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Part ぢ: PROGRESS OF THE SURVEY

THE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY ON THE COELACANTHアクアマリンふくしまのシーラカンス生態調査

Known coelacanth speciesThe coelacanth originated in the Devonian period about

360 million years ago. Until recently, it was thought that coelacanths had become extinct in the Upper Cretaceous

period some 80 million years ago (Forrey, 1998). However, in 1938, a coelacanth designated Latimeria chalumnae

was recovered by J.L.B. Smith (Smith, 1938). Since then, coelacanths have been recovered in oceans off South

Africa, Comoros, Mozambique, Madagascar, Kenya, and

Tanzania (Schart et al., 2005). In 1997, an Indonesian coelacanth was found; DNA analysis supported its

classiication as a new species, L. menadoensis (Erdmann

et al., 1998; Pouyaud et al., 1999). Since the mid-1980s, the use of manned submersibles has allowed observation

and more detailed biological study of living coelacanths

in the ocean surrounding Comoros and other locales

(Fricke & Hissmann, 1994). These investigators also

conducted a survey in Indonesia in 1999 and discovered two coelacanths at the same time (Fricke et al., 2000). However, after this survey no coelacanths have been

reported until our discovery in 2006.

Masamitsu IwataGreeneye Project,Aquamarine Fukushima

岩田　雅光アクアマリンふくしま飼育管理部主任

The Aquamarine Fukushima, Marine Science Museum (AMF) established the long-term project, Coelacanth biological investigation as the global in si-tu conservation activities. he main pillars of the project are a comprehensive on-site ecological investigation. For this purpose, some ield surveys have been conducted under the collaboration with the foreign institutions.

Since 2005, the field surveys in the northern part of Sulawesi Island, Indonesia where the Indonesian coelacanth was recorded for the first time have been conducted with LIPI, Indonesian Institute of Sciences and the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences of Sam Ratulangi University.

In 2007, from September through October, survey with Sustainable Seas Trust, African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme and Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute was also made of shore around Tanga in Tanzania where about 40 coelacanths were recorded.

The survey method is the observation of underwater using a self-propelled vehicle with camera (Remotely Operated Vehicle: ROV) and deep sea diving technology. Since an advantage of ROV is its portability, ROV is used as main method in resent surveys. The size of the vehicle is about 1m x 0.6m x 0.5m, which is easy to operate. The operations are made on board of a small boat (10m long). One operation usually takes 20 minutes to 60 minutes. It can be operated many times in a day. It can also cover boarder area so far the boat cruises, and observe same place carefully.

アクアマリンふくしまは海外の域内保全活動として、シーラ

カンスの生態研究を長期計画と位置づけ生息地の生態調

査を行っている。このため、海外の研究機関と協力し現地調

査を行ってきた。

2005年からはインドネシアシーラカンスの発見されたイン

ドネシアスラウェシ島北部においてインドネシア科学院LIPI

とサムラトランギ大学水産学部と協同で現地調査を行ってい

る。また、2007年9～10月にはサステナブル・シー･トラスト、

アフリカシーラカンス生態系プログラムACEPおよびタンザニ

ア漁業研究所と協力しタンザニアのタンガ海域での調査を

実施した。

調査の方法は自走式水中カメラ（ROV）と高深度潜水技

術を用いたものである。最近の調査では主にROVを使用し

ている。ROVの利点は携帯性にある。本体は約1m×0.6m×

0.5mで容易に水中への出し入れを行うことが出来る。調査

は小型ボート（10m）の船上で行う。1回の調査は20分から

60分程度で、1日に数回行うことが出来る。ボートの移動が

可能な広範囲を調査することも出来るし、同じ場所で丹念

に調査することも可能である。

Indonesia coelacanth Latimeria menadoensis

On July 27, 2007 of Manado Bay, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Depth:194m

38 T h e C o e l a c a nt h , F a t h o m t h e My s t e r y 2 0 0 7

AMF coelacanth projectAMF began operations in July 2000 in Iwaki City,

Fukushima Prefecture, which is located approximately

200km north of Tokyo. The exhibits of the AMF usually

begin with a display of fossils and living fossils. Living

fossil species like the nautilus, ratish, and sturgeon can be comparatively observed with real fossils. A few fossil

coelacanth specimens are exhibited in this zone of the

museum. As mentioned earlier, an important facet of the

AMF is the coelacanth biological investigation project,

which has so far conducted surveys in Indonesia and

Tanzania.

CollaborationsThe scope and expense of an ocean survey makes

collaborations essential. This support has made possible

the acquisition of the necessary permits to conduct

research in oceans under the jurisdiction of other nations,

and provision of research boats, accommodations, staff,

and other necessary items. The collaborations typically

involve central institutes that are connected with the

national government, as well as local institutes, which

can be nationally affiliated, familiar with the survey area.

Examples in Indonesia are the Research Center for

Oceanography of Indonesia Institute of Sciences (RCO-

LIPI) and the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences of Sam Ratulangi University. LIPI is a national institution

in Indonesia that houses al l k inds of the sciences

including industry, sociology, and biology. RCO-LIPI was

established by the Indonesian government to develop its

own capabilities in marine science and technology. When

foreigners wish to conduct any scientific researches in

Indonesia, they must get a permit from the Indonesian

government through LIPI, i.e. marine resources is by RCO-

LIPI.

