The Argentine Fishing Beyond the Mesoatlantic Ridge (1938-1939). The Fish Collection from Saint Helena and Ascensión Islands

Abstract

The collections of the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" (MACN) not only reflect biodiversity but also the historical impact of scientific institutions on the evolution of knowledge. Through them, one can observe the transformation of research, conservation, and outreach practices, shaped by the political and social contexts of each era. A representative example of this legacy is the collection of fish gathered during the 1938 and 1939 expeditions to Saint Helena and Ascension Islands in the South Atlantic, carried out as part of the efforts of the Argentine Merchant Navy. The ship Sentinel II, originally intended for the installation of underwater cables, played a key role in these expeditions. After being acquired by the Compañía Argentina de Navegación y Comercio África-Río de la Plata, it was used for lobster and exotic fish fishing while also collecting scientifically valuable samples for the Museum. Between 1938 and 1939, the fish collection of the MACN’s Ichthyology Division received around 33 lots of fish related to these voyages. This article highlights how the study of these fish, traditionally approached from a biological perspective, offers a unique opportunity to explore a little-known event in the history of the Museum and the Argentine Merchant Navy.