Category: International

His supporters hailed the laws, calling them progressive, and said they would help fight digital crimes and improve national security.

But rights groups maintain the laws, especially the Cyber Crimes Act, are undemocratic, and stifle freedom of expression and speech.

The laws allow for the interception and surveillance of all electronic communications, including calls, emails, messages and streamed content. The Zambia Cyber Security Agency has been moved from an independent state agency and brought under the Office of the President.

Violating the laws also carries significant consequences: the legislation allows for the extradition of Zambians abroad, and stiff penalties, from fines to prison sentences — potentially two to 25 years — depending on the specific offense committed.

How can Ghana and Zambia defeat cybercrime?

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Intrusive laws

Mulambo Haimbe, Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the legislation is meant to protect citizens online and not stifle fundamental freedoms.

“This conception that the cyber laws are perhaps meant to intrude, to go into your personal details in a willy-nilly fashion is not correct,” he told journalists at a press briefing in Lusaka.

“It needs to be put in its proper context, contrary to the assertions that the government’s intention is to intercept any of your communication and break into your gadget,” he added.

Oliver Shalala Sepiso, a media consultant for the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), also defended Zambia’s new cyber laws — saying they are not about the surveillance of citizens but merely for digital or data protection.

Given that the laws are meant to protect Zambians from digital crimes and identity theft while improving national security, their enactment on April 8 received surprisingly little fanfare. There was so little media coverage that most Zambians only learned about the new rules through an alert issued by the United States embassy in Lusaka, warning Zambians abroad about the intrusive nature of the legislation.

“Cyber legislation is needed to combat cybercrimes that are very rampant, like identity theft, and online fraud,” Richard Mulonga, CEO of Bloggers of Zambia, told DW.

“There are some provisions that have the potential to restrict free expression, for example, assembly and association, and just broader digital rights.”

Lungisani Zulu, President of the Law Association of Zambia, said his association will challenge the new law in court.  

“Numerous provisions of the Act, which is now law, infringe upon the rights and freedoms of citizens, hinder a free press, and have the potential to undermine the cherished democracy in our country,” Zulu said.

Free speech at risk

The new laws replace the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act of 2021, which was passed by former president, Edgar Lungu. Under these laws, Zambia police arrested Mbewe Sibajene in April 2024 for circulating satirical memes and videos mocking government officials and institutions. Police said the memes were abusive, defamatory, and aimed at inciting public disorder towards state institutions.

The legacy of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu

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Among the contentious provisions are laws that criminalize so-called false information, vague definitions of indecent content, and a lack of protection for journalists reporting on sensitive national issues.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), a regional media watchdog in eight African countries, says the new law has already impacted journalists negatively.

“Journalists are living in fear because whenever they are doing their stories, they need to now do self-censorship because they don’t know what is going to come out from what they are doing,” Kennedy Mbulo, vice chairperson of MISA Zambia, told DW, “it has also impacted investigative journalism. You cannot record an individual because one day that could be used as evidence.”

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Tech-savvy young Zambians are divided over the new cyber laws.

Kellys Mushota, a frequent social media user and youth member of Zambia’s Congress of Trade Unions, has noticed some changes online.

“The enactment of this law has seen some reduction in the number of harassment or even the way of harassment social media users engage in. However, there has also been a reduction of the will by people to speak freely on matters such as governance and politics,” he told DW.

Kitwe-based 22-year-old researcher Joshua Seke says young people online are worried about their private conversations being intercepted by authorities.

“If you look at what young people are saying online, does it mean that now I can’t laugh with my girl online? Is the government actually going to read everything that we do?” he asked.

Others, like 31-year-old Lusaka resident Mary Ndau, told DW that the laws would discourage online abuse. 

“People will be doing the right thing online, they will not express bad behaviors or bully others online because they will be subjected to the law,” she said.

Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema, known coloquially as HH, has enacted far-reaching cybersecurity laws, despite opposing similiar legislation as an opposition leaderImage: Salim Dawood/AFP/Getty Images

Hichilema goes from critic to implementer

As opposition leader, President Hichilema repeatedly criticized cyber laws, describing them as tools of government surveillance. Yet he has enacted arguably even stricter cybersecurity laws.

Kampala-based Edrine Wanyama of CIPESA (Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa), says cyber security legislation is not unique to Zambia, with neighbors South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Malawi also enacting cybersecurity laws.

