monitoring Programme
        • MKTT Science Team
        • MKTT Media and Resources
        • Scientific Expeditions
      • Blog
    • The Energy Transition Programme
      • Towards 2030- Regional Energy Action Plan
      • Energy Transition Plan
      • Murihiku Southland Regional Energy Development Plan - December 2023
      • Tiwai Future
        • Preliminary Closure Study
        • Cultural Significance of Tiwai Point
        • Environmental significance of Tiwai Point and surrounds
        • Tiwai Point - a contaminated site
        • Key documents and further reading
        • Have your say
      • He Honoka Hauwai - German-NZ Green Hydrogen Centre
      • Clean Energy Workstream
        • Renewable Energy Strategy
        • Documents - Key Reading
        • Have your say
      • Hydrogen and Green Energy
      • Hydrogen and Climate Change
      • Bell Bay Hydrogen Cluster
    • Te Ao Tūroa - Environment
      • Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao
      • Te Tapu o Tāne Ltd
      • Climate change
      • Have your say
    • Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities
    • Regional System Leadership
      • Building leadership across the takiwā
    • Taonga Species Research
      • What we do
      • Latest updates
  • Latest News
  • Contact