A new study of Wellington's deepwater marine life has found areas teeming with species never seen before.
"We didn't expect to find the diversity and three-dimensional structure we saw," said Professor James Bell, lead researcher and a marine biologist at Victoria University.
The study explored 18 deepwater sites, ranging in depth from 26 to 74 metres.
"We found the seas around Wellington contain many previously unknown deepwater marine communities. Amazing corals and massive branching sponges were among the species we caught on camera," he said.
The rich biological diversity of the sites is an exciting discovery.
"There's a strong possibility of new undescribed species in these environments that people haven't seen before. It's the first time we've been to some of these places," said Prof Bell.
It's thanks to an underwater drone from the George Mason Charitable Trust, which can reach depths of 200 metres.
The Wellington study was funded by the Greater Wellington Regional Council, which said it's their job to find and identify sites of rich biodiversity.
"We need to find where these high biodiversity sites are so we can better manage the activities that impact them," said their senior scientist Megan Oliver.
Impacts like anchor ropes wrapped around reefs and fishing line tangled in sea sponges were all captured by the underwater drone on reefs near Wellington.
"Like most marine environments, humans are the main potential threat to them," said Prof Bell.
The chair of NZ's Underwater Association, Allan Davidson, often sees fishing gear tangled in reefs.
"I'm glad we are exposing this now because we have a chance to fix it before it's too late," said Davidson
None of the 18 sites surveyed are currently protected, but Davidson wants to change that by creating a special marine-managed area near Mana Island that would limit anchoring and fishing impacts.
"A special area with no contact so there'll be buoys for people to tie up to and recreational snorkelling areas with educational opportunities."
The council told Newshub it is working on measures like that, since seeing the risks to their precious reefs from the study.
"Now we need to map them and understand how we offer protection from some human activities," said Oliver.
Protection that could include mooring sites for boats and raising awareness amongst boaties of how to minimise impacts in special marine areas.
