In April 2021, 4.2 kilometers of cable disappeared without a trace from the ocean depths off Vesterålen. The mysterious news attracted attention both in Norway and abroad. In June, the conclusion came from the police; the investigation shows that the cable was most likely torn away by a fishing vessel, which then cut the cable. However, they could not prove whether this happened negligently or on purpose. The case was dismissed. The Institute of Marine Research’s work put on hold The cable break has had major consequences for research in the ocean gap outside Norway. Before the cable was lost, the researchers had several so-called nodes that record data from the sea outside Vesterålen and Lofoten. The nodes were recorded and no data was collected. – It is very, very sad. But there is nothing to do with it now, says HI researcher Geir Pedersen to news. Now they have finally got parts of the equipment up and running. – Now the inner circle is up and running again. Fresh data is ticking in. There is still a lot of work to be done before everything is back to normal, and several measures are being considered to avoid the cable being cut again. Singing whales, crabs and crayfish Just before the summer, the researchers at the ocean observatory were able to deploy a node again. – It started collecting data from June. Everything is stable and works. A number of measuring instruments, for example a camera, have captured troll crabs, sea urchins and other animals. They also monitor battery groups in connection with methane seeping up from the seabed. In addition, they have recorded several large animals: A whale sings. The recordings were made by the Lofoten-Vesterålen marine observatory. – Why is it important that this work be started again? – This is part of the permanent monitoring of our coast. We collect data over a long period of time about how the environment is changing. He mentions everything from temperature, currents and animal migration patterns. One of the nodes will be placed in the sea again just before the summer. Photo: Guosong Zhang – We can use this data to predict several things, such as waves and currents. This is important, among other things, for business along the coast. Considering digging a new cable Even though the cable break meant that the research was put on hold, there has been enough to do. – Firstly, we have spent a lot of time trying to find out what happened. It turned out that it was not an easy job, says Pedersen. They have also spent time improving and testing the nodes. As well as preparing new launches. Geir Pedersen says they are happy that research is underway again after the “Cable mystery”. However, it will take a long time before everything is back to the way it was. – We have had enough to do. But maybe not exactly what we really want to do. We have to bet that things keep moving forward and that we get more nodes that can provide more data. – Are you worried that the same thing could happen again? – We can never be one hundred percent sure that it cannot happen again. Pedersen adds: – The node that has now been placed is located in a protected area in our zone. It is not allowed to trawl along the bottom there. Therefore, we feel confident that it is safe. The ministry has allocated NOK 55 million to the project to get everything in place as it was. Then they will also place the nodes further out, which are more exposed. Pedersen says they are considering measures to avoid cables being cut. Node 7 is back in the sea after the cable break. Photo: UiB – We are considering placing it differently than we have done in the past. It is also relevant to possibly bury the cable. The tender process and delivery time for various parts mean that it will still take time before research is completely back to where it was before the cable break. – Next year at the earliest, but it may take longer.
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The Marine Research Institute is starting research again – news Nordland
