Deep-sea creatures

Birdbeak dogfish attracted to bait at 1,000m depth in the NE Atlantic. Photo: Nicola King, University of Aberdeen

An image of a shark taken by researchers at Oceanlab – the University of Aberdeen’s deep-sea research facility – was selected for the Highly Commended Award in the Underwater Images, +200m category.

Nicola King, a PhD student at Oceanlab, said: “The image is of a shark, Deania calcea, of which the common name is the Birdbeak dogfish, with cutthroat eels, Synaphobranchus kaupii, in the background.

“The image was taken off the west coast of Ireland in April 2004 at 931m depth. The camera is positioned on a lander – an automous free-fall system, looking out onto a baited arm.”

Chimaera monstrosa and Cidaris urchin on George Bligh Bank in the NE Atlantic. Photo: Kerry Howell, University of Plymouth

“These images are significant as they photograph animals which are being affected by overfishing in this region.”

The images were judged on their visual impact, their importance to science, the novelty, the rarity of the subject, but most of all the way they capture the essence of the deep ocean and how we explore it today.

Images: copyright Serpent Project