Vast new areas of the seafloor mapped in latest Seabed 2030 update
Marking World Hydrography Day, the Seabed 2030 Project – a collaboration between The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO – has revealed that over a quarter of the world’s ocean floor has now been mapped to modern standards. With an additional four million square kilometres of seafloor data collected, the mapped area now covers 27.3% of the global ocean – a region comparable in size to the Indian subcontinent.
This progress comes amid growing global momentum. At last week’s UN Ocean Conference in Nice, world leaders and marine experts called for bold, collaborative action to unlock the ocean’s potential in tackling global challenges. From climate resilience to food security, the ocean plays a vital role – yet much of it remains unmapped. Seabed 2030 seeks to change that.
Blue economy
Established by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), World Hydrography Day raises awareness of the critical role that hydrography plays in advancing our understanding of the ocean. This year’s theme, ‘Seabed Mapping: Enabling Ocean Action’, highlights how bathymetric data underpins the blue economy – supporting sustainable marine energy, coastal tourism and fisheries – and contributes to global efforts to protect biodiversity and tackle climate change.
From improving tsunami early-warning systems to guiding the installation of undersea cables and identifying biodiversity hotspots, seafloor data enables informed, real-world action.
Over the past 12 months, Seabed 2030 has welcomed data contributions from 14 new organizations – including first-time contributions from five new countries: Comoros, Cook Islands, Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania. With data now contributed by over 185 organizations worldwide, the project continues to galvanize global support towards a fully mapped ocean floor.
Defining moment for ocean action
Commenting on the latest milestone, Seabed 2030 project director Jamie McMichael-Phillips said: “Mapping the seafloor is not just a scientific exercise – it’s a global imperative, foundational to everything from climate action and coastal resilience to sustainable development.”
He continued: “As we reach the midpoint of the UN Ocean Decade – a defining moment for ocean action – I urge governments, industry, research institutions and individuals alike to contribute to this global effort. Together, we can deepen our scientific understanding of the ocean and help secure the future of the blue planet.”
Executive director of The Nippon Foundation, Mitsuyuki Unno, said: “The Nippon Foundation is committed to building on the achievements made through Seabed 2030 by continuing to support global collaboration to acquire bathymetric data, the promotion of innovative ocean mapping technologies, and the training of future ocean mappers.”
Chair of GEBCO Evert Flier added: “The progress captured in this update reflects the extraordinary value of global collaboration. Every contribution strengthens the GEBCO Grid – helping to complete the picture of the ocean and deliver benefits for science, society and the planet.”
