HAIKOU, June 8 -- An international initiative aimed at exploring the hadal zone, the deepest part of the ocean, has received official endorsement from the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

This initiative, known as the Global Hadal Exploration Programme (GHEP), is led by scientists from the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering (IDSSE) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

The hadal zone, which spans depths from approximately 6,000 meters to 11,000 meters, encompasses ocean trenches that are characterized by extreme pressure, darkness, low temperatures, frequent seismic activity, and unique biological communities.

These regions represent some of the least explored areas on Earth, largely due to technological challenges in accessing such depths.

China has played a significant role in advancing deep-sea exploration over the past decade, marked by sustained scientific and technological progress.

In 2014, the CAS launched the Hadal Science and Technology Program, which culminated in a record-setting dive to the Mariana Trench at a depth of 10,000 meters in 2016. Building on this achievement, the CAS started the Global Trench Dive and Exploration Programme in 2022, utilizing its advanced manned submersible, Fendouzhe (Striver), and its research vessels, Tansuo.

Du Mengran, a lead researcher at IDSSE, emphasized the importance of understanding oceanic environments to ensure sustainable coexistence with marine ecosystems.

She noted that international cooperation in these unexplored zones is essential for advancing marine science and for informing conservation and sustainable management practices.

To date, Chinese scientists have partnered with 145 researchers from 10 different nations to explore nine notable hadal trenches, including the Mariana, Kermadec, and Puysegur trenches.

As of this year, the GHEP is set to consolidate global research efforts focused on extreme environments, evolutionary processes of life, and geological dynamics within the hadal zone.

The program aims to establish international research hubs, facilitate joint deep-sea expeditions, and conduct regular symposia.

Additionally, it will provide training opportunities and ensure open access to samples, data, and facilities, particularly benefiting early-career scientists.

The GHEP unifies contributions from research institutions across a diverse array of countries, including New Zealand, Denmark, Germany, Chile, France, Indonesia, Brazil, Russia, India, the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, and Portugal.