Featured Image Credit: AP Photo/Stephen Barker
By: Sarah Sharkey
The Indian Ocean is one of the least understood ecosystems on the planet. Although billions of people live in the region, the ocean has been understudied.
This expedition hopes to change that. The importance of understanding the Indian Ocean does not just affect the animals that live within it but also the people that live around it.
The Nekton Mission is an effort with over 40 partner organizations on board. The mission is scheduled to last for three years and the research will be helpful for the planned summit on the Indian Ocean in 2021.
The ship, the Ocean Zephyr, left its home port in Germany this week. The first 7 weeks will be spent mapping and surveying the ocean floor near Seychelles. Researchers in submarines from Britain and Seychelles will join the exploration March through April to provide additional insights.
Ronny Jumeau, the Seychelles ambassador to the UN, expressed how vital this research is. Seychelles has a vast exclusive economic zone around its 115 islands. The nation hopes to build a blue economy and needs this research in order to build the economy sustainably.
Hopefully, the mission will provide vital information about the Indian Ocean before we move into the future.
Learn more from our source.