Latest news with #OceanXplorer
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
S-E Asia biodiversity, leadership on ocean issues draw philanthropic interest in region's oceans
OceanX's co-chief executive and chief science officer Vincent Pieribone at an event aboard the OceanXplorer in Nice, France, on June 12. PHOTO: OCEANX NICE, France – The key role that Singapore played in brokering the High Seas Treaty made it fitting for an upcoming expedition involving Singapore researchers to be conducted in international waters, said founder and co-chief executive of non-profit OceanX Mark Dalio on June 13. Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan had announced during the UN Ocean Conference on June 10 that researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS), in collaboration with OceanX, will in October embark on a deep sea biodiversity expedition to the high seas in the eastern Indian Ocean. The high seas refer to areas outside any country's territorial waters. Singapore had in 2023 helped to broker an agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity outside national jurisdictions. The Republic had helped countries reach an agreement on a legal framework for the protection of biodiversity in the high seas after almost 20 years of negotiations. The research team will conduct the expedition aboard OceanX's scientific vessel OceanXplorer at the Christmas Island Seamount Province. Asked how the site was chosen, Mr Dalio told The Straits Times on the sidelines of the UN summit: 'We were advised by NUS about their interest in those waters, and we see great value in better understanding the seamount, especially the deep waters in that part of the world.' OceanX – an ocean exploration initiative by Dalio Philanthropies – had in 2024 embarked on two other scientific expeditions in South-east Asia, in Malaysia and Indonesia. The research agendas are shaped in collaboration with researchers from host countries, said Mr Dalio. 'We have a number of areas that we (OceanX) specialise in… studies that can help with fisheries, environmental DNA, biodiversity assessments,' he said. 'And we come to the universities and the groups that are doing work within each of the countries with what our capabilities best allow us to do, and complement the work that they excel in as well. 'And then we hone in on the locations they want to study further, based on the capabilities that we have,' he added. He said Asia and South-east Asia have some of the world's most biodiverse waters, with so much to uncover and share with the world. For example, the 2024 expedition to Malaysia had helped to uncover deep water reefs off Pahang. These ecosystems are located in darker depths of the ocean that are harder to detect than their shallow water cousins, which are often bathed in sunlight. 'The work in Asia has been a huge interest of ours,' Mr Dalio added. OceanX's founder and co-chief executive Mark Dalio aboard its scientific vessel. He said Asia and South-east Asia have some of the world's most biodiverse waters. PHOTO: OCEANX On June 12, OceanX's co-chief executive and chief science officer Vincent Pieribone announced during an event aboard the OceanXplorer in Nice that the non-profit has received the Indonesian government's support for 'recurring OceanX expeditions and collaborative research, media and education projects in Indonesia'. Mr Pieribone said Indonesia has aspirations to be a leader in ocean conservation in South-east Asia, and that the OceanXplorer has capabilities that can supplement and further the work of the local scientists. For instance, the vessel is equipped with a helicopter pad that enabled an aerial survey of large marine animals during the last Indonesian expedition – obtaining records of blue whales and orcas in the area. Growing philanthropic interest in South-east Asian seas Dalio Philanthropies' OceanX initiative is part of a small but growing network of philanthropies taking an interest in marine issues in South-east Asia. The Temasek Trust-backed Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA), for example, had in 2024 launched the Blue Oceans Community to connect funders and partners with an interest in ocean issues in Asia. The PAA noted that ocean conservation receives less than 1 per cent of total philanthropic funding, despite the ocean covering over 70 per cent of the planet, and being vital for climate regulation, food security, and livelihoods. 'This disparity is even more pronounced in Asia, where philanthropy has traditionally focused on visible, urgent human needs,' PAA added. The community, which started with three entities – Dalio Philanthropies, family business TPC (Tsao Pao Chee) and PAA – is now joined by philanthropic organisation Quantedge Advancement Initiative. PAA said 'this reflects the growing recognition of Asia's critical role in global climate and biodiversity solutions – and a shared urgency to protect the millions of lives and livelihoods that depend on healthy marine ecosystems'. The alliance said a number of gaps hindered progress for the region's oceans, including fragmented, small-scale efforts that are difficult to scale up, and a lack of meaningful engagement with local communities that can undermine conservation efforts. For example, designating a marine park alone does not guarantee that biodiversity is protected unless enforcement efforts are also in place. Inadequate policy frameworks or financing mechanisms also make it difficult for promising solutions to grow, PAA said. PAA chief executive Shaun Seow, who was at the UN summit to connect with organisations in this area, said philanthropies can help bridge these gaps in a few ways. For example, philanthropies can help with capacity building efforts. 