Tahiti hosts deep sea expert meeting

French Polynesia hosted the first regional meeting of the Collective Scientific Expertise (ESCo) on October 22, 2026, focusing on the knowledge and governance of the deep seas. The event was organized by the French Institute for Research and Development (IRD) and aimed to address the challenges of managing this largely unexplored area.

Report highlights knowledge gaps

The report compiled by the IRD emphasizes a significant "knowledge deficit" in the deep seas, with only 0.001% of the seabed having been directly observed. It calls for filling this gap to address both local and global issues, including the potential impacts of human activities.

French Polynesian leader voices concerns

President of French Polynesia, Moetai Brotherson, described the deep seas as the "cradle of life" and expressed concerns about potential exploitation by the United States in international waters. He warned that pollution and other environmental impacts from deep-sea activities could affect regions beyond national borders.

Recommendations focus on sustainability

Four main recommendations were presented, including the need to avoid polluting the deep seas and to organize public forums to include the general population in discussions. The report also calls for better data collection, evaluation of current uses, and the development of coordinated policies to manage the deep seas sustainably.

IRD to present findings in New Caledonia and France

Following the event in French Polynesia, the IRD team will travel to New Caledonia to present the conclusions. They plan to share the findings with mainland France by the end of the year, aiming to build a broader consensus on the future governance of the deep seas.