VANCOUVER, Nov. 12 /CNW/ - Media are invited to join world renowned Deep Ocean diving pioneer Dr. Phil Nuytten, Professor Scott McKinley of UBC, Dr. Sylvia Earle, researcher for National Geographic, and Dr. John Nightingale, President of the Vancouver Aquarium on Monday, November 15, 2004 at 10:00am as a Deepworker submersible is piloted around the Aquariums Wild Coast Exhibit.
The Deepworker, from Nuytco Research Ltd. will be used in an upcoming research project aimed at conserving the coelacantha fish deemed a living fossil that has been found in fossil records dating back as far as 400 million years ago, and thought to be extinct until 1938. Professor Scott McKinley of the University of British Columbia has been invited by the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Program (ACEP) to conduct a five-year scientific research project aimed at learning more about the coelacanth, its ecosystem, and what can be done to ensure its survival.
Submersibles from Nuytco will be used to help scientists confirm the location of the coelacanths, and they will also allow scientists to tag the fish using a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). Once the acoustic tags are in place, their signals will provide researchers with valuable information on geographic locations, habitat use and activity. The fieldwork will get underway off the South East coast of South Africa in the summer of 2005.
Nuytco Research Ltd. is a Vancouver company founded by Dr. Phil Nuytten. They design and construct a variety of underwater vessels such as the single- seat Deepworker, which can dive to 2000 ft. Nuytcos subs have used for a variety of research and film projects including James Camerons The Abyss, and the National Geographic Societys Sustainable Seas Expeditions with Dr. Sylvia Earle.