Environmental organisation, Greenpeace, launched a campaign calling for the creation of the largest protected area on Earth, a 1.8 million square kilometre ocean sanctuary in the Antarctic.
Greenpeace will begin an expedition to Antarctica that will see the first humans ever visit the seafloor in the Weddell Sea. This area was proposed by the EU as an ocean sanctuary, a request that will be considered by the Antarctic Ocean Commission (CCAMLR) in October 2018.
The expedition to Antarctica will last three months, in the Greenpeace ship, ‘Arctic Sunrise’.The ship will have 35 scientists, campaigners, submarine pilots and deckhands. Its goal is to spark a global movement calling for governments around the world to protect the Antarctic.
According to Greenpeace New Zealand campaigner, Amanda Larsson, the ship’s crew will conduct scientific research in submarines, document the area’s unique wildlife which is facing pressures from climate change, overfishing and pollution, and collect evidence of the urgent need for governments to create an Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary.
During the project, Antarctic scientists aim to identify vulnerable marine ecosystems and new species on the seabed including rare corals and sponges.
This will provide further indications on what needs to be done for the protection of the area. The crew will also conduct water sampling to identify the presence of any plastic pollution in the area.
