The exploratory bottorn trawling survey HALIPRO 2 was carried out from 4 to 28 November 1996 on board the New Zealand research vessel Tangaroa of NIWA (National Institut ofWater and Atrnospheric Research Ltd). It was aimed at identification of deep fishery resources over the Norfolk Ridge and the southern part of the Loyalty Ridge. This zone, the area of which is 73000 square km, was previously rnapped during the seabed rnapping survey ZoNéCo 1. A trawl similar to the one used by the New Zealand commercial deep bottom fishing boats was used. Amongst 35 persons on board, 17 were scientists from different countries with different fields of research. A total of 3755 nautical miles were covered and 106 hauls were made. The environment was studied through temperature and salinity profils down to 1500 m and CUITent records down to 300 ffi. The presence of alfonsino (Beryx splerulens) was confirmed over the summits of the seamounts where this species was exploited by bottom longlining from 1988 to 1991. Hauls made over slopes and plains did not allow the catch of any specimen of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus). Hard and rough bottoms on the summits and flanks of the seamounts make awkward the use of bottom trawls. HALIPRO 2 showed the high species diversity of the fauna (275 species of fish belonging to 101 families). In particular, 42 different species of shark and ray were collected of which 40% are new to science. Many samples were collected for further analysis. This survey will no doubt remain a perfect exemple of a fruitful collaboration with New Zealand.

HALIPRO 2

Within the framework of the programme "ZoNéCo" of evaluation of the marine resources of the economic zone of New Caledonia, a series of operations were completed in the southeastern part of Ihe economic zone. The first was a balhymetrical and geophysical survey of the major part of the Norfolk Ridge and the southem end of Ihe Loyalty Ridge. The data obtained on this survey provided a base for the preparation and completion of the deep-sea trawling survey "HALIPRO 2", the main objective of which was 10 search for commercial quantities of deep-sea fish, primarily orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus). During this survey, 106 hauls were made between 230 and 1,860 m depth. A total catch of 263 fish species was made belonging to 192 genera and 101 families. In particular, 37 species of sharks and rays were collected of which 40% are new to science. The results confinn the extreme specific richness of the deep-sea ichthyofauna and the presence of species of commercial interest such as the alfonsino, Beryx splendens. However, orange roughy, was not located.

HALIPRO 2