New Partnership Between Seabed 2030 and General Oceans Foundation Strengthens Global Ocean Mapping Efforts

25 November 2025

Seabed 2030 Director Jamie McMichael-Phillips (left) and Hayley Craig, Foundation Lead at the General Oceans Foundation at the signing of the memorandum of understanding. (Image credit: Seabed 2030)

The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project has announced a new partnership with the General Oceans Foundation to accelerate progress towards the complete mapping of the world’s ocean floor. The memorandum of understanding was signed in London on the sidelines of the Blue Earth Summit—a global impact event that brings together leaders from business, government, and civil society to find solutions for a more sustainable planet.

The General Oceans Foundation is the philanthropic arm of General Oceans: a group of ocean technology companies spanning advanced solutions in imaging, robotics, intervention, and data collection. The Foundation was established to drive positive impact for the ocean and the communities that depend on it, supporting innovative projects that deliver practical solutions for ocean health through technology, research, and education.

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. The Project is formally endorsed as a Decade Action of the UN Ocean Decade. GEBCO is a joint program of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and is the only organization with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor.

Through this partnership, Seabed 2030 and the General Oceans Foundation will work together to advance coordinated efforts in ocean-floor mapping, leveraging technology and shared expertise to accelerate progress. By building on their shared expertise and extensive networks, the partnership will support innovation and informed action to protect and sustainably manage the ocean.

Commenting on the new partnership, Seabed 2030 Project Director Jamie McMichael-Phillips said: “This partnership highlights what can be achieved when organizations unite behind a shared purpose. By bringing together Seabed 2030’s global mission with the General Oceans Foundation’s commitment to advancing ocean solutions, we can accelerate progress in ocean mapping and ensure that critical seafloor data is made accessible for the benefit of all.”

Hayley Craig, Foundation Lead at the General Oceans Foundation, said: “We’re proud to join forces with Seabed 2030 in advancing a shared goal—to better understand and protect our ocean. Together, we can apply innovation and technology to strengthen the scientific knowledge that underpins a sustainable blue economy and a healthier planet.”

All data collected and shared with the Seabed 2030 project is included in the free and publicly available GEBCO global grid.