NICE, France – Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) are planning to embark on a deep sea biodiversity expedition to the high seas in the eastern Indian Ocean in October 2025, said Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan on June 10.

The expedition, in collaboration with US-headquartered non-profit OceanX, will also bring together scientists from the region, especially other small island developing states, Dr Balakrishnan said as he delivered Singapore’s national statement at the UN Ocean Conference taking place in Nice, France.

“This will give (researchers) an opportunity to document and to survey deep sea biological material,” he said, adding that the findings will help to deepen understanding of the oceans.

The Indian Ocean is the body of water between South-east Asia and the African continent. The high seas, which make up about two-thirds of the ocean, refer to ocean areas outside national jurisdictions.

Dr Balakrishnan on June 9 said, on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis), that it was important for small island developing states to lead, and not just participate in, ocean-related scientific expeditions.

Aosis is a grouping of 39 small-island and low-lying coastal developing states including Singapore, Palau, the Maldives and Belize.

Mr Mark Dalio, founder and co-chief executive of OceanX, told The Straits Times that its partnership with NUS “reflects OceanX’s ongoing commitment to advance ocean science in South-east Asia”.

“This mission will generate vital data on deep-sea biodiversity and ecosystem health, strengthen the region’s scientific knowledge base, and support informed decision-making for ocean stewardship,” he said. “We’re proud to enable this next chapter of exploration into one of the region’s least studied environments.”

Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore believes the expedition will contribute to the shared global goals of advancing ocean science education and capacity building.

In his address to the summit, which brings together 193 UN member states, the minister said the ocean is under severe...