“Countries tend to pick practices from one country, and apply in theirs,” the lawyer told DW. “The whole virus keeps biting the rest of the continent, and these laws have been found to be effective for governments in checking on freedoms of expression, access to information, assembly and association in the online spaces.”

The West Africa Media Foundation has also reported a rise in restrictive cyber laws infringing on freedom of expression and privacy in countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Benin and Niger.

Edited by: Cai Nebe

Africa’s young victims of cyber harassment

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Kathy Short Reporter for DW Africa covering hard news and features for the daily AfricaLink radio show.Send us your feedback

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Rezultatul celui mai recent sondaj lunar *ARD Deutschlandtrend* este puțin probabil să le ridice moralul. SPD, care guvernează ca partener minor alături de partidele conservatoare Uniunea Creștin-Democrată (CDU) și Uniunea Creștin-Socială (CSU), a continuat să piardă sprijin de la alegeri.

Dacă alegerile naționale ar avea loc duminică aceasta, SPD ar obține doar 13%, potrivit sondajului realizat de institutul de cercetare infratest-dimap pe un eșantion de 1.312 alegători eligibili între 30 iunie și 2 iulie.

Condusă de cancelarul Friedrich Merz, CDU/CSU a înregistrat o ușoară creștere față de iunie, ajungând la 30% (+1). Alternativa pentru Germania (AfD), partidul de extremă dreaptă, anti-imigrație, considerat oficial parțial extremist de dreapta de către agenția de informații internă a Germaniei, ar avea în continuare 23% din voturi.

Între timp, Partidul Verde și Partidul Stângii s-ar putea aștepta să primească 12% (+/-0) și, respectiv, 10% (+1). Alte partide, inclusiv nou-înființata Alianță Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) (4%; +/-0) și neoliberalul Partid Liber Democrat (FDP) (3%; -1), tot nu ar avea suficiente voturi pentru a intra în Bundestag.

Care partid poate asigura pacea?

Membrii mai de stânga ai social-democraților și-au acuzat conducerea partidului că face prea puțin pentru a asigura pacea în Europa. În iunie, aceștia au emis un manifest prin care cereau „menținerea păcii în Europa prin capacități de apărare, controlul armelor și apropiere”. Pentru semnatari, aceasta înseamnă mai multă diplomație cu Rusia și mai puțină reînarmare a forțelor armate germane.

Pacea a fost dintotdeauna o prioritate principală pentru SPD – încă din vremea încercărilor cancelarului Willy Brandt de a normaliza relațiile cu Uniunea Sovietică la sfârșitul anilor 1960 și începutul anilor 1970. Dar în cel mai recent sondaj Deutschlandtrend, doar 11% dintre respondenți au declarat acum că consideră SPD un partid al păcii.

Aproximativ 31% au cea mai mare încredere în CDU/CSU dintre toate partidele pentru a stabili și asigura pacea în Europa, în timp ce 14% au menționat AfD. Până la 57% dintre respondenți au declarat că sunt speriați de cât de superficial este discutat în prezent termenul „pregătire de război” în Germania. Cu toate acestea, există diferențe mari în această chestiune între germanii din fostul Vest și cei din fostul Est – termenul îi sperie pe mulți dintre cei din landurile est-germane.

Majoritatea este în favoarea serviciului militar obligatoriu – inclusiv pentru femei

Ministrul Apărării, Boris Pistorius, tot din SPD, cere de mult timp ca Bundeswehr-ul să fie din nou „pregătit de război”. Aproximativ 62% dintre germanii chestionați în *Deutschlandtrend* sunt de acord cu Pistorius și consideră acest lucru o condiție prealabilă pentru asigurarea păcii în Europa.

Nu numai atât, 73% cred că Germania are nevoie de mai mulți soldați pentru a apăra țara în caz de urgență. În opinia lor, serviciul militar obligatoriu, suspendat în 2011, trebuie reintrodus.

În general, mai mult de jumătate dintre cei chestionați sunt în favoarea reinstaurării serviciului militar sau civil obligatoriu atât pentru bărbați, cât și pentru femei. Cu toate acestea, există un conflict generațional aici: aproximativ de două ori mai multe persoane sub 35 de ani susțin o altă suspendare decât în populația generală.

Migrația și economia rămân cele mai importante probleme

În general, conflictele armate, menținerea păcii și politica externă reprezintă doar a patra cea mai importantă problemă pentru germani – menționate de 15% dintre cei chestionați. Imigrația/refugiații (33%), economia (21%) și nedreptatea socială (16%) au fost toate menționate mai frecvent.

