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7 April 2000

JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE, SENATOR ROBERT HILL, AND THE MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES, SENATOR NICK MINCHIN

STUNNING 3D IMAGES REVEAL SECRET TREASURES OF THE SEABED

The first marine survey program funded under Australia's Oceans Policy has been completed revealing stunning 3D images of the treasures that lie on the seabed around Southeastern Tasmania and the Macquarie Ridge, midway between Antarctica and New Zealand.

The new topographic images of the ocean floor were released today by Environment and Heritage Minister Robert Hill and Industry, Science and Resources Minister Nick Minchin.

"The seabed surveys, using the multi-beam swath mapping technique, will provide important baseline data to support the development of a Regional Marine Plan for the South-east Marine Region," Senator Hill said.

"The images of deep canyons (5kms in places) and flat topped seamounts just below the surface mark out the region south of Macquarie Island as one of the most spectacular marine environments in Australia's maritime jurisdiction. The Federal Government is committed to preserving and maintaining Australia's reputation as a leader of marine management."

The seabed survey was undertaken by Geoscience Australia in cooperation with the National Oceans Office (NOO). The three week research cruise surveyed an area more than 140 000 kilometres square, almost twice the size of Tasmania (see Attachment A)

"This is not just about exploring the ocean's depths, this is a matter of surveying the resources within the marine system and preserving a fragile ecosystem that is an important part of Australia's economic life," Senator Minchin said.

Explore the stunning Macquarie Ridge by visiting the Geoscience Australia website at www.ga.gov.au/marine/atrea1.mpg and experiencing a 3D computer simulated journey through canyons and trenches recorded with bathymetric and seismic imaging.

CMR 126-00

ATTACHMENT A:     MAPPING THE OCEAN'S DEPTHS

Using a multibeam (swath mapping) sonar system, Geoscience Australia has generated detailed contour maps and images of the seabed off southeastern and southern Tasmania and to the south of Macquarie Island.

Acoustic backscatter data provided information on the physical characteristics of the seabed, while seismic data revealed the geology down to about 5km below the seabed.

The three week AUSTREA 2 survey cruise have revealed natural more clearly than everbefore. The submerged southern Macquarie Ridge rises up to 5000 metres above an adjacent trench, in the southwest part of the Macquarie Island Marine Park.

Other geological features revealed during the three week research cruise included:

• Major development of canyons, directly off the southeast coast of Tasmania
• Large, flat-topped seamounts along the eastern flank of the South Tasman Rise, a large elevated seafloor feature south of Tasmania.
• A southeastern extension of the Macquarie Ridge associated with seamounts coming to within 400 metres of the sea surface.

The research cruise used the French research vessel L'Atalante, which left Hobart on January 15 and arrived in Bluff, New Zealand on February 9.