CEO Lisa Marrocchino Updates Export Week Participants on Progress and Future Plans for PROTEUS™, the first International Space Station of the Ocean
WILLEMSTAD - At last week’s Curaçao Export Week, Proteus Ocean Group CEO Lisa Marrocchino provided an update on PROTEUS™, the world’s most advanced, multi-purpose underwater laboratory, and the significant traction achieved in the last year. Key achievements in Curaçao overall include sensor and buoy deployment, an environmental impact study, site mapping of the underwater marine park, monitoring of reef health, memorandums of understanding (MOU) with the government of Curaçao and CARMABI and partnership agreements with local private and public entities.
Curaçao is home to one of the few remaining Caribbean reefs that is still growing. These reefs are strategically important to the economic and cultural well-being of the island, as well as for science and research which will be undertaken in situ on PROTEUS™, providing scientists from around the globe with unique access to one of the region’s healthiest coral ecosystems. PROTEUS™ scientists have already installed a suite of sensors to capture variables ranging from temperature to water quality to the acoustic environment as they build toward an extensive network that will inform and benefit Curaçao's coral reefs. They are also monitoring how recent warm water events are impacting the reefs.
Marrocchino updated on recent data which hints at interesting findings tied to ocean temperature and reef health. This work was done in conjunction with the launch of a PROTEUS™ pilot community science program. A group of experienced recreational divers dove alongside the PROTEUS™ science team to assist with their underwater research. This will open doors for future opportunities to engage non-experts in the research and science that will happen on PROTEUS™ to advance solutions to some of Earth’s most pressing issues.