Seabed 2030 Center Head Vicki Ferrini recently spoke at the 2025 Partnership Forum of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), held last month at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event was themed, ‘Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science-and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind.’
The Forum placed a particular focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under review at the 2025 high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF): Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Goal 5 (Gender Equality), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), Goal 14 (Life Below Water), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). As part of this timely global conversation, Vicki underscored the vital role of ocean mapping in realising SDG 14.
In her contributions to the Forum’s report on Goals 8 and 14 in particular, Vicki highlighted how Seabed 2030 is closing one of the most critical knowledge gaps in ocean science by accelerating the comprehensive mapping of the global seafloor. She emphasised that high-resolution bathymetry is fundamental to marine biodiversity protection, climate resilience, sustainable fisheries, and disaster preparedness.
Seabed 2030’s commitment to equitable engagement was another key message delivered by Vicki. She noted how the initiative fosters a culture of data and knowledge sharing, ensuring open-access bathymetric data empowers policymakers, researchers, and coastal communities to make informed decisions. By democratising ocean knowledge, Seabed 2030 helps strengthen sustainable ocean management worldwide.
In her address, Vicki underscored the invaluable role of partnerships in helping Seabed 2030 achieve its ambitious mission. However, she also noted the need for broader and more diverse collaborations: “Partnerships not just among scientists and academics,” she said, noting the importance of engagement with “governments, communities, industry, and the public.”
She emphasised the importance of cultural partnerships, highlighting the necessity of working directly with local communities to ensure that ocean data and mapping efforts serve their needs as well as global scientific objectives. Vicki highlighted the need for “multidirectional exchange” to ensure we’re meeting mutually beneficial goals. She stressed the importance of “really engaging with local communities, understanding what’s necessary on the ground, in these communities. Making sure that the data that we’re collecting and the products that we deliver meet their needs as well as our own needs.”
Vicki’s participation at the ECOSOC Partnership Forum is a testament to Seabed 2030’s commitment to mapping the ocean for the benefit of all. The project continues to demonstrate how collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation are essential to addressing some of the most pressing challenges in ocean science and sustainability. As the world works towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Seabed 2030 remains at the forefront of efforts to create a more complete and accessible understanding of our planet’s last great frontier.