Seychelles and Maldives will be launching a major joint
marine research expedition to explore and conserve the Indian Ocean through these
findings, starting in Seychelles on March 16th 2020.
First Descent: Midnight Zone is a 35-day mission to
support the sustainable governance of the Seychelles and Maldivian ocean
including the protection of 629,000 km2. A team of 50
international scientists, technicians, media and crew will be carrying out
research to gather critical data to define conservation and management
priorities and the designation of Marine Protected Areas.
The Research will be focused on seamounts in the Midnight
Zone. The Midnight Zone describes ocean depths between 1000metres and
4000metres. Whilst biomass peaks in surface waters, biodiversity peaks within
the Midnight Zone.
"A healthy planet needs a healthy ocean. The time to act is
now. Seychelles is committed to ocean conservation and by the end of March, we
will have 30% of our waters established as protected areas. Seychelles are
demonstrating the scientific and economic case for sustainable ocean management
and protection and we are delighted that other nations, like the Maldives, are
taking leadership" said President Danny Faure of Seychelles.
The expedition will undertake the first research of
seamounts in this area of the Indian Ocean. With high levels of biological
endemism, seamounts are often described as undersea Galapagoses, home to
species found nowhere else on the planet.
"The ocean is a key
part of each Maldivian. 71% rely on the ocean for their primary source of
income. We have committed to a 5-year initiative to advance ocean protection
and sustainably develop the blue economy. This expedition will help us
establish the long-term sustainability of our economic growth, livelihoods and
jobs through establishing marine protected areas to build ocean resilience"
said President Ibrahim Mohamid Solih of Maldives.
To support a healthy, resilient and prosperous ocean,
scientists are calling for 30% of the ocean to be protected. Currently, only 2%
is strongly protected and 8% is designated for protection.
"Having so recently
had the pleasure of welcoming Maldives back into the Commonwealth family, it is
very satisfying that our partnership with Nekton will support Maldives and
Seychelles in fulfilling their commitment to ocean sustainability. Seychelles
is our Commonwealth Blue Charter champion for marine protection, and by
safeguarding 30% of its waters for conservation it sets a fine example which we
hope will be followed by other countries. This mission is a very practical
expression of how Commonwealth Blue Charter values in action are leading to
enhanced protection in the Indian Ocean, and to improving ocean health more
generally for our planet," said Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia
Scotland.
The joint Seychelles-Maldives Expedition is led by
scientists from Nekton and the University of Oxford working with, and on behalf
of the Governments of Seychelles and the Maldives. Scientists from Seychelles
and the Maldives will be participating throughout the mission.
The expedition will be using the worlds most advanced deep
diving submersible alongside a dozen research tools including landers,
sampling, sensor and mapping technology. In August 2019, the submersible
– Limiting Factor, built by Triton Submarines, completed the world's first
manned exploration of the deepest point in each of the five oceans (Five Deeps),
and is the only human occupied vessel that can visit any place in our
oceans.
The expeditions Mothership, DSSV Pressure Drop, and
submersible have just completed sea trials in the Mediterranean before
beginning the journey towards Seychelles.
First Descent Midnight Zone is supported by Nektons
unique alliance of business, governments, academia and civil
society uniting behind a common purpose to explore and conserve the
ocean.
The Maldives leg of the expedition is being undertaken to
support Maldives Blue Prosperity, in partnership with the Blue Prosperity Coalition.
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