NORFANZ collection

In May-June 2003, Te Papa staff joined a joint Australian-New Zealand biodiversity research voyage carrying leading Australasian and other international scientists to explore deep sea habitats and biodiversity in the Tasman Sea.

The voyage explored the seamounts and abyssal plains off Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands through to northern New Zealand. The team undertook 136 bottom trawl and sled stations at the 14 sites, each with 6-17 stations from depths of 200 to 1700m.

In total the team collected some 590 fish species and 5000 individuals (12.7 tonnes). These collections of fishes were divided up between collections in New Zealand, Australia, France and the USA.

Te Papa's fish collection received a large share of this collection with some 387 species and 2222 individuals in 969 lots registered into the collection. Many of these species still require additional taxonomic work to resolve issues related to their identification.

This fantastic and scientifically valuable collection of fishes has provided a much better understanding of the species that live on and around the deep seamounts and ridges throughout the Tasman Sea, as well as improving the understanding of New Zealand's own fish fauna.