Deep & Cheap: Developing low-cost cameras to democratize deep-sea science

The deep sea, which covers 65% of our planet, is one of the least explored environments on Earth. Due to the need for expensive, specialized technology, less than 0.0001% of the deep-sea floor has been directly studied, mostly in areas targeted for commercial activities like mining. This lack of exploration limits our understanding and ability to protect these vast marine ecosystems. Effective conservation and sustainable management require more accessible and affordable tools for deep-sea research, enabling scientists worldwide to gather vital information about underwater habitats and species. By democratizing access to deep-sea exploration, we can better protect marine resources for the future.

The project aims to develop and test a low-cost (<$5,000) deep-sea drift camera system capable of operating at depths beyond 1,000 meters. Over one year, the team will create a fully functional prototype and conduct test deployments—first in shallow UK waters near marine restoration sites in Kent, Essex, or Sussex, followed by deep-water pressure tests in locations like Scottish lochs or the Faroes-Shetland Channel. A final deep-sea test will take place in waters over 500m deep, potentially in the Mediterranean, Norwegian fjords, or the North Atlantic.

The long-term application of this project is to make deep-sea research more accessible by publishing the camera design as open-access, distributing camera units, and building a global user community supported by technical guides and troubleshooting resources. ZSL will also use the system to document vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems, such as cold-water coral reefs off Greenland, to support conservation efforts.

• https://www.zsl.org/
• https://arribada.org/

• Long, Stephen; (2022) The sustainability of deep-sea fishing in Greenland from a benthic ecosystem perspective: the nature of habitats, impacts of trawling and the effectiveness of governance. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
• Long, S., Blicher, M.E., Hammeken Arboe, N., Fuhrmann, M., Darling, M., Kemp, K.M., Nygaard, R., Zinglersen, K. and Yesson, C. (2021) Deep-sea benthic habitats and the impacts of trawling on them in the offshore Greenland halibut fishery, Davis Strait, west Greenland. ICES Journal of Marine Science. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsab148
• Long, S; Sparrow-Scinocca, B; Blicher, ME; Hammeken Arboe, N; Fuhrmann, M; Kemp, KM; Nygaard, R; Zinglersen, K; Yesson, C. (2020) Identification of a Soft Coral Garden Candidate Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME) Using Video Imagery, Davis Strait, West Greenland. Frontiers in Marine Science 7(460) DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00460