Seabed Mapping: Enabling Ocean Action on World Hydrography Day

Seabed mapping plays a vital role in enabling ocean action, providing foundational data for various marine activities, including navigation, sustainable development, and environmental protection. The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) recognizes this importance, highlighting the significance of seabed mapping in its latest news release. On World Hydrography Day, celebrated on 21 June each year, the UKHO emphasized the critical role seabed mapping plays in enabling ocean action. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) chose 'Seabed Mapping: Enabling Ocean Action' as the theme for this year's World Hydrography Day, underscoring the importance of seabed data for the future of our ocean.

Key Takeaways:

• Seabed mapping is the foundational data set for almost all marine activity, informing safer navigation, sustainable development, and management.
• The science of hydrography and seabed mapping has been at the forefront of the marine community, with the UK Centre for Seabed Mapping (UK CSM) playing a crucial role in establishing and supporting a collaborative seabed mapping community.
• The UKHO has unveiled a new video highlighting the importance of seabed mapping and how it enables marine science, defence, planning, environmental sustainability, and the Blue Economy.
• The UK CSM brings together over 30 public sector organizations in the UK with an interest in marine geospatial information and data.
• The UKHO participates in the UK delegation at international events, such as the United Nations Ocean Conference, to discuss the benefits of improved coordination and hold meetings with partners from across the globe.

Statistics:

• The UK CSM coordinates the collection, management, and access of publicly funded data from over 30 public sector organizations in the UK.
• The UN Ocean Conference resulted in a new political declaration, 'Our ocean, our future: united for urgent action,' which emphasizes the critical need for national ocean accounting and mapping of coastal and marine ecosystems, and of the ocean floor.
• The UN Ocean Conference was attended by the UKHO, with David Parker and Koen Vanstaen representing the UKHO in meetings and discussions.

Sources:

• UK Hydrographic Office (2025) - "The UKHO recognises the impact seabed mapping has on enabling ocean action on World Hydrography Day and at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June." [Source: UKHO News Release, 2025]
• International Hydrographic Organization (2025) - "Seabed Mapping: Enabling Ocean Action" - Theme for World Hydrography Day [Source: IHO Website, 2025]
• United Nations (2025) - "Our ocean, our future: united for urgent action" - Political Declaration from the UN Ocean Conference [Source: UN Website, 2025]
• UK Centre for Seabed Mapping (2025) - "Developing a collaborative seabed mapping community" [Source: UK CSM Website, 2025]