Plymouth Marine Laboratory joins Seabed 2030 to boost ocean knowledge

The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project has announced a new partnership with Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), a prominent marine research institute in the UK. PML is renowned for its leadership in various international initiatives, especially those related to climate change, biodiversity, cleaner seas and sustainable ocean management. This collaboration aims to enhance our understanding of the ocean and contribute to the goal of achieving a fully mapped seafloor.

PML’s extensive multidisciplinary research projects and its collaboration with both national and international partners align with the objectives of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Through these efforts, PML is dedicated to deepening our knowledge of the marine environment to support the development of well-informed, science-based solutions.

Seabed 2030, a joint effort by The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO, aims to map the entire ocean by 2030 and integrate the data into the GEBCO Ocean Map. Endorsed as a Decade Action of the UN Ocean Decade, the project is aligned with PML-led initiatives such as the Atlantic Meridional Transect. GEBCO, a programme of the IHO and IOC, holds the unique mandate to chart the entire ocean floor.

Ocean Decade

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 said: “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.