'Governments have to make sure that policies are enforced and the right regulation framework is put in place, and philanthropies can help make that work, because not a lot of people understand the oceans,' he said. Philanthropic funding can also help to bring in other sources of finance. Mr Seow said: 'Philanthropies can activate big pools of capital, like private capital, that is right now sitting and just waiting to see if the blue economy is an investable asset class.' Blended finance is the concept of combining concessional funding, such as philanthropic grants or low-interest loans, with commercial investment to make such projects more attractive to the private sector. On Dalio Philanthropies' growing involvement in the region, Mr Seow said: 'We really love how engaged Dalio is in South-east Asia... There's a lot more that they want to do in the education space, and there's a lot of signalling – Dalio's interest in South-east Asia can bring on other philanthropists into the region.' He added that the alliance is working with Dalio Philanthropies on efforts to scale ocean conservation by working with governments in South-east Asia on implementing marine protected areas, but declined to give further details. Mr Seow added that there are plans for a 'calendar of ocean events in Asia' – including an upcoming ocean summit in October in Singapore by OceanX, as well as a dedicated ocean segment at PAA's annual Philanthropy Asia Summit in 2026 – to convene and bring more partners to the table. Audrey Tan is an assistant news editor overseeing sustainability coverage. She has reported on the environment for more than a decade and hosts the Green Pulse podcast series. Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
Asharq Al-Awsat
08-06-2025
- Science
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UN Ocean Conference Sets Sail Off France on World Oceans Day
Dozens of research and exploration vessels from around the world set sail just off the French coastal city of Nice on Sunday to kick off the third UN Ocean Conference and pay tribute to World Oceans Day. The event, themed 'Ocean Wonders,' saw the vessels sail across Nice's Baie des Anges, or Bay of Angels, to spotlight the beauty and importance of the ocean while urging world leaders not to lose sight of its value as they make decisions about the planet's future. Thousands of delegates, including heads of state, scientists, and environmental advocates, are expected in Nice this week to confront growing threats to the ocean, and the need to transform pledges into protection. The United Nations has called the threats a global emergency facing the world's oceans as they confront rising temperatures, plastic pollution choking marine life, and relentless overexploitation of fish and other resources. Just 2.7% of the global ocean is effectively protected from destructive activities like industrial fishing and deep-sea mining — far below the global goal of 30% by 2030, The Associated Press reported. Participating boats included the Energy Observer, a solar-panel covered catamaran that was the first vessel to circumnavigate the globe using renewable energy alone. It produces hydrogen fuel on board via seawater electrolysis, offering a vision of zero-emissions maritime travel. Other standout vessels included France's Alfred Merlin, dedicated to underwater archaeology; the OceanXplorer, a high-tech billionaire-owned research yacht; and the WWF's Blue Panda, which is working to map and protect the last remaining seagrass meadows in the Mediterranean Sea. At the heart of the conference is the push to ratify the High Seas Treaty, adopted in 2023. If it takes effect, the treaty would for the first time allow countries to establish marine protected areas in international waters, which cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean and remain largely ungoverned. 'The High Seas Treaty is critical to ensuring we can protect biodiversity in the ocean,' said Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance. 'We're in the middle of a biodiversity and climate crisis. We absolutely have to protect the ocean to address those crises.' But even in waters already designated as protected, enforcement often falls short. Many countries, France included, face criticism from environmental groups over weak regulation and continued industrial activity within their marine protected areas. 'The ambition is not there, the speed is not there, and the scale has not been there,' said Sílvia Tavares, project manager at Oceano Azul Foundation. 'Moments like UNOC are key to changing that.' Several countries are expected to announce new marine protected areas, or MPAs, during the conference, along with bans on bottom trawling and other destructive activities within their existing MPA networks. The 'Ocean Wonders' fleet will remain docked in Nice and open to the public until the conference concludes on June 13.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
UN Ocean Conference sets sail off France on World Oceans Day
