Deep water longline exploration

Our knowledge of sea life at extreme depths is almost universally a result of purely scientific exploration. Little data has come forth from fishing ventures, simply because very few attempts have been made at harvesting on a commercial scale at depths below 300 fathoms (1800 feet; 1 fathom equals 6 feet). The study proposed first to investigate what types of fish were able to be caught at extreme depths. However, since the underlying purpose of the grant was to develop alternative sources of revenue for commercial fishermen, the study also focused on specific equipment requirements and harvesting techniques, as well as the marketability of the catch. Grant no. NA56FK0105