Într-adevăr, atât CDU/CSU, cât și SPD au declarat că redresarea economică a Germaniei este prioritatea principală. De fapt, doar 20% dintre germani cred că situația se va îmbunătăți efectiv într-un an, în timp ce 41% cred că nimic nu se va schimba, iar 35% chiar se așteaptă ca situația economică să se deterioreze. Cu toate acestea, două treimi dintre cei chestionați spun că acest lucru nu le va afecta situația economică personală.

Între timp, un bun 60% din populație consideră că există nedreptate socială în Germania, cea mai mare cifră înregistrată de Deutschlandtrend în ultimii 15 ani. Această percepție se datorează în principal decalajului tot mai mare dintre bogați și săraci, în timp ce povara fiscală și cea a asigurărilor sociale sunt percepute ca fiind prea mari sau inegale. Diferența dintre cele mai mici categorii de salarii și „venitul cetățeanului”, așa cum este numită indemnizația de șomaj de bază, este considerată prea mică.

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Majoritatea germanilor sunt de acord că Germania are nevoie de mai mulți soldați. Imagine: Kai Moorschlatt/dpa/picture alliance

Majoritatea consideră sancțiunile actuale pentru șomeri adecvate

În Germania, persoanele singure care sunt temporar sau permanent incapabile să se întrețină și au nevoie de asistență primesc 563 EUR (

CDU dorește să introducă sancțiuni mai dure pentru beneficiarii de venituri ale cetățenilor care refuză în mod repetat să lucreze. În prezent, indemnizațiile lor pot fi suspendate pentru o perioadă de până la două luni.

În general, aproximativ jumătate dintre cei chestionați consideră că sancțiunile existente sunt adecvate, în timp ce 12% cred că merg prea departe, iar 35% cred că șomerii ar trebui sancționați mai mult.

Muncă sau calificări – care este mai important?

În acordul lor de coaliție, CDU/CSU și SPD au convenit în principiu să aplice reguli mai stricte. Dar partidele se ceartă despre ce înseamnă exact asta. CDU/CSU dorește să reducă drastic cheltuielile în general, în timp ce social-democrații se opun. Aceștia spun că nu se pot economisi mai mult de 4,5 miliarde de euro în următorii doi ani. Angajarea oamenilor costă, de asemenea, bani, de exemplu pentru măsuri de formare profesională și calificare.

Ar trebui ca șomerii să fie plasați rapid în locuri de muncă rezonabile sau este mai important să li se ofere o formare profesională și o educație continuă adecvată, astfel încât să poată găsi locuri de muncă mai bune? Opiniile sunt împărțite.

Cu toate acestea, o analiză a preferințelor partidelor arată că majoritatea susținătorilor CDU/CSU și AfD ar prefera ca oamenii să își găsească rapid locuri de muncă. Susținătorii Partidului de Stânga și ai Verzilor, pe de altă parte, preferă să acorde prioritate formării profesionale. Printre susținătorii SPD, există un număr egal de persoane în favoarea oricăreia dintre opțiuni.

Disputa nu este doar despre bani. Este, de asemenea, o dezbatere socio-politică fundamentală despre cum să tratăm persoanele care au nevoie de ajutor și cum ar trebui să arate securitatea socială de bază în Germania.

Acest articol a fost tradus din germană.

În timp ce Vă aflați aici: În fiecare marți, redactorii DW fac un rezumat al evenimentelor din politica și societatea germană. Vă puteți abona aici la newsletter-ul săptămânal prin e-mail, Berlin Briefing.

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Colaboratoarea politică CNN Maggie Haberman explică raționamentul din spatele atacurilor lui Donald Trump asupra judecătorului și a familiei sale în timpul unui discurs la stațiunea sa din Mar-a-Lago, după ce a fost pus sub acuzare pentru infracțiuni grave.

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CNN  — 

The escalating climate crisis is shifting many people’s purchasing patterns and this extends to the Delay means death': We're running out of ways to adapt to the climate crisis, new report shows. Here are the key takeaways

Strategy and consulting firm Simon Kucher’s Global Sustainability Study 2021 found 60% of consumers around the world rated sustainability as an important purchase criterion, and 35% were willing to pay more for sustainable products or services.

