Scientists Film Fish At Deepest-Ever Depth In Mariana Trench

The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Jamstec) recently released incredible footage (filmed on May 18, 2017) which captured a snailfish in the Mariana Trench at a depth of 8,178 meters - considered to be the deepest point ever for filming fish on camera.

The footage was taken using 4K ultrahigh resolution cameras, mounted on an unmanned hadal lander, which was operated by the agency’s deep-sea research vessel Kairei.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences announced last April that they have recorded a fish at a depth of 8,152 meters in the same trench on the territory of Guam, thus setting a world record for filming a fish at an accurately measured depth.

“We hope we can shed more light on the deep-sea ecology and the depth limit for fish to inhabit,” said senior Jamstec researcher Kazumasa Oguri.

According to the agency, after the observation equipment was placed on the northern slope of the trench, the cameras caught amphipods consuming mackerel placed on the lander as bait to attract deep-ocean creatures. The type of snailfish filmed, possibly a Mariana snailfish, is believed to visit the trench to feed on amphipods. In footage shot on a different day at a depth of 7,498 meters, the same type of snailfish was observed eating the amphipods.

According to recent studies, the hypothetical depth limit for fish habitation is 8,200 meters because they are unable to control osmotic pressure below that level. (source: japantimes.co.jp)

Credit to 'Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology'.