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3d ago

Study Reveals Humans Have Directly Observed Less Than 0.001% of the Deep Seafloor

A new analysis underscores the extreme underrepresentation and geographic bias in deep-sea exploration, calling for a global, technology-driven effort to close critical knowledge gaps.

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This heatmap shows the concentration of known deep-sea dives with visual observations in the Pacific Ocean. Credit: Ocean Discovery League

Overview

  • The Ocean Discovery League study, based on 44,000 deep-sea dives since 1958, confirms humans have directly observed less than 0.001% of the global deep seafloor.
  • Over 65% of deep-sea observations come from just three countries—the U.S., Japan, and New Zealand—with five nations accounting for 97% of all data.
  • Current exploration is heavily biased toward canyons and ridges, while vast habitats like abyssal plains and seamounts remain largely unexamined.
  • Researchers advocate for a coordinated global initiative leveraging cost-effective technologies to democratize access and address critical gaps in ocean research.
  • The lack of comprehensive deep-sea knowledge poses challenges for conservation, resource management, and policy development as environmental threats grow.