Marine ecosystem monitoring

As part of the monitoring program of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE), marine ecosystem monitoring has been routinely carried out since JARE-14 (1972/73 season) to monitor the long-term trendsmarine ecosystem of the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean. Two separate monitoring surveys were completed during JARE-60 (December 2018 to March 2019). The icebreaker Shirase has a fixed schedule and route, travel down longitude 110E each December and return along 150E each March, making its voyages ideal for long-term monitoring work in this region. In additions, a transects by the T/V Umitaka-maru was also carried out along 110E longitude.