MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Toothfish and ice-fish investigation

Biological links between Patagonian toothfish and Antarctic ice fish is the main purpose of a 61 days scientific research cruise which began this week when the US flagged “Nathaniel B. Palmer” left Punta Arenas port.

The scientific research is headed by marine biologist William Dietrich from the North-eastern University in Boston who has been involved with Antarctica since 1993, reports Punta Arenas press.

"Nathaniel B. Palmer" is scheduled to call in the Falklands, South Georgia, South Sandwich, Tristan da Cunha and Cape Town.

Scientists will try to determine Patagonian toothfish, (dissostichus eleginoides), living habits, concentration, feeding, mating which should help to better understand its life cycle and how to best protect it from over fishing and depredation.

The research vessel is equipped with a "mocness" system that enables the electronic catching and monitoring of toothfish.

The other target of research is the ice-fish, (chaenocephalus aceratus) which has a very particular circulatory and vascular system lacking haemoglobin which in other vertebrates is essential for transporting oxygen. The project has its own web, www.icefish.ne.edu.

"Nathaniel B. Palmer" and the 21 different Antarctic research projects are mostly funded by the US National Science Foundation. Thirty two scientists from seven different countries (US, UK, Germany, Italy, France, South Africa and New Zealand) are on board.