Sam Ratulangi University is one of several national

universities; it is located at Manado in North Sulawesi

Province. The university houses the Faculty of Fisheries

and Marine Sciences, which support the on site research

activities of AMF and promotes AMF research in local

ofices and community organizations. Such involvement is invaluable in enlisting the support of the local community

in ield studies. Four such surveys have been conducted in Indonesia since 2005.

The situation in Tanzania is slightly dif ferent from

that in Indonesia. In fact, L. chalumnae has been

discovered in offshore locations of several countries in

Africa. Therefore, since 2002, the African Coelacanth

Ecosystem Programme (ACEP) has been active in integrating physical and biological sciences, harnessing

engineering and technology, and facilitating collaboration

Tanzanian coelacanth Latimeria chalumnaeOn October 9, 2007 of Tanga, Tanzania. Depth: 154m

Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) named as “Asalaam II”. It mounts a high deinition video camera.

Part ぢ: PROGRESS OF THE SURVEY

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39

across national and international borders. ACEP has also

partnered countries including Comoros, Madagascar,

Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania to sustain the

marine resources they share. An example is the South

African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), an ACEP bureau institute. AMF exchanged memorandums for a

collaborative coelacanth study with ACEP and SAIAB in

2006. In addition, the Sustainable Seas Trust (SST), a charitable, non-proit, public beneit institution dedicated to improving the quality of life of the people of the western

Indian Ocean, manages coelacanth studies in the ocean

off the coast of Africa. AMF joined the coelacanth study

program in Tanzania programmed by SST and ACEP

during September and October 2007. AMF’s role was

to survey coelacanth habitat using ROV. The Tanzania

Fisheries Research Institute and the Tanga Coastal Zone

Conservation and Development Programme provided

support for everything necessary for the survey, including

the permit.

The ROV systemThe ROV is an underwater robot operated by a

person on board the ship from which it is launched. It is

one of the simplest methods used for observing habitats

deeper than 150m from the surface. The ROV vehicle of AMF measures about 1m × 0.6m × 0.5m, which makes it easy to operate. It can dive to a depth of 300m and is equipped with a video camera. Typical ROV operations

are undertaken by two people; one person controls the

vehicle while watching a monitor and the other person

is responsible for maintaining the 400m long cable that

tethers the ROV to the boat, allowing the ROV to freely

move about when submerged. Support staff are enlisted

to help pull the cable and pilot the boat. Each survey

typically last 30–80 min. In calm seas, a survey can be extended, while rougher conditions that hamper control of

the ROV can shorten a survey.

Observation of coelacanthsSurveys conducted in waters off Indonesia in 2005

and from May 6–19, 2006 did not observe coelacanths. The irst coelacanth was encountered on the morning of May 30, 2006. Until now a total of 10 coelacanths have been observed in waters around Buol. The distinctive

and individual pattern of white spots on the surface of

coelacanths allows one individual to be distinguished from

another. Analysis of the spot patterns determined that 4

of the 10 individuals were in fact the same coelacanth. Nonetheless, remarkably, we observed at least 6

coelacanths during a single survey.

On the other hand, there are two regions where

coelacanths have been captured in Tanzania. Since

2003 until the date of this symposium, 38 coelacanths were recorded for accidentally captures. Tanga is one

site of them. They are proposing to establish Marine

Protected Area around there (see Dr. Mahika’s report in

this proceeding). Our survey conducted in Tanga during the period between September and October, 2007. The

survey site located several kilometers off a beach consists

of large and complex antiquity coral formations. The

coelacanths were encountered deep in some of the coral

interspaces. In total, nine ish were observed during ROV dives over the 16-day survey period.

Similarly, the near-identical shape and behaviors of

coelacanth species made speciation impossible.

Future surveysThe success of the aforementioned survey was due

to the mobility and maneuverability of the ROV, and the

ease of transporting the craft from site to site. In the

future, these advantages can continue to be exploited, by

equipping the ROV with depth and temperature sensors

in addition to the video camera. The increased information

that will be acquired should further our understanding of

coelacanth biology and ecology.

Research area in Indonesia. 4 researches have be conducted since 2005.

Research area in Tanzania.

40 T h e C o e l a c a nt h , F a t h o m t h e My s t e r y 2 0 0 7

ReferenceErdmann, M., Caldwell, R. L. and Moosa, M. K.

Indonesian 'king of the sea' discovered. Nature, 395: 335, 1998

Fricke, H. and Plante, R. Habitat Requirements of the

living coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae at Grande Comore,

Indian Ocean. Naturwissenschaiten, 75: 149-151, 1988Forey, P. A home from home for coelacanth. Nature,

395: 319-320, 1998Pouyaud, L., Wir joatmodjo, S., Rachmatika, I.,

Tjakrawidjaja, A., Hadiaty, R. and Hadie, W. A new species

of coelacanth. C. R. Acad. Sci. III, 322: 261-267, 1999Schart, M., Hornung, U., Hissmann, K., Schauer.

J. and Fricke, H. Relatedness among east Afr ican

coelacanth. Nature, 435: 901, 2005Smith, J.L.B. The living coelacanth fish from South

Africa. Nature, 143: 748-750, 1939

Part ぢ: PROGRESS OF THE SURVEY