Deep-sea researcher lives the life aquatic

From sea urchins near Tolo Harbour to strange creatures in the South China Sea, Dr Qiu Jianwen walks a fine line between researcher and conservationist in his work as a marine biologist.

The associate professor in biology at Baptist University was the only Hong Kong scientist, and one of 14 selected from across the country, to join the first mission of the Jiaolong, the country's deep-sea submersible, in the South China Sea basin in June.

The 40-day expedition saw him dive more than a kilometre down into the South China Sea to collect samples of rare marine life only found in the cold seep, an area of the ocean floor where hydrogen sulfide, methane and other hydrocarbon-rich fluids seep into the sea.

The trip saw him struggle to find a balance between his work as a researcher and his responsibility to protect the fragile marine environment.

"When we go down to the cold seep to get the glass sponge, which can live for over 10,000 years … we need to decide whether to collect them and how many to collect," Qiu said.

"After doing scientific research, I respect life more, and sometimes I struggle with whether to take [creatures] or not."

During the trip, the team collected only one glass sponge, an uncommon form of sponge with a skeleton that is found only in a cold seep, and two similar organisms of a different species on a sea mountain.