This shift in consumer preferences has propelled many beauty brands to set environmental goals: to move away from single-use and virgin plastics, provide recyclable, reusable and refillable packaging and offer more transparency around products’ ingredients so customers can ascertain how “green” their purchase is.

However, consumers still struggle to understand the sustainability credentials of many products, according to the British Beauty Council. This is because the industry’s clean-up efforts have been inconsistent, and fall short of making a recognizable impact in the absence of collective goal-setting, global strategy and standardized regulations.

Ingredient and branding transparency

There is no international standard for the beauty industry on how much product ingredient information to share with customers — or how to do so. Brands can set their own rules and goals, giving rise to confusion and “greenwashing,” where sustainability claims are often touted but not substantiated.

Companies often use marketing language like “clean beauty” to make it seem like their products are natural, for example, when they may not actually be organic, sustainable or ethically made.

Related article After rebranding in the West, many beauty companies are still offering to 'whiten' skin elsewhere

“The term ‘clean beauty’ has become quite dangerous. It’s used to sell more products,” according to British Beauty Council CEO Millie Kendall, who added that such buzzwords are losing traction in the UK as British customers wise up to their shortcomings. “Customers need better marketing information and certification information.”

In a 2021 report calling on the industry to have “the courage to change” their business practices, the British Beauty Council wrote that, all too often, even natural ingredients involved in manufacturing products give way to “over-consumption, non-regenerative farming practices, pollution, waste and neglect.”

“The only way out of this is transparency,” Kendall told CNN.

Jen Lee, chief impact officer at US-based brand Beautycounter, said she continues to see confusion over ingredients among consumers. (In 2013, the company launched and published “The Never List,” which currently cites more than 2,800 chemicals — including heavy metals, parabens and formaldehyde — it claims to never use in its products.)

“Natural vs. synthetic ingredients has been a conversation. People think natural is safer, but it’s not always the case,” Lee explained. “Natural ingredients formulated in the industry can have toxic load. Heavy metals can occur in natural components of the earth.”

Related article Mother loses peripheral vision from apparent exposure to mercury in beauty creams. Toxic levels in her home put family at risk, say experts

“We used to be more natural and organic,” added Sasha Plavsic, founder of makeup brand ILIA Beauty. “What was challenging is (that) raw materials were difficult to source or would come in inconsistently or products wouldn’t perform.”

Most makeup is created and molded at high temperatures, Plavsic explained. Purely organic materials often fall apart in this heat, leading to inconsistent results and subpar product performance. “Not every synthetic is bad,” Plavsic said. “Sometimes, it helps create the best in class formula.”

Unpacking plastics

The industry’s plastic packaging is a particular sustainability challenge — 95% is thrown away and the vast majority is not recycled, according to the British Beauty Council.

The cosmetics business is the fourth biggest plastic packaging user globally — after food and beverage, industrial packaging and pharmaceuticals — and plastic is about 67% of the industry’s packaging volume, according to Vantage Market Research. Beauty giant L’Oreal used 144,430 metric tons of plastic in its packaging material in 2021, for example, according to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation (EMF). Estee Lauder Companies reported its brands produced 71,600 metric tons of plastic in product packaging that same year.

And only 9% of the global plastic waste is recycled, according to a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The United States only recycles 4% of its plastic waste.

Related article Single-use plastic is wreaking havoc on the planet. Here's what you can do to minimize your impact

Many brands are trying to phase out harmful plastics from their operations and adopt post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. (L’Oreal has set a target of 50% PCR plastic usage by 2025, while Estee Lauder is targeting 25% “or more” PCR plastic — but both are far from achieving their targets.)

“Between 60-70 major global brands have made unprecedented progress” in PCR plastic usage across industries, EMF’s Plastic Initiative Lead Sander DeFruyt told CNN. But DeFruyt stressed that PCR plastic must be adopted in conjunction with brands removing single and virgin plastics from their usage cycles to truly make a difference.

However, PCR plastic is not easy to find — low recycling rates around the world mean there is limited supply. Meanwhile, demand for it is growing demand across industries, DeFruyt said. This competition hikes up its price, which is already higher than virgin plastic.

Hair care brand FEKKAI claims that it used up to 95% PCR content in its packaging, but pricing and supply issues posed a challenge, forcing it to currently aim for containers and packaging that feature at least 50% PCR in its packaging.

“PCR plastic is more expensive than stock plastic. The cost is hard and then sourcing it is too,” founder Frédéric Fekkai told CNN. “PCR is close to our heart, but there is a massive demand, so finding recycled plastic is difficult.”

