The ocean floor defines the base of the ocean and the surface of the crust beneath the ocean. Its shape and nature underpins all human activities in the ocean and it is the fundamental interface for virtually all ocean systems. Bathymetry, the depth of the ocean, is a primary parameter influencing numerous ocean characteristics including coastal erosion, storm surges and tsunami propagation and run-up, currents and tidal flows worldwide, safe navigation, defining national and international boundaries, and key for future impacts of sea-level rise.

The Forum for Future Ocean Floor Mapping will bring together scientists, ocean mappers, academia, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations to begin charting a new direction for the future of ocean floor management.

H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, CEO of the Nippon Foundation, are expected to open the forum on 15 June.

The rest of the day will then be dedicated to national representatives and senior executives of major ocean-related organizations describing critical ocean issues and their outlooks on the future. The two following days will consist of invited expert speakers from the ocean community and exchanges between participants on critical ocean issues, via presentations and breakout groups, to formulate a plan for the implementation of the views described during the first day’s sessions.

GEBCO is the only international project with a mandate to map the ocean floor of the entire world. Established in 1903 by Prince Albert I of Monaco, it became part of the International Hydrographic Organization in 1929 before developing into a joint project with IOC in 1973.