'Academician Oparin' collects more than 3,600 marine life samples

Khanh Hoa The survey by 36 Vietnamese and Russian scientists in Vietnam's sea for nearly 20 days collected thousands of research samples.

The information was presented at a workshop reporting the preliminary results of the 8th joint survey by the ship "Academician Oparin" in Vietnam's waters on the afternoon of June 8, organized by the Institute of Oceanography (Nha Trang). The survey aims to supplement and update data on biodiversity, potential for resource regeneration, and maintenance of aquatic species; collect specimens for biochemical and microbiological research, search for biological active substances, and assess environmental quality.

The ship "Academician Oparin" docked at Nha Trang port on May 17, conducting a survey in 11 areas of the sea from Nha Trang to Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Vietnamese and Russian scientists conducted bottom scraping to collect samples at 8 stations, dived to survey 20 stations, collected 3,640 marine biological samples, 4,020 measurement data and 4,044 documentary photos. Vietnamese scientists also brought some modern equipment such as Trios... to measure the seawater reflectance spectrum.

The Academician Oparin ship docked at Nha Trang port on May 17. Photo: Bui Toan — The ship "Academician Oparin" docked at Nha Trang port on May 17. Photo: *Bui Toan*

At the workshop, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Long (Head of the Vietnamese scientific delegation) and Dr. Dmitrii Palageev (Head of the Russian Federation scientific delegation) said that in addition to taking samples, scientists also searched for biologically active compounds from samples collected during the Oparin 7 survey, orienting the development of comparative studies during the two most recent surveys.

Scientists from both sides will continue to coordinate research on species diversity in shoals, coral reefs, and deep sea areas; research the current status of coral reefs, the potential for isolating bioactive substances from a number of marine species, etc., survey the field distribution of seaweed and seagrass to serve the interpretation of satellite images. The analysis results will be used by scientists from both academies and published in prestigious scientific journals.

Prof. Dr. Chau Van Minh, President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, highly appreciated the efforts, coordination and mutual support in each work at sea to complete the tasks of the scientists of the two academies. He said that sharing data collected during the survey trip is an important premise for scientists of the two countries to develop plans and coordinate to further analyze a large number of collected samples.

During the 7th survey, conducted in 2021 by 16 scientists from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and 19 experts from the Russian Academy of Sciences, the research team collected samples for chemical analysis and evaluated the potential for use in medicine at survey stations in the East Sea, and collected and recorded monitoring data for environmental research.

In the 6th time in July 2018, the marine research vessel "Academician Oparin" surveyed for 14 days in Vietnam's seas. Scientists from both countries studied the composition of coral reefs; the accumulation of heavy metals in mollusks and active substances in marine microorganisms... exploited at a depth of 500 m in different weather and temperature conditions.

On the 5th trip, carried out in 2015, the ship came to Vietnam to survey the sea area from Quang Binh to Binh Thuan at a depth of 400 m.

The "Academician Oparin" ship is 75.5 m long and has a displacement of 2,441 tons. The ship can sail for long periods of time, with enough space for 36 scientists with 5 laboratories and 30 crew members. Oparin is also equipped with many modern devices to help dive and collect samples in deep sea areas. The survey trip is part of the "Cooperation Roadmap in Marine Research for the 2018-2025 period" between the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

Bui Toan

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