NICE, France (AP) — Dozens of research and exploration vessels from around the world set sail just off the French coastal city of Nice on Sunday to kick off the third U.N. Ocean Conference and pay tribute to World Oceans Day. The event, themed 'Ocean Wonders,' saw the vessels sail across Nice's Baie des Anges, or Bay of Angels, to spotlight the beauty and importance of the ocean while urging world leaders not to lose sight of its value as they make decisions about the planet's future. Thousands of delegates, including heads of state, scientists, and environmental advocates, are expected in Nice this week to confront growing threats to the ocean, and the need to transform pledges into protection. The United Nations has called the threats a global emergency facing the world's oceans as they confront rising temperatures, plastic pollution choking marine life, and relentless overexploitation of fish and other resources. Just 2.7% of the global ocean is effectively protected from destructive activities like industrial fishing and deep-sea mining — far below the global goal of 30% by 2030. Participating boats included the Energy Observer, a solar-panel covered catamaran that was the first vessel to circumnavigate the globe using renewable energy alone. It produces hydrogen fuel on board via seawater electrolysis, offering a vision of zero-emissions maritime travel. Other standout vessels included France's Alfred Merlin, dedicated to underwater archaeology; the OceanXplorer, a high-tech billionaire-owned research yacht; and the WWF's Blue Panda, which is working to map and protect the last remaining seagrass meadows in the Mediterranean Sea. At the heart of the conference is the push to ratify the High Seas Treaty, adopted in 2023. If it takes effect, the treaty would for the first time allow countries to establish marine protected areas in international waters, which cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean and remain largely ungoverned. 'The High Seas Treaty is critical to ensuring we can protect biodiversity in the ocean,' said Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance. 'We're in the middle of a biodiversity and climate crisis. We absolutely have to protect the ocean to address those crises.' But even in waters already designated as protected, enforcement often falls short. Many countries, France included, face criticism from environmental groups over weak regulation and continued industrial activity within their marine protected areas. 'The ambition is not there, the speed is not there, and the scale has not been there,' said Sílvia Tavares, project manager at Oceano Azul Foundation. 'Moments like UNOC are key to changing that.' Several countries are expected to announce new marine protected areas, or MPAs, during the conference, along with bans on bottom trawling and other destructive activities within their existing MPA networks. The 'Ocean Wonders' fleet will remain docked in Nice and open to the public until the conference concludes on June 13. ___ Follow Annika Hammerschlag on Instagram @ahammergram. ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP's environmental coverage, visit Annika Hammerschlag, The Associated Press
Economic Times
08-06-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
This filmmaker went deep into the ocean and filmed what science still struggles to fully understand
The deep sea remains one of the most mysterious and least explored places on Earth. Home to countless unknown species and unexplained natural phenomena, it continues to fascinate scientists and explorers alike. One such mystery—an elusive bioluminescent display known as a 'flashback'—has long evaded documentation. Now, filmmaker Jacob Harrell, along with a scientific team from OceanX, has managed to capture this rare light event deep in the Indian Ocean, offering a rare glimpse into a phenomenon that science still struggles to fully understand. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Understanding Bioluminescence: A Deep-Sea Puzzle Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Challenge of Capturing Flashbacks The deep sea remains one of the most mysterious and least explored places on Earth. Home to countless unknown species and unexplained natural phenomena, it continues to fascinate scientists and explorers alike. One such mystery—an elusive bioluminescent display known as a 'flashback'—has long evaded documentation. Now, filmmaker Jacob Harrell, along with a scientific team from OceanX, has managed to capture this rare light event deep in the Indian Ocean, offering a rare glimpse into a phenomenon that science still struggles to fully mission took him aboard a state-of-the-art exploration vessel outfitted with the latest oceanographic technology. His primary objective was to film the mysterious flashback phenomenon—an event so uncommon and difficult to record that it has evaded documentation for years. Alongside this task, the team also aimed to contribute to marine biodiversity reports to support the Indonesian government's conservation are a form of bioluminescence, a natural process where living organisms emit light through chemical reactions. According to Mattie, the science program director at OceanXplorer, 'When we're talking about flashback, we're talking about bioluminescence in general which basically is animals or organisms that make their own light.'Bioluminescence is relatively rare on land, but in the