On 1 July 2025, NIWA merged with GNS Science to become Earth Sciences New Zealand.

epibenthic sled

Another important gear type is the epibenthic sled. It collects little swimming creatures like small shrimp, which swim up to 1.5m above the sea bed. The mesh is much finer (0.3mm) than in the beam trawl, thus collecting a different range of organisms. Credit: NIWA