Expedition sends 'robot' to depths of Gulf of St. Lawrence

Scientists have embarked on a week-long exploration of the Gulf of St. Lawrence,hopingto uncover what dwells deep beneath the surface.

One of Canada's busiest waterways, the gulf has been the subject of previous studies, buta partnership between Oceana Canada and the federal Fisheries Department hopes to increasethe store of detail.

The expedition will look at both the surface and up to 400 metres below it.

"No one has been down to the sea floor with this kind of technology that we're putting down there," said RobertRangeley,scientific director withOceanaCanada.

He is on board a Canadian Coast Guard vessel overseeing the expedition, which will explorefour areas of the gulf,including the Upper Laurentian Channel and the Cape Breton trough..

The data gathered will focus on commercially important species as well as those that are endangered.

"This is really an expedition of exploration," said Rangeley.

More precise study

Gulf life has been explored in earlieroceanographic research, whichrelied on trawl surveys, drop cameras or dredging, Oceana says.

Anemones, sea stars, urchins,crabs and other creatures have been found in shallower waters of the American Bank area of the gulf, for example.

Butthe "greatest depths of the cliffs have not yet been visually examined," Oceanasays on itswebsite.

This new study will use a submersible remote-operated vehicle, or ROV, which can study habitat without disturbing the species living there, Rangeley said.

"It's like a robot that goes to the sea floor and gets the most high-resolution images," he said.

While there, the ROV will takesamples, and the video it sends back will be live streamed on the internet.

• Subsea camera to live stream a scientist's-eye-view of the ocean floor

The ability to share what the expedition finds is a key part of its purpose, said Alexandra Cousteau, the granddaughter of famed undersea explorer Jacques Cousteauand a senior adviser with Oceana Canada.

"The technology that we have today for storytelling is so far beyond anything that my grandfather could have dreamed of," Cousteausaid.

Connect to oceans

Cousteau said it is important to educate people on a world outof sight, so they feel connected to oceans.

Taking part in the Gulf of St. Lawrence expedition, Cousteau said, is in line with her family's legacy.

"It's very difficult to protect the ocean, if we don't know what's there," she said.

Only through exploration can a positive impact be had, she said.

The expedition, which involves two vessels,will also doits part to study any right whales it comes across,Rangeleysaid.

With only a week, it will be difficult to focus on the highly mobile mammals, he said, but if there are any sightings, the groupwill share the observations with whale databases.

"We'd like to get some sightings and do our bit," Rangeley said, " [to] contribute to these important endangered animals, to their scientific studies."

Cousteau added that understanding the area, could help identify ways to protect the whales.

Along with viewing the exploration in real time, the scientists and experts along with the expedition will be answering questions.

Anyone can log onto the Oceana Canada website and participate in a group chat.