Mountains, canyons, plains — these geological features are not only present on land, but also under the sea, where scientists have now charted them in incredible detail in the ocean surrounding Antarctica. The five-year project mapped 18.5 million square miles, and even revealed a new deepest point in the Southern Ocean, a depression lying 7,432 meters (24,383 feet) below sea level called the Factorian Deep. This study and others like it around the world are filling major scientific gaps in our understanding of what the ocean floor looks like, a key part of knowing how to foster ocean health. More mapping also enables us to make an even stronger science-backed case for marine protected areas. If you want to turn this positive progress into action, you can join us today as we call on world leaders to protect Antarctica and secure the largest act of ocean protection in history. We’re close to reaching our goal of 250,000 petition signatures!
What you need to know
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) is pushing forward a massive expansion dredging project at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades. Under current plans, intensive construction, set to begin in 2028, would unleash plumes of sediment pollution that could smother millions of corals and hundreds of acres of reef.
Miami Waterkeeper spent over a decade working to hold the Corps accountable for the damage caused during the last major dredging project at PortMiami, just 30 miles away, in 2013-2015. The disastrous dredge buried over 278 acres of reef and killed millions of corals — and most of the damage was never repaired. After reviewing the Corps’ environmental strategy, Miami Waterkeeper has determined that the proposed Port Everglades project would be an even bigger disaster, leaving many protections on the table by refusing to apply lessons from PortMiami or implement proven approaches to minimize the damage.
