Treasures of the deep

2003-11-05 10:01

Washington - Undiscovered foods, useful chemicals and drugs, and potential sources of energy may lie in wait in the least explored portion of Earth - the oceans.

A new effort to seek out those resources was recommended on Tuesday in a report by the National Research Council, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences.

"It is difficult to predict what discoveries are still to come," the panel said, but "it is clear that ocean exploration will improve the accuracy of our predictions of global climate change" and "produce new products that will benefit humanity".

Rep Jim Greenwood of Pennsylvania, who pushed for the report, welcomed the findings.

Understanding

The reasons for loss of coral, the impact of pollution and the potential damage from intense fishing all are poorly understood, Greenwood said. "The fact remains that the research that is most important in terms of our survival as species is understanding the ocean," he said.

Greenwood said he hopes the White House will call a major conference on the oceans. Meanwhile, he said, the next step is to begin working on getting funding through Congress.

A large-scale effort would require an initial investment of about $270 million, calling for a dedicated research ship and a "modest" fleet of underwater vessels. Annual operating costs for the programme would be about $110 million, according to the report.

Least explored

More than 1 500 people have climbed Mount Everest, some 300 have journeyed into space, 12 have walked on the moon but only two - Jacques Piccard and Donald Walsh - have ever visited the deepest part of the ocean, noted the panel that prepared the study.

"The bottom of the ocean is the Earth's least explored frontier, and currently available submersibles - whether manned, remotely operated, or autonomous - cannot reach the deepest parts of the sea," said Shirley A Pomponi, director of research at Harbour Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort Pierce, Florida, and vice chairwoman of the committee that prepared the report.

Even without a major research programme, new discoveries in ocean sciences are made every year, noted the report "Exploration of the Seas: Voyage Into the Unknown."

- AP