ocean—especially between depths of 200 to 1,000 meters—it is strikingly common. Harrell noted that approximately 80% of animals living within this range are bioluminescent. This includes various fish, squid, jellyfish, siphonophores, comb jellies, and other water-dominant species, many of which fall under the category of gelatinous being a well-documented biological capability, the reason behind this light production remains largely speculative. Mattie explained the scientific dilemma: 'This one animal might use it for attracting prey, this other animal might use it for escaping or creating a diversion. These other animals might use it as a form of communication. Like, we really don't know because it's so difficult to access the depths of the ocean where bioluminescence occurs.'The light emitted can vary in color—commonly blue, but also red, green, or violet depending on the species. The glow is produced by a chemical reaction involving an enzyme and a substrate, though the specific compounds may differ between flashbacks presented significant technical and environmental challenges. The process requires the activation of strong artificial light beams to provoke a reaction from bioluminescent organisms. However, this intense light can cause organisms to flee or disorient those that are sensitive to brightness, making sightings Harrell and his team managed to observe a subdued flashback while stationed at a depth of approximately 375 meters on the ocean floor. With large beams of light radiating through the darkness, they witnessed a fleeting yet visually stunning display of bioluminescence above the footage only captured a mild version of the phenomenon, it marks a significant step in bringing visibility to one of the ocean's many unresolved mysteries.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
This filmmaker went deep into the ocean and filmed what science still struggles to fully understand
The deep sea remains one of the most mysterious and least explored places on Earth. Home to countless unknown species and unexplained natural phenomena, it continues to fascinate scientists and explorers alike. One such mystery—an elusive bioluminescent display known as a 'flashback'—has long evaded documentation. Now, filmmaker Jacob Harrell, along with a scientific team from OceanX, has managed to capture this rare light event deep in the Indian Ocean, offering a rare glimpse into a phenomenon that science still struggles to fully understand. Harrell's mission took him aboard a state-of-the-art exploration vessel outfitted with the latest oceanographic technology. His primary objective was to film the mysterious flashback phenomenon—an event so uncommon and difficult to record that it has evaded documentation for years. Alongside this task, the team also aimed to contribute to marine biodiversity reports to support the Indonesian government's conservation initiatives. Flashbacks are a form of bioluminescence, a natural process where living organisms emit light through chemical reactions. According to Mattie, the science program director at OceanXplorer, 'When we're talking about flashback, we're talking about bioluminescence in general which basically is animals or organisms that make their own light.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People In Kerala Say Goodbye To Mosquitoes With This Revolutionary Solution Mosquito Eliminator Read More Undo Understanding Bioluminescence: A Deep-Sea Puzzle Bioluminescence is relatively rare on land, but in the ocean—especially between depths of 200 to 1,000 meters—it is strikingly common. Harrell noted that approximately 80% of animals living within this range are bioluminescent. This includes various fish, squid, jellyfish, siphonophores, comb jellies, and other water-dominant species, many of which fall under the category of gelatinous zooplankton. Despite being a well-documented biological capability, the reason behind this light production remains largely speculative. Mattie explained the scientific dilemma: 'This one animal might use it for attracting prey, this other animal might use it for escaping or creating a diversion. These other animals might use it as a form of communication. Like, we really don't know because it's so difficult to access the depths of the ocean where bioluminescence occurs.' The light emitted can vary in color—commonly blue, but also red, green, or violet depending on the species. The glow is produced by a chemical reaction involving an enzyme and a substrate, though the specific compounds may differ between organisms. The Challenge of Capturing Flashbacks Documenting flashbacks presented significant technical and environmental challenges. The process requires the activation of strong artificial light beams to provoke a reaction from bioluminescent organisms. However, this intense light can cause organisms to flee or disorient those that are sensitive to brightness, making sightings unpredictable. Nevertheless, Harrell and his team managed to observe a subdued flashback while stationed at a depth of approximately 375 meters on the ocean floor. With large beams of light radiating through the darkness, they witnessed a fleeting yet visually stunning display of bioluminescence above them. While the footage only captured a mild version of the phenomenon, it marks a significant step in bringing visibility to one of the ocean's many unresolved mysteries.
