Seamap Antarctica: Advancing a Unified Understanding of the Antarctic Seafloor

<p>Antarctic seafloor data collection is advancing rapidly, with growing international collaboration and new technologies enabling access to previously unmapped and understudied regions. Increasing volumes of bathymetric, benthic imagery, and ecological data are becoming available, offering unprecedented insights into seafloor environments. However, these data remain dispersed across institutions, formats, and disciplines, limiting their collective impact. As research momentum builds and pressures from climate change and human activity continue to grow, the opportunity—and need—to bring these datasets together into a single, easily accessible and discoverable spatial platform has never been greater.</p> <p>Seamap Antarctica is an Australian-led initiative designed to transform how we access, integrate, and understand Antarctic seafloor data. This project aims to unify seafloor habitat mapping by aggregating diverse Antarctic datasets—ranging from seabed geomorphology and bathymetry to ecological and imagery-based observations—into an accessible, standardised framework that could transform our ability to monitor and manage the Antarctic marine environment across overlapping jurisdictional boundaries governed by the Antarctic Treaty System and CCAMLR.</p> <p>More than a mapping initiative, Seamap Antarctica provides a foundation for science-based decision-making, enabling marine spatial planning, habitat vulnerability assessments, and cross-jurisdictional conservation efforts. A key feature is the use of the Squidle+ platform to consolidate seafloor imagery, offering researchers, policymakers, and the public a unique, interactive view of Antarctic benthic ecosystems.</p> <p>By fostering collaboration across international research efforts, Seamap Antarctica will support a shared understanding of seafloor conditions and contribute to a more coordinated global strategy for protecting the Southern Ocean’s unique marine environments.</p> <p> </p>