Name: Science mission finds glimmer of hope for marine biodiversity
Uploaded: 2025-11-17T16:51:09.411Z
Duration: 2 min 15 s
Description: As world leaders meet at the COP30 summit in Brazil, the urgent need to hit a global target of protecting 30 percent of the world’s ocean by 2030 has been brought into stark focus by an international science mission which has just returned with new evidence from the depths of the Indian Ocean.

As world leaders meet at the COP30 summit in Brazil, the urgent need to hit a global target of protecting 30 percent of the world’s ocean by 2030 has been brought into stark focus by an international science mission which has just returned with new evidence from the depths of the Indian Ocean.

An international team of scientists, including experts from the University of Comoros and the Ocean Institute Nekton, conducted a research mission in the Indian Ocean to support the global goal of protecting 30% of the world's oceans by 2030. The mission documented marine life such as sharks and thriving coral communities, which provide essential habitats for local fish populations and offer hope for ecosystem recovery.

Despite ongoing threats from rising sea levels and biodiversity loss due to climate change, the findings suggest that some marine ecosystems in Comoros remain resilient. Scientists emphasize the importance of both local conservation efforts and international cooperation, particularly at forums like COP30, to achieve long-term protection and sustainable management of ocean resources.

Science mission finds glimmer of hope for marine biodiversity

This shark was filmed off the coast of Comoros in the Indian Ocean as part of an international mission led by scientists from the University of Comoros and the Oxford-based Ocean Institute Nekton. Their research is part of a global effort to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030. This expedition is crucial for the 30-30 objective because it allows us to explore areas we don't know yet. And based on the findings of this expedition we can establish protected zones. This means that globally we'll be able to meet the goal of reaching 30% by 2030. It's a race against time for the Comoros. Rising sea levels and biodiversity loss pose an existential threat. Our country is going through enormous difficulties mainly due to climate change. For example we observe the rise in sea level every day. It even penetrates our homes, our crops, flooding our land with salt water. Today our coastline, our coastal reefs are dying little by little. But there are glimmers of hope at lower depths where sharks and other marine life have been spotted. That suggests that food sources are still available. The coral communities here in Comoros, some of them are stunning. They are really beautiful. And this gives a lot of hope. This means that the coral can provide homes for the fish which are really important for the communities here. So now there's a great opportunity, an opportunity for protection, for long-term sustainable management. But the science team knows it will take more than sustained local efforts to reach the 30-30 goal. It also requires the leadership of nations meeting around the COP30 table.

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