This article was originally shared by the Ocean Decade

While significant strides have been made in understanding the ocean, much of its depths remain a mystery. Three-quarters of the seafloor remains unmapped, and hundreds of thousands of marine species are yet to be identified. Understanding the ocean is critical for protecting our climate, sustaining biodiversity, and supporting the livelihoods of over 3 billion people.

In this article, we highlight three initiatives endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’) that are pioneering innovative solutions through science, technology, and policy to advance deep-sea exploration and mapping.

The ocean’s depths are full of unimaginable extremes: a hidden waterfall in the Atlantic far surpasses the height of Angel Falls in Venezuela, the Mariana Trench could swallow Mount Everest, and even a jet at cruising altitude flies shallower than the ocean’s deepest known point. Over half the planet lies in these abyssal regions, a vast and mysterious world unlike anything on land.

The three success stories below highlight how the Ocean Decade is harnessing science and knowledge to accelerate the discovery and understanding of the mysteries of deep-sea life.

A frontier within reach: How Seabed 2030 is transforming ocean exploration

A simple Google search for ‘global seafloor map’ shows detailed images of the ocean floor, each seeming to offer a complete view of the deep. In truth, most of them are just rough estimates, crafted from subtle shifts in gravity measured from space – more of a guess of seafloor depth than a map.

Recognizing this gap in knowledge, the Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project was launched in 2017 with the ambitious goal of delivering a complete map of the ocean floor by 2030. At that time, only 6% of the ocean floor had been mapped – an area roughly the size of Canada. Today, that figure has surged to 26.1%, nearly six times the size of Europe. This progress has brought the ocean into sharper focus, transforming fragmented knowledge into a clearer picture of the seafloor.

A more complete map of the ocean is not just a scientific achievement, it is essential for concrete applications. Detailed seabed maps are critical for safe navigation and trade, protecting marine habitats, guiding resource use, and detecting geologic hazards like earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. Building on these uses, Seabed 2030 has collected 12 real-world cases proving how detailed seabed data aids everything from climate modeling to marine resource management, highlighting the deep sea’s contribution to the well-being of communities.

“Mapping the entire ocean floor by 2030 is an ambitious challenge, requiring sustained global collaboration, technological advancements, and open data sharing. However, with growing momentum, strengthened partnerships and the dedication of the global community, we are steadily closing the gaps in our knowledge of the seafloor.” - Jamie McMichael-Phillips, Project Director, Seabed 2030

More than 70 strategic alliances have powered Seabed 2030’s mission with time, resources, and expertise, driving unprecedented breakthroughs in ocean mapping and bringing us closer to a fully mapped seafloor by 2030.

The naming of life: How Ocean Census accelerates species discovery

We can’t protect what we don’t know. Scientists estimate that up to 2 million species call the ocean home, yet we have identified only 10 to 25% of them. And this is a race against time – some species may disappear before we even get the chance to name them.

The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census Programme is a global alliance that is uncovering ocean life at scale. In less than two years, it has united over 800 scientists from more than 400 institutions worldwide and launched dozens of expeditions to the ocean’s biodiversity hotspots. To date, over 800 previously unknown marine species – such as sharks, sea butterflies, bamboo corals, reef fish, brittle stars, and more – have been identified, spanning a wide range of taxonomic groups.

“The past two years have been transformative for the Ocean Census: we’ve pioneered new methods, forged key partnerships, established a global network of participating scientists, and overcome the hurdles of a truly global mission,” - Oliver Steeds, Director of the Ocean Census

Every discovery is now recorded on the Ocean Census Biodiversity Data Platform, a global hub for marine biodiversity. This open-source data will be integrated into networks of data centers worldwide, ensuring free access for scientists, decision-makers, and the public, and advancing progress towards Ocean Decade Challenge 8 – Create a digital representation of the ocean.

The LIFEDEEPER: Measuring the impacts of potential seabed uses

Manganese, iron, copper, cobalt, silver, gold… The ocean floor is a treasure trove of minerals, drawing growing interest in deep-sea mining. But what would be the consequences of exploiting seafloor resources?

The LIFEDEEPER project led by the Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer (Ifremer) represents a significant advancement in understanding deep-sea ecosystems and their vulnerability to mineral exploitation. It explores hydrothermal vents more than 2,000 meters deep into the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where life thrives in the most extreme conditions.

“As part of research projects carried out in study areas where we – France – hold exploration license from the International Seabed Authority, some sixty scientists and crew members aboard the Pourquoi pas? vessel use the manned submarine Nautile to explore hydrothermal sites of varying characteristics (size, habitat, chemistry), where new species are discovered on each mission. The aim of these studies is to understand how life adapts to the deep sea, and to establish its limits of adaptation, in order to better protect these unique ecosystems facing the current frenzy of mineral resource exploration.” - Marie-Anne Cambon, microbial ecology researcher at Ifremer

Its latest discovery – hydrothermal activity in areas once thought to be “inactive” – raises concerns about far-reaching consequences of mining for microbial life and the metal cycle. This activity could alter the balance of key processes, potentially affecting biodiversity and the stability of marine resources in these environments.

In addition to its scientific focus, LIFEDEEPER examines the legal, political, and social dimensions of seabed mining. Its insights will guide future decisions, ensuring that biodiversity and ecosystem services aren’t an afterthought – especially in areas teeming with unique and fragile ocean life.

For more information, please contact:
Ocean Decade Communications Team ([email protected])

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