Overview

• The expedition, running through August 10, is part of the Talud Continental IV campaign aboard the research vessel Falkor (too) in collaboration with Schmidt Ocean Institute.
• Mission objectives include mapping deep-sea biodiversity, assessing pollution levels and evaluating ecosystem health at depths nearing 4,000 meters.
• Live ROV dives that began July 29 have amassed over one million total views and draw audiences exceeding 40,000 viewers daily.
• Investigators have documented more than 120 invertebrate species and recorded plastic debris and fishing nets beyond 2,500 meters since the campaign’s start.
• Findings from the Mar del Plata canyon will underpin proposals for Argentina’s first marine protected area by highlighting key habitats and human impacts.