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The weight of retail

Beauty retailers plays a pivotal — and under-utilized — role, with control over stocking decisions and supply chains. But many vary when it comes to the standards they set for brands they sell.

“Smaller businesses do more, full stop,” said Jessi Baker, founder of the technology platform Provenance, which helps brands display their sustainability credentials for customers. “They move more nimbly. Some of them are born-good brands — climate friendliness was part of their setup. They don’t need to restructure their entire supply chain. Their culture already has it compared to the larger brands who need to work hard to change.”

Related article A history of beauty trends — and the standards that shaped them

Sephora launched its “Clean + Planet Positive” initiative in 2021, which labeled products that met its set criteria. (This is separate from the French retailer’s “Clean at Sephora” program, which is currently facing a consumer lawsuit alleging it carries a significant percentage of products understood by customers to be harmful.) Target launched a similar program in 2022, featuring a “Target Zero” icon for both online and in-store offerings that either have reusable, recyclable, compostable or reduced plastic packaging, or feature waterless or concentrated products.

Still, many steps taken by brands and retailers do not even begin to touch on the waste and pollution generated throughout supply chains, manufacturing and shipping, all huge problems for the industry to grapple with.

The missing player

The gaps in standardization in the beauty ecosystem can, to some extent, be filled by certifications such as the US-born B Corporation, or B Corp. This accreditation, one of the most well-known in the beauty space, is issued by the non-profit B Lab, which scores a company on a variety of criteria around ethics and sustainability. However beneficial it may be among eco-conscious consumers, though, it is currently completely voluntary for brands to apply for.

Governments and multinationals enforcing regulations and setting a base line for brands to operate from when making sustainability claims would go a long way to making change, many experts and business leaders believe.

Susanne Kaufmann, founder of her namesake beauty brand, says her efforts in Austria would reap better results if more countries around the world had stricter, more uniform garbage disposal laws.

Related article A trash heap 62 meters high shows the scale of India's climate challenge

“I package our product in a recyclable material,” Kaufmann said. (Her products’ packaging, which is refillable and reusable, is made from 75% recycled plastic — and is 100% recyclable.) If I send this to the US, the garbage is not separated… and it’s not recyclable,” she explained, referring to inconsistencies in recycling laws across the United States.

And when it comes to ingredients, the European Chemicals Agency lists 2,495 substances banned from use in cosmetic products marketed for sale or use in the bloc. But the US Food and Drug administration only lists 11, making it more challenging for American consumers to find safer, greener options. The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit watchdog, studied lab tests of 51 sunscreen products in 2021 and found that only 35% of products met the EU standard, compared with 94% that passed the US standard.

However, while government can set minimum requirements, Mia Davis, vice president of sustainability and impact at beauty retailer Credo Beauty, says the needle will move in the private sector.

Related article Sustainable ships: The world's most eco-conscious cruises

“Regulation can raise the floor a bit. A person who doesn’t know about any (sustainability issues) should still be able to walk into a bodega and get clean products… But that’s never going to be what the market can do,” she said. “Market leadership is key.”

In the absence of bold regulations or global standards on sustainability practices, this “leadership” — undertaken both by brands and customers in the beauty marketplace — is likely to be the most immediately impactful vector for addressing the industry’s climate shortcomings. It will take continued collective advocacy and initiative to see meaningful climate-conscious change.

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Oamenii de știință au capturat specia necunoscută de pește-melc la o adâncime de peste 27.000 de picioare, ca parte a unei expediții în tranșee în largul coastei Japoniei.

