Despite covering more than two-thirds of the planet's surface, hosting the most diverse ecosystems, and providing resources to a large part of humanity, the oceans of the world are experiencing significant deterioration.
These important issues do not generally feature on global political agendas, part of the reason being the limited availability of scientific data on the status of the marine environment. The Antinea Foundation was established in 2000 to contribute to a better scientific understanding of the marine environment and raise public awareness on the importance of protecting it.
In 2001 the foundation bought Fleur de Passion, a 50-year-old abandoned sailing boat, which was restored to become the foundation's flagship and project station.
This year, the Antinea Foundation's biggest adventure - Changing Oceans Expedition (www.changingoceans.org) - was launched. The expedition is a 10-year voyage to the world's most important marine eco-regions.
The expedition will gather the latest information on the state of the oceans, with particular emphasis on the issues of biodiversity, climate change, pollution, tourism and geology.
The Changing Oceans Expedition will develop new ways of exploring and studying the oceans while sharing discoveries through the internet.
The expedition started last June and so far the Fleur de Passion's has visited Tunisia, France, Italy and Croatia. The last stop on the ship's itinerary was Malta last month.
Accompanied by scientists and experts from the Physical Oceanography Unit, International Ocean Institute-Malta Operational Centre (IOI-MOC) and the Malta Environmental and Planning Authority, the crew of Fleur de Passion spent four days surveying five sites: Sikka l-Bajda, Merkanti Reef, Ċirkewwa, Dwejra, and Rdum Majjiesa.
These sites were chosen because they encompass a range of representative seabed habitats and fascinating seascapes that host a rich and diverse array of marine fauna and flora.
The surveys at Dwejra and Rdum Majjiesa were particularly important because the scientists were able to investigate the state of the marine environment within the only two Marine Protected Areas in Malta.
The crew and scientists had the opportunity to obtain video footage and carry out diving and transect surveys. All information will be geolocalised and posted online on a 3D model of the Maltese seafloor.
The islands were selected as one of the expedition sites in 2006, when representatives of the Antinea Foundation visited the islands and formed a collaborative agreement with the Fondation de Malte.
Over the past months the project received enthusiastic support from the Malta Tourism Authority, Malta Maritime Authority, Viset p.l.c., and Aquatica, with IOI-MOC providing the local scientific coordination of the project.
The Fleur de Passion will be berthed in Malta until March, when it will sail to the Atlantic Ocean for the second year of the Changing Oceans Expedition.
For more information contact Fondation de Malte (info@ fondationdemalte.org) or IOI-MOC (ioi-moc@um.edu.mt).
The author is a lecturer in marine geology at the Physical Oceanography Unit, University of Malta.