Scientists Find Sixgills in Hood Canal

Dayv Lowry studies forage fish for the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. Lowry and his team use a remote operated submersible to survey the waters of Hood Canal for rockfish.

On a typical dive, the researchers lower the tethered device into the water and monitor the video feed transmitted up to the boat. The sub glides over the sandy bottom through the murky darkness. It passes over the occasional rock and a few fish that look a lot like rocks. The scene becomes monotonous quickly.

But on a couple research trips last year, they came across something out of the norm. In the span of just a couple weeks, the team captured two sixgills on camera, both in Hood Canal.

Photography / Editing by Michael Werner

Underwater video provided by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife