March 2025: Thriving seabed ecosystems in the Antarctic, the hidden birthplace of whale sharks, and 80 new Ocean Decade initiatives

Here's our round-up of some of this month's exciting ocean science news!

Scientists discover thriving ecosystems on seabed previously covered by the Antarctic ice sheet

In January, a 510 square-kilometres iceberg, the size of the city of Chicago, USA, broke away from the Antarctic Peninsula glaciers, leaving exposed an area of seabed never before observed by scientists.

An international team aboard the Ocean Decade Alliance Member Schmidt Ocean Institute research vessel R/V Falkor (too) took this opportunity to go study it – and found thriving ecosystems, brimming with life, that had likely been there for decades, perhaps even centuries. This includes large corals and sponges supporting an array of animal life, including icefish, giant sea spiders, and octopus. They suspect it might also be home to unknown species.

This expedition – a world first – was part of Challenger 150, an endorsed Ocean Decade Action, and has provided key insights into life on the seabed beneath the Antarctic ice sheet.

New research maps potential birthplace of whale sharks

Little is known about where whale sharks give birth: baby whale sharks that are smaller than 1.5 metres long are rarely encountered, with approximately 35 sightings recorded globally between 1970 and 2020.

A team of researchers led by Freya C. Womersley from The Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, UK, has now mapped these rare sightings and compared them with oceanographic conditions. Experts discovered that the location of these sightings correspond to ocean areas with low oxygen levels and high productivity. While further research is needed, this could mean that adult female whale sharks go to such areas to give birth as it could offer newborn whale sharks food and protection from predators.

The Ocean Decade endorses 80 new initiatives

With the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference three months away, the Ocean Decade has endorsed 80 new Decade Actions, expanding its global portfolio to over 700 initiatives driving ocean science in priority action areas across all ocean basins.

How does night-time light disrupt the deep, and what secrets can soundwaves unlock underwater? How can we make ocean knowledge accessible for Deaf and visually impaired communities, and could humanity one day live on the ocean’s surface due to land shortage?

From niche research to big-picture solutions, the 80 new Decade Actions cover a wide range of topics, including ocean prediction and coastal resilience to sustainable fisheries, ecosystem restoration, inclusive offshore renewable designs, and ocean journalism. Spanning 29 countries – from Chile and Indonesia to Pakistan, Malta, and Togo – they are primarily led by governmental and research institutions, as well as non-governmental and educational organizations.