The collaboration will see the two parties work together to advance our understanding of the ocean and support work toward achieving a fully mapped seafloor.
Through its extensive multidisciplinary research projects and by working with a range of partners both nationally and internationally in support of the outcomes for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, PML is focused on providing a deeper understanding of the marine environment in order to support and develop more informed, knowledge-based solutions.
Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), which seeks to inspire the complete mapping of the world’s ocean by 2030 and to compile all the data into the freely available GEBCO Ocean Map. As with PML-led initiatives such as the Atlantic Meridional Transect, the Project is formally endorsed as a Decade Action of the UN Ocean Decade. GEBCO is a joint program of the IHO and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and is the only organization with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor.
Jamie McMichael-Phillips, Project Director of Seabed 2030, said: “Partnering with Plymouth Marine Laboratory is a significant step forward in our mission to map the entire ocean floor.
“PML’s commitment to excellence in marine research, particularly within the framework of the Ocean Decade, ensures that we not only expand our understanding of the ocean but also support global efforts to manage and protect it.”
PML’s Chief Executive Icarus Allen added: “We’re very excited to be joining forces with Seabed 2030, recognizing that we have shared ambitions in terms of fostering even greater knowledge and understanding of the marine environment. A more sustainable future for the ocean requires the best possible data and information to support improved decision-making, and we’re delighted to be working with Seabed 2030 in support of that outcome.”
All data collected and shared with the Seabed 2030 project is included in the free and publicly available GEBCO global grid.
