Project to map ocean floor by 2030 now operationalDirector of Seabed 2030 Project announced

The Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa announced at a press conference today that The Nippon Foundation – GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project is now operational. The Project will realize Mr. Sasakawa’s vision of mapping the entire ocean floor by 2030. The Nippon Foundation has pledged US$2 million annually, and is calling for additional support from the international ocean community.

Mr. Sasakawa noted, “The Nippon Foundation alone cannot achieve the objectives of this ambitious project. We will need the support of a large number of stakeholders, including world-leading technical experts. It is crucially important that the maritime community comes together to achieve this important goal”.

He was joined by leading ocean-mapping experts, who emphasized that understanding the bathymetry of the global ocean is imperative for improving maritime navigation, and also for enhancing our ability to predict climate change and monitor marine biodiversity and resources. A comprehensive map of the seafloor will assist global efforts to combat pollution, aid marine conservation, forecast tsunami, and better understand tides, wave action, and sediment transport.

Satinder Bindra, the project’s recently appointed director, brings a wealth of experience, having previously worked for major international institutions involved in environmental initiatives and sustainable development. Mr. Bindra explained that the project is drawing on the experience of 28 international organizations around the world, and has set up four Regional Centers, each with responsibility for a region of the world’s ocean, with a Global Center based at the UK National Oceanography Center to produce the global map.