Ireland's recently discovered deep-water reef, with its multi-coloured coral and unusual sea creatures, has huge potential for tourism and for international scientific research, writes Juno McEnroe
The discovery of a giant multicoloured coral reef off the coast of Co Sligo is generating a lot of international interest, as it could be of major global research importance. It is believed there may be previously unknown sea creatures living among the unique Lophelia coral on the Rockall Bank. Though it may be some time before tourists can access the reef, marine experts have just succeeded in mapping this natural phenomenon following a national seabed survey that lasted three years.
Previous research indicated there were coral areas in the Porcupine Seabight off the coast of Kerry and in the Rockall Trough off the coast of Sligo, but this new find indicates a reef more than double the length of the world's largest known deep-water coral reef recently discovered in Norway.
Underwater cameras have confirmed the 120-kilometre-long coral reef on the Rockall Bank, while other coral mounds lying all the way to the coast of Kerry have also been located.
Sea creatures never before seen, along with gigantic underwater canyons and mountains, are all part of the marine discovery, according to a division of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
Massive mounds covered in multicoloured "Deep Water Atlantic" or "Lophelia" coral, some 350 metres high, lie 600 miles off the coast at Rockall bank, according to researchers at the Martin Ryan Institute at NUI Galway involved in the find.
During the National Seabed Survey, which has been ongoing for the last three years, a marine team of more than 20 people used sophisticated technology to examine, map and even photograph underwater life and landscapes along Irish coastal waters. Cameras and sound sensors on metal cables were sent down under boats. Footage, photographs and sounds of multicoloured coral and sea creatures, sometimes from more than 1,000 metres under water, were collected.
Underwater creatures traditionally attract curious travellers to places such as Australia, Thailand and the Caribbean every year. Tourists splash out on visiting the tropical coral reefs. Now, there are hopes our own multi-coloured coral may have the same potential.
In among the Lophelia coral branches off the Irish coast, fish such as tusk, saithe, cod, ling and redfish feed, lobsters laze and molluscs, brittlestars, sea pens and starfish cruise.
In addition, a wide variety of animals cling on to the coral, including sponges, bryozoans, hydroids and other coral species.
However, marine experts are now pondering the existence of unknown sea creatures from the new discovery.
"The reef was first discovered from rebounding sound waves," explains Enda Gallagher, marketing executive with the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI), the group heading the seabed survey. "Then film of the coral itself confirmed our first thoughts. It is quite possible there are creatures never before seen down there. Imagine the kind of life. The organisms are genetic oddities."
Most of the reef, though, will be inaccessible to the ordinary Irish swimmer or diving enthusiast, with some of the section off Rockall Bank at least several hundred metres deep.
Marine experts at NUI Galway, however, say mini-sub tours of Rockall Bank may be cheap in the future. Deepwater tours are already available for visits to the Titanic. The subs and a mother ship are provided by Deep Ocean Expeditions, based in the Isle of Man.
For now though, marine enthusiasts will be glad to know Irish Lophelia coral can be seen in the Atlantaquaria aquarium in Salthill, Galway. Two tanks of the coral are on display and it is the only place where the deep water Lophelia is alive and can be viewed by the public in Europe, according to manager Neil Campbell.
"Every time marine researchers go down, they bring something new up, strange species of small crabs, sea urchins, worms and shrimp," he says. The coral mounds off the Irish coast are typically 500 metres wide and one kilometre long and rise at least 150 metres above the sea floor.
Our coral reef, however, is very different to tropical reefs such as the Great Barrier on the east coast of Australia. Deep Water Lophelia on the Rockall Bank reef grows without sunlight. Unlike tropical coral which lives in symbiosis with algae, Lophelia just feeds on water and food. The coral colour is still striking though, with shades of red, yellow, purple and white.
But while structures of the deep water and tropical corals are similar, the habitats of both are different. Lophelia cannot live at temperatures above 12 degrees Celsius but tropical coral cannot live below 19 or 20 degrees Celsius.
Nonetheless, officials at GSI and scientists at NUI Galway are suggesting there is potential for a marine park off the coast of Sligo.
Four areas have already been earmarked as potential Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for designation by Dúchas under the EU habitats directive next year. If successful Ireland will be the first country taking steps to protect coral habitats in the EU.
Because of the harsh conditions sea animals live in, especially at a pressurised depth, they create defence mechanisms and have unusual means of survival.
Dr Anthony Grehan of NUI Galway, also chairman of the Irish Coral Task Force, has been deeply involved in coral research up and down the Irish coast in recent years.
The marine specialist is confident that materials and organisms brought up from the Rockall reef over the coming months may reveal unknown medicinal qualities.
"This is the Irish equivalent of a rainforest in terms of diversity of animal forms. They develop chemicals to protect themselves down there. We may gain information for new pharmaceutical, biotechnological and medicine products. Among the coral, organisms may contain bio-compounds that have anti-viral properties. Scientists and chemists hope to isolate the compounds and possibly cures for cancers could be found."
Scenes from Grehan's explorations are due to be screened in a National Geographic documentary in the US over the coming weeks. It is hoped the documentary will soon be shown in Ireland. National Geographic is understood to be planning a longer documentary on deep water coral which will most likely include footage from the Rockall Bank.
One coral mound has even been named after an Irish researcher, says Dr Grehan: "Theresa is one kilometre long and lies of the south west. The underwater hill sustains glass sponges - constructed with a silicon skeleton - called Aphrocallistes that are at least 20 to 30 centimetres high."
Meanwhile though, deep-sea fishing nets are breaking the coloured branches and cutting off thousands of years of underwater growth. The GSI now says it is planning to sell maps that outline the mounds of coral reef to fishermen or local marine enthusiasts because they say the discovery of the 120 kilometre long coral reef is only the beginning.
"We have now found other coral reefs as well. Separate sections of coral mounds lie all the way from the coast of Sligo to the coast of Kerry," explains Enda Gallagher.
The Department of the Marine is presently in negotiations with Collins Press in Cork to print a 200-page book with detailed illustrations of the reef by September 2003.
So, start saving for your mini-sub trips to the "Great Rockall Bank", as scientists continue to peel back the layers of time on marine life in the deep blue of the Atlantic.