Guest writer Eugenia Thomas reports on the 17th Deep-Sea Biology Symposium, which she attended with a team of scientists from The University of the West Indies and the NGO SpeSeas

THE 17th Deep-Sea Biology Symposium was held in Hong Kong in January this year. Our team of four scientists from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, and local NGO, SpeSeas, attended to present current research.

This was a milestone event as it was the first time a team of this size represented Trinidad and Tobago, including first timer Barbados, highlighting the growing interest and importance of Caribbean nations involved in deep-sea exploration and research.

[caption id="attachment_1145022" align="alignnone" width="768"] Jaime-Leigh Lue Chin with her poster presentation “Trinidad and Tobago’s Deep Sea: What we Know and What We Don’t know”. Photo courtesy Jaime-Leigh Lue Chin. -[/caption]

Caribbean countries account for territory that is more than 85 per cent deep ocean (ocean deeper than 200 metres). The ocean is our largest ecosystem, and plays a key role in every aspect of lifestyle and livelihood directly or indirectly, providing industry and services from fisheries to climate regulation.

For those of us who have seen or explored the deep ocean, it’s home to some pretty cool animals like dumbo octopus and headless chicken monsters. However, the fate of the Caribbean deep hangs in the balance because not enough is known about our deep ocean. Ignorance leads to deficiencies in oversight and capacity, inadequate stewardship, and poor governance. It was therefore fortunate and timely that Kyle Foster, Jaime-Leigh Lue Chin, our MPhil supervisor Dr Diva Amon, and I were able to attend.

The symposium brought together leading experts and students from across the globe to discuss the latest research and technology in deep-sea science. It was a unique opportunity to network with and learn from renowned scientists whose research has shaped the field, as well as open new avenues for potential future collaborations. We exchanged knowledge and perspectives with students from different parts of the world enlarging this global scientific community.

[caption id="attachment_1145021" align="alignnone" width="768"] Eugenia Thomas with her poster presentation “An investigation into the biodiversity of deep-sea wood falls in Montserrat”. Photo courtesy Eugenia Thomas. -[/caption]

Foster and Lue Chin shared their research on what we do and don’t know about life in the deep ocean of Barbados and TT respectively.

My presentation focused on the animals that live, shelter and feed on pieces of wood in the deep sea of Montserrat. The team was also able to share our experiences, good and bad, as Caribbean nationals working in the field. Lue Chin did us proud by placing second among the poster presentations.

[caption id="attachment_1145019" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Jaime-Leigh Lue Chin (2nd from right) accepts her certificate for second place among the poster presentations at the 17th Deep-Sea Biology Symposium. Photo by