Humans Have Observed Less Than 0.001% of the Global Deep Seafloor

In a striking revelation about one of Earth's last frontiers, a new study published in the journal Science Advances indicates that humans have visually explored less than 0.001% of the global deep seafloor, which is a minuscule portion of the vast underwater ecosystem covering more than 66% of the planet's surface. Despite our technological advancements, only about 3,823 square kilometers of this expansive ocean floor have been observed directly, which is roughly equivalent to the size of small U.S. states like Rhode Island. This largely unexplored territory consists of vast regions that could hold uncharted biodiversity, with estimates suggesting that two-thirds of the estimated 700,000 to 1 million marine species remain undiscovered. A significant concern raised by the study's authors is the existing bias in the areas being explored. With a focus on depths shallower than 2,000 meters and broader explorations constrained to economic exclusion zones (EEZs) of just a few high-income countries, notably the U.S., Japan, New Zealand, France, and Germany, the current understanding of the deep ocean remains alarmingly incomplete. Over 70% of deep-sea dives since 1958 have occurred in areas close to these nations, neglecting vast regions like the Indian Ocean, which remains among the least explored. Researchers justify their claim by aggregating data from approximately 44,000 dives since 1958, revealing that visual observation techniques have predominantly captured data in coastal environments, rather than the deep ocean's high seas, which constitutes 58% of the ocean yet was visited in only 19.1% of recorded dives. The implications of such limited exploration are profound—coastal and deep-sea habitats are under threat from climate change, pollution, and emerging industries such as deep-sea mining, which poses risks even before we fully understand these ecosystems. As noted by Dr. Katy Croff Bell, lead author of the study, 'We need a much better understanding of the deep ocean's ecosystems and processes to make informed decisions about resource management and conservation.' The pressing call for a fundamental change in deep ocean exploration reflects a need to develop affordable technology that allows global participation in underwater research. Increased exploration could yield vital insights as the demise of said ecosystems grows more imminent.