AN expedition has been launched to explore little-known coral reefs off the West of Scotland. One of the oldest and least explored habitats on earth is being explored by Greenpeace and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).

The Mingulay coral reef complex lies off the West of Scotland in about 150 metres of water and, despite the fact that it may have existed for thousands of years, scientists know little about it or the wildlife it supports.

Using remotely operated vehicles – essentially small, unmanned submarines – scientists onboard the Greenpeace ship Esperanza will study, sample and document the reef and the numerous species it is thought to host.

An onboard aquarium will allow scientists to closely examine small samples taken from the ocean floor. The scientists will also be looking for any evidence of damage to the reef, including any that may have been caused by fishing nets dragged across the ocean floor.

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