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yesterday

Study Finds Less Than 0.001% of Deep Seafloor Has Been Visually Explored

New research highlights severe geographic biases, habitat gaps, and the urgent need for global collaboration in deep-ocean exploration.

Undersea life off the coast of Alaska. Image: NOAA Ocean Exploration
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We've Only Glimpsed 0.001% of Earth's Deep Seafloor, Study Reveals

Overview

  • A Science Advances study reveals that only 0.001% of the deep seafloor, an area roughly the size of Rhode Island, has been visually observed since 1958.
  • Over 65% of all visual observations have occurred within 200 nautical miles of the U.S., Japan, and New Zealand, with five countries responsible for 97% of deep-sea dives.
  • Research has disproportionately focused on features like canyons and ridges, leaving vast areas such as abyssal plains and seamounts largely unexplored.
  • The deep ocean plays a critical role in climate regulation, oxygen production, and biodiversity, yet remains vastly underexplored and poorly understood.
  • Researchers call for expanded exploration using emerging technologies and broader international participation to address critical gaps in knowledge and policy.