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00:55 – Source: CNN World News 16 videos 00:55 Now playing – Source: CNN 02:32 Now playing – Source: CNN Ivan Watson and Jadyn Sham ” data-timestamp-html=” Updated 11:32 AM EDT, Tue April 18, 2023 ” data-check-event-based-preview=”” data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id=”” data-publish-date=”2025-07-04T07:11:15.523Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/04/world/video/chinese-pla-navy-fleet-hongkong-digvid” data-branding-key=”” data-video-slug=”chinese-pla-navy-fleet-hongkong-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”chinese-pla-navy-fleet-hongkong-digvid” data-video-tags=”” data-breakpoints='{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}’ data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details=””> 01:30 Now playing – Source: CNN 01:27 Now playing – Source: CNN 01:02 Now playing – Source: CNN By Hanako Montgomery and Bryan Dent Wood, CNN ” data-timestamp-html=” Updated 11:32 AM EDT, Tue April 18, 2023 ” data-check-event-based-preview=”” data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id=”” data-publish-date=”2025-07-03T10:59:15.948Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/03/world/video/japan-manga-megaquake-july-5-digvid” data-branding-key=”” data-video-slug=”japan-manga-megaquake-july-5-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”japan-manga-megaquake-july-5-digvid” data-video-tags=”” data-breakpoints='{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}’ data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details=””> 04:31 Now playing – Source: CNN By Samantha Lindell, CNN ” data-timestamp-html=” Updated 11:32 AM EDT, Tue April 18, 2023 ” data-check-event-based-preview=”” data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id=”” data-publish-date=”2025-07-04T21:00:54.448Z” data-video-section=”sport” data-canonical-url=”https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/03/sport/video/mexican-boxer-detained-ice-sports-digvid” data-branding-key=”” data-video-slug=”mexican-boxer-detained-ice-sports-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”mexican-boxer-detained-ice-sports-digvid” data-video-tags=”” data-breakpoints='{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}’ data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details=””> 01:45 Now playing – Source: CNN 01:25 Now playing – Source: CNN 01:27 Now playing – Source: CNN 00:46 Now playing – Source: CNN 02:00 Now playing – Source: CNN ” data-timestamp-html=” Updated 11:32 AM EDT, Tue April 18, 2023 ” data-check-event-based-preview=”” data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id=”” data-publish-date=”2025-06-29T07:10:29.569Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/29/world/video/thailand-cannabis-policy-u-turn-digvid” data-branding-key=”” data-video-slug=”thailand-cannabis-policy-u-turn-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”thailand-cannabis-policy-u-turn-digvid” data-video-tags=”” data-breakpoints='{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}’ data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details=””> 01:31 Now playing – Source: CNN 00:53 Now playing – Source: CNN 00:43 Now playing – Source: CNN 02:56 Now playing – Source: CNN 01:39 Now playing – Source: CNN See More Videos

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Cruising at a depth of 8,336 meters (over 27,000 feet) just above the seabed, a young snailfish has become the deepest fish ever filmed by scientists during a probe into the abyss of the northern Pacific Ocean.

Scientists from University of Western Australia and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology released footage of the snailfish on Sunday filmed last September by sea robots in deep trenches off Japan.

Along with the filming the deepest snailfish, the scientists physically caught two other specimens at 8,022 meters and set another record for the deepest catch.

Previously, the deepest snailfish ever spotted was at 7,703 meters in 2008, while scientists had never been able to collect fish from anywhere below 8,000 meters.

“What is significant is that it shows how far a particular type of fish will descend in the ocean,” said marine biologist Alan Jamieson, founder of the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre, who led the expedition.

Caladan Oceanic

Scientists are filming in the trenches off Japan as part of a 10-year study into the deepest fish populations in the world. Snailfish are members of Liparidae family, and while most snailfish live in shallow water, others survive at some of the greatest depths ever recorded, Jamieson said.

During the two-month survey last year, three “landers” – automatic sea robots fitted with high-resolution cameras – were dropped into three trenches – the Japan, Izu-Ogasawara and Ryukyu trenches – at varying depths.

In the Izu-Ogasawara trench, footage showed the deepest snailfish hovering calmly alongside other crustaceans on the seabed.

Jamieson classified the fish as a juvenile and said younger deep sea snailfish often stay as deep as possible to avoid being eaten by bigger predators that swim at shallower depths.

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Another clip shot at between 7,500 and 8,200 meters in the same trench showed a colony of fish and crustaceans munching at bait tied to an undersea robot.

Images of the two captured snailfish – identified as Pseudoliparis belyaevi – provide a rare glimpse of the unique features that help the deep sea species survive the extreme environment.

They have tiny eyes, a translucent body, and their lack of swim bladder, which helps other fish float, works to their advantage, Jamieson said.

The professor said the Pacific Ocean is particularly conducive to vibrant activity due to its warm southern current, which encourages sea creatures to go deeper, while its abundant marine life provides a good source of food for bottom feeders.

Scientists would like to know more about creatures living at extreme depths, but cost is the constraint, Jamieson said, adding that each lander alone costs them $200,000 to assemble and operate.

“The challenges are that technology has been expensive and scientists don’t have a lot of money,” he said.

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Sursa: CNN