~ Peter McMillan ~

Peter McMillan is a fish biologist and taxonomist working for the New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. He is interested in deepwater fish, that is those living deeper than about 200m and he has a special interest in the group of cod-like fishes called grenadiers. Worldwide, there are over 300 species of grenadiers mostly living in subtropical and temperate seas. New Zealand has about 60 species ranging in size from around 15 to 95 cm total length.

Peter joined Dr Clyde Roper and his team on board KAHAROA to help with identification of deepwater fish observed during dives of the DEEP ROVER submersible while searching for giant squid in the Kaikoura area. He was also particularly keen to observe the behaviour of living deepwater fish because previously he has only seen dead specimens.

Deepwater fish are caught by trawling and are killed by changes in pressure when the trawl net is hauled to the surface. They often have badly damaged fins and tail and the scales of some species, such as hoki, are rubbed off in the trawl net. This is a rare opportunity to see them alive in the sea.