Greenpeace Russia is conducting an underwater examination in Kamchatka to reveal the scale of the environmental disaster in the Pacific ocean. On the 13th of October Greenpeace, WWF and KamchatNIRO campaigners, together with the Russian Investigative Committee, began to examine the bottom of Avacha Bay using an underwater drone. The first part of the examination is taking place at the beaches where dead bottom organisms (starfish, sea urchins, mussels and anemones) were previously found.
On the first day of the research dead polychaetes (bristle-bearing worms that live in the bottom soil) were found. According to scientists, this is evidence of mass poisoning as normally polychaetes should not be seen, as they usually hide among the seaweed.
The underwater drone is equipped with a high-resolution camera, powerful light and a manipulator with a range of up to 100 meters. The drone will be used for underwater photography, and, if necessary, will allow taking samples of soil or benthic organisms.