An exciting Research Symposium was held at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney, a fortnight ago, exploring the ‘volcanic lost world’ of the Lord Howe Rise and South Tasman Sea. Co-organised by DOSI in collaboration with the High Seas Alliance and WWF, and supported by the Australian Government, the event marked an important first step in a broader effort to gather and synthesise knowledge about this unique and largely unexplored region.
Over two days, the symposium brought together around 80 participants, including scientists, government representatives, First Nations people, and civil society organisations across disciplines. Together, participants worked to collate existing knowledge, identify knowledge gaps, assess threats, and explore opportunities for future conservation in the region.
Located between Australia and New Zealand, the Lord Howe Rise and South Tasman Sea have been identified as areas of remarkable biological diversity and geological significance. The region is characterised by the immense underwater mountain range of the Lord Howe Rise and the deep basin of the South Tasman Sea, reaching over 5,000 m in depth.
During the Symposium, a comprehensive picture of the region was garnered from the five scientific sessions. These covered the geological and oceanographic systems that define the region, the biodiversity and ecology of its seafloor communities and the migratory species that traverse through, the cultural importance and human-ocean interactions that impact its ecosystems, and the emerging opportunities for science-driven management and conservation.
As part of the event, participants were invited to contribute to the painting of a collaborative 6-meter-long mural depicting the Lord Howe Rise ecosystem, created by Chilean artist Payo in partnership with the Bla! Art Collective. At the evening reception, deep-sea submersible pilot Kate Wawatai, currently the only female pilot operating at depths below 10,000 m, shared her passion for the deep ocean. She spoke movingly about how her connection to the deep sea is profoundly rooted in her Māori heritage.
Two expert panels were also convened, the first discussing the integration of First Nations knowledge into ocean governance to ensure an equitable and inclusive approach to stewardship of this region, and the second discussing legal frameworks, challenges and opportunities in High Seas governance. Each of the distinguished panellists provided important perspectives to inform future sustainable management and conservation initiatives, both in this region and globally – the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Filimon Manoni, among them.
DOSI was actively involved in the Symposium’s organisation and delivery. Elin Thomas, DOSI Communications Manager, and Lissette Victorero, Fisheries Working Group Co-Lead, served on the Symposium’s organising committee, providing scientific expertise to the development and execution of the program. The symposium also featured representation from other DOSI members, with presentations from Anna Metaxas (Biodiversity Task Force Co-Lead), Moriaki Yasuhara (Climate Change WG Co-Lead), and Ashley Rowden (Fisheries and Minerals WG). Additionally, Aline Jaeckel (Minerals WG) participated in the Ocean Governance panel.
Next steps:
The knowledge gathered at this important event will be collated into the Symposium Proceedings, which will be used to guide future research and management of this region. The Symposium also highlighted key knowledge gaps to be addressed, particularly for the deep-sea ecosystems of the South Tasman Sea, prompting a call for increased research priorities in the region.
The Lord Howe Rise and South Tasman Sea has been identified as a potential priority site to establish one of the first marine protected areas (MPAs) under the new BBNJ Agreement. By collating knowledge of the region and recognising its ecological significance, this Symposium provided the first step in ensuring the sustainable stewardship of the important and vulnerable marine ecosystems of the southwest Pacific.
DOSI invites scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders to join our growing network of deep-ocean experts dedicated to advancing science-based decision-making for the protection and sustainable management of deep-sea ecosystems. By engaging with our Working Groups, you can contribute to discussion on global marine governance, gain independent scientific insights, and stay informed on sustainable ocean management. Find out more about DOSI’s engagement with issues related to the Lord Howe Rise and South Tasman Sea through our Fisheries and BBNJ Working Groups and get involved today!
For more information about the Symposium:
- Read the original press release about the Symposium
- Find the official program and book of abstracts here
- See this blog post from the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition about the Symposium
Photographs by Tim Pascoe and Elin Thomas