The National Undersea Research Program (NURP) funded program consists of the following components:
Test and training dives by HURL's two 2000 m capable submersibles Pisces IV and Pisces V; Included in this component are the first conjoint dives, in which both Pisces IV and Pisces V will be deployed simultaneously. These conjoint dives have been scheduled with the objective of securing maximum benefit from the available ship time, when the time is devoted to projects that are logistically suited to conjoint dives.
A program of 36 science dives related to 5 research projects, which have been reviewed and ranked by HURL's Science Review Panels (Table 3) and one engineering service project at Loihi that recurs each year. The accompanying FY 2001 Research Project Summaries give further information on these projects. Conjoint dives are planned for one of the research projects that have targets at depths less than 1000 m. Project 2000/2 (Scheuer/Kelly), which had to be deferred from last year's scheduled dive program, has been withdrawn from the program by the lead Principal Investigator.
Two engineering service dives at Loihi (Table 3), for a safety inspection of Pele's Pit, sampling of hydrothermal fluids, and replacement of the pressure sensor left on the seabed in 2000.
This field program substantially reduces the backlog of dives approved by HURL Science Review Panels prior to 2000 that had to be abandoned in FY 2000; and it completes two of the projects approved by HURL's 2001 Program Review Panel.
Project 2000-5:
Characterization and Assessment of Two Types of Critical Habitat for Eteline Snappers in the Main Hawaiian Islands
Project 2000-6:
Submarine-canyon and Scavenger Communities on the Hawaiian Slope
Project 2001-1:
The Impact of Harvesting Precious Corals on Resident Deepwater Fish Assemblages and Monk Seal Forage Base
Project 2001-2:
Sustainability of the Black Coral Fishery in Hawaii and Impacts on Bottom Fish Habitat
