In 2011 we set off on a major biodiscovery expedition to the Kermadec Islands – some of you followed our discoveries via this blog and we’d like to invite you back to the Kermadecs.
Dr Tom Trnski, Head of Natural Science and Curator of Fishes, Auckland Museum
Two berths have become available on our favourite vessel The Braveheart and so we’re packing our kit and getting ready to leave this Monday – yes, in a mere three days. It’s a familiar packing list only slightly smaller given there’s only two of us and we’re spending just under a week at Raoul Island – the largest of the thirteen volcanic islands in the Kermadec group.
Packing our kit and getting ready to board The Braveheart for the Kermadecs.
Since completing our last expedition a little over two years we’ve been learning more about the marine life we discovered on that incredible voyage and now we need to gather a few more samples to fill in the gaps in our records.
I’ve got a list of requests from museum colleagues and other scientists for that elusive specimen or observation that could help shape their research and give them the answers they’re after. A couple of examples of this include a better look at these shrimp and more data to help understand the role of the Kermadec Islands in the dispersal patterns of various marine species.
We don’t have a huge amount of time – we’ll only have six days at Raoul – but we’ll be working hard to get it all done. It’s incredible to have this opportunity to go back to the Kermadec Islands.
One of the things I’m really excited about is that my expedition partner is renowned underwater videographer Steve Hathaway so we’ll be sending back little clips of what we’re getting up to and glimpses of the amazing underwater world at the Kermadec Islands.
Hope you can join us.
