Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Seabed 2030 announce partnership to support understanding of the global ocean

Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reflecting their joint ambition to advance understanding of the global ocean.

Above: Jamie McMichael-Phillips, Project Director of Seabed 2030 (on left) with Professor Icarus Allen, PML’s Chief Executive as they sign the MoU

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.

GEBCO is a joint programme of the IHO and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and is the only organisation with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor. Formally endorsed as a Decade Action of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), the Seabed 2030 initiative works with partner organisations and data sources to compile a high-resolution map of the entire seabed, in turn contributing to the understanding of marine habitats, processes, and resources.

The MoU between the two organisations recognises their shared endeavours in ocean bathymetry research (among other parameters) and support for the outcomes of the UN Ocean Decade. The agreement will see closer collaboration in areas such as the promotion of activities, the sharing of data, and joint engagement with the wider geospatial, hydrospatial and technology innovation community.

Professor Icarus Allen, PML’s Chief Executive, commented:

“We’re very excited to be joining forces with Seabed 2030, recognising 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, and we’re delighted to be working with Seabed 2030 in pursuit of this.”

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.”

Above: Professor James Fishwick gave a tour of the Marine Technologies and Autonomy facilities

Above: Professor Icarus Allen and Jamie McMichael-Phillips use the jointly-funded interactive PufferTouch globe at PML