We know more about Mars than our Oceans.

The Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, have just released their findings of an under water expedition in the Southern Ocean, about 100 miles north of Tasmania. And their results are quite heart warming coming after the gloomy news announced by the International Conservation of Nature.

In many ways, we know more about some of the planets than we do about the oceans around us. Only a Small proportion of Australia's oceans have been explored in enough depth to come to solid conclusions about the life in them. They found that 40% of all the creatures they found, and brought to the surface, had never been seen before. In total about 70% of all the discoveries they made had never been seen by humans before. Some 270 new marine species were unearthed. No-one could really assess how many species really was down there.


They also found 2,000 year old living black coral, bamboo coral which was 300 years old and some fish 200 years old! While a rare species of stingray was also discovered, the only previous specimen was a dead one. Remarkably 123 mountains were discovered some were half a mile high and fourteen miles wide. They vegetation on them was so dense that they were referred to as a rain forest under the sea.

The age of some of their findings was explained as a result of living in such cold waters. It is thought that the cold reduces the growing process. Also their discoveries were found at 1km down or further, and the depth involved may have played a role in their slow aging.

What is crucial is that this type of environment remains unpolluted and it shows we really don't know the extent of life on this planet. We need to protect the planet, and often we cite the declining wildlife as justification for doing so. However, we need to do it for the undiscovered life. It also shows the resilience of life to be found.