Research techniques

The research on the expedition will improve understanding of the population structure, abundance, trends, distribution and ecological role of whales in the Southern Ocean. Scientists will use state of the art non-lethal research techniques, focussing particularly on humpback, minke, blue and fin whales.

The researchers will work from onboard the Tangaroa, as well as from two smaller six-metre rigid inflatable boats.

From the Tangaroa, the scientists will use a range of methods to collect and analyse information about the whales, including:

• acoustic surveys
• hydrographic surveys
• collecting sitings data

A team of four or five researchers will crew each of the smaller rigid inflatable boats, which will be deployed from the Tangaroa. From these smaller boats, a variety of methods will be used to collect information about the whales, including:

• biopsy sampling
• satellite tagging
• faeces collection
• photo identification

Research area

The expedition will leave Wellington and travel to the north of the Ross Sea and surrounding waters, covering a large area around the ice edge of Antarctica.