An initiative to map the entirety of Earth’s seabed has reached 20.6% in completion.

The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project, which was started in 2017, has an aim of mapping the entirety of our ocean floor with modern measurements by 2030. 

With just under four fifths of the world’s ocean still not accounted for, the director of the project has issued a rallying cry to maritime industries (big and small) to collaborate and provide data to reach their goal in an article on BBC News.

“It doesn’t matter whether you operate a high-tech fleet of ships or you’re just a simple boat-owner – every piece of data matters in this giant jigsaw we’re making,” said project director, Jamie McMichael-Phillips.

“If you’re going to sea for whatever reason, switch on your echosounder. Even if you’re just a yachtsman, a recreational sailor – then low-tech data-logging equipment is only a few hundred dollars, with the price coming down all the time. Fit it, plug in your GPS, plug in your echosounder and help us get to 100% coverage by 2030.” 

It is thought that through detailed mapping of the ocean floor, a better understanding of aspects such as ocean circulation patterns and also marine ecosystems can be realised.

You can learn more about the Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project and hear more from Jamie McMichael-Phillips in episode 95 of Engineering Matters – ‘Saving Oceans with Science’. Click here to listen.