Investigating Maldivian & Seychellois Samples at the Indian Ocean Species Discovery Workshop

29/01/2025

Building on the success of Nekton’s First Descent missions in the Maldives (2022) and Seychelles (2018), the Indian Ocean Species Discovery Workshop will take place at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) in Makhanda from January 27 to February 7, 2025. These expeditions collected baseline data from deep-water habitats—500 meters in Seychelles and 1,000 meters in the Maldives—to support the conservation and sustainable management of these waters.

Cataloguing likely new species

While many species collected during these missions were identified in earlier workshops by taxonomists, this workshop will focus on a subset of samples—sponges and octocorals—that are likely to be new to science. These specimens will be carefully analysed to document their characteristics and formally catalogue them.

The workshop brings together leading scientists and researchers from across the world, including specialists from the Maldives, Seychelles, South Africa, and Japan. By building collaboration and knowledge exchange, the workshop aims to accelerate the documentation of marine biodiversity and enhance understanding of the Indian Ocean’s ecosystems.

Meet the experts

The Indian Ocean Species Discovery Workshop will feature an exceptional group of scientists from diverse regions and specializations, including:

Toufiek Samaai – Sponges specialist, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Oceans and Coasts Research (South Africa)
Liesl Janson – Sponges specialist, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Oceans and Coasts Research (South Africa)
Sifiso Mthembu – Sponges specialist, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Oceans and Coasts Research (South Africa)

Asako K. Matsumoto – Octocorals specialist, Chiba Institute of Technology (Japan)
Veronique Banane – Seychelles Islands Foundation (Seychelles)
Aishath Sarah Hashim – Maldives Marine Research Institute (Maldives)
Aminath Nashath Shanaan – Maldives Marine Research Institute (Maldives)
Vivienne Coetzee – Wild Trust (South Africa)

Workshop Hosts

Nkosinathi Mazungula – Collections Manager, SAIAB
Seshnee Reddy – Biobank Coordinator, SAIAB

Ocean Census Team:

Lucy Woodall – Principal Investigator, Ocean Census/Nekton
Nina de Villiers – Research Assistant, Ocean Census/Nekton

Why it matters

The Indian Ocean is one of the least-explored marine regions, home to high numbers of species yet to be identified. By uncovering and documenting new species, this workshop will expand our understanding of these ecosystems and directly contribute to marine conservation efforts.

The outcomes of this workshop will feed into the Ocean Census Cyberbiodiversity System, making data on new species accessible to researchers and conservationists worldwide. As part of a global effort, the workshop represents a critical step in accelerating the discovery and understanding of marine life, paving the way for further innovations in biodiversity science.

Image Credits: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)