Greenwater Foundation has worked alongside Caladan Oceanic and TCarta—both longstanding Seabed 2030 partners—to generate and contribute SDB data that is strengthening global understanding of the ocean floor in support of climate research, marine conservation, and sustainable resource management.
The Foundation’s mission is to accelerate marine conservation by helping scientists access vessels and ocean science assets worldwide. Its work includes advancing coastal mapping through SDB contributions and developing cost-effective machine learning approaches designed to generate mapping data at significantly reduced cost. Its broader focus spans ocean resiliency, ocean plastic pollution, and marine biodiversity.
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 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.
Founded on existing collaborations, the Memorandum of Understanding establishes a framework to expand data contributions and deepen technical cooperation.
Commenting on the announcement, Seabed 2030 Director Jamie McMichael-Phillips said: “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Greenwater Foundation, building on a collaboration that has already delivered substantial SDB data across multiple regions.
“Delivered in collaboration with Caladan Oceanic and TCarta, Greenwater Foundation’s contributions reflect the strength of coordinated action across the ocean community. By strengthening our partnership, we can further align efforts and accelerate progress.”
Commander G. Mark Miller, NOAA (ret.), Co-Founder of Greenwater Foundation, said: “We are proud to formalize our partnership with Seabed 2030, a reflection of our shared commitment to practical progress. Contributing almost 300,000 square kilometers of satellite-derived bathymetry across 20 nations demonstrates what is possible when access, technology, and collaboration converge.
“Our focus remains straightforward—expand the availability of high-quality ocean data and help accelerate the completion of the global ocean map.”
All data collected and shared with the Seabed 2030 project is included in the free and publicly available GEBCO global grid.
