COUSTEAU FILES PROTEUS™ – One Small Dive for Man, One Giant Leap for Ocean Exploration – by Fabien Cousteau, FabienCousteau.com
As we face an era of growing envi- ronmental challenges and natural dis- asters, our efforts to understand, explore, and protect the oceans have never been more critical. In June 2014, my team and I embarked on Mission 31, a groundbreaking expedition that
with Florida International University (FIU) and Northeast- ern University, we conducted critical research on climate change, ocean acidification, plastic pollution, resource over- consumption, and the declining biodiversity of the oceans. In a mere 31 days, we gathered the equivalent of three years’ worth of data. This immersive, extended stay at Aquarius al- lowed us to observe the ocean ecosystem in situ, in its natural habitat, and with unprecedented detail, identifying changes in predator-prey relationships, studying the effects of pollu- tants, and contributing valuable research on the state of the planet’s oceans. Mission 31 was more than a record-breaking expedition; it was a global call to action. The success of this mission rein- forced the value of living and working underwater, laying the groundwork for what would come next — the creation of PROTEUS™, an ocean tech platform company. After wit- nessing firsthand the transformative impact of extended stays underwater, I became determined to push even further.
set new standards for marine research and opened the door to even greater discoveries. A decade later, the need for ocean exploration to uncover solutions to these challenges has only intensified. An astounding 95% of the ocean remains unex- plored. The legacy of Mission 31 inspires and propels us as we push forward with new initiatives like PROTEUS™ — a project poised to reignite the human-ocean connection and revolutionize ocean exploration. Mission 31 took place at Aquarius, the world’s only oper- ational underwater marine laboratory, located 63 feet beneath the surface and nine miles off the coast of the Florida Keys. This mission broke records as the longest science expe- dition in the lab’s history, and its impact reached far beyond its 31 days. Not only did it celebrate the 50th anniversary of my grandfather, Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s Conshelf Two underwater living experi- ment, but it also extended the boundaries of marine research, proving that we could go deeper and longer while studying the ocean. Mission 31 was not just a scientific expedition; it was a movement to bring the ocean’s mysteries and urgent conser- vation needs to the world’s attention. Over the course of the mission, we live-streamed every moment, offering the public a rare, real-time glimpse into life beneath the depths. For over a month, the mission kept the importance of ocean health front and center in media, businesses, and classrooms around the world. This was a transformative moment, as individuals from around the world interacted with aquanauts in real- time, learning about marine science, environmental steward- ship, and the human-ocean connection. The scientific outcomes were just as significant. Partnering
Supported by a team of industry experts and leaders in their field, Proteus Ocean Group is building a smart ocean platform to strengthen the con- nection between hu- mans and the ocean. This ecosystem in- cludes multiple subsea
habitats, a network of ocean monitoring systems, blue car- bon management tools, and a robust media business to am- plify ocean storytelling in multiple jurisdictions. Researchers and other professionals will have the ability to live and work in these subsea habitats for extended periods, ranging from weeks to months. Simultaneous to the habitat is an ambitious data collection and analysis endeavor aimed at supporting blue carbon, aquaculture, and other ocean sectors. A for- profit social enterprise, Proteus Ocean Group also includes a venture division driving strategic investments to accelerate innovation. Proteus Ocean Group’s smart ocean ecosystem will not replace traditional marine research platforms but will complement them, working in tandem to expand our un- derstanding of the oceans.
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