Madagascar is renowned for its extraordinary terrestrial biodiversity, where countless endemic species have evolved in isolation over millennia. However, rapid human expansion and unsustainable land practices have taken a toll not only on these unique land-based species but also on the surrounding marine ecosystems. Coastal waters are increasingly affected by overfishing and sediment runoff from cleared lands, highlighting the urgent need to expand our understanding of the region’s underwater realms. Investigating these deep and offshore areas can provide critical insights into the health and recovery of coral reefs and fish populations, thereby informing effective conservation strategies.

The plight of the many endemic land-based species of Madagascar is well known, as well as the overall decline in biodiversity driven by an expanding human population. The surrounding seas have been impacted as well by overfishing and sediments running into the sea from hastily cleared lands. What the Deep HOPE submersibles will be able to do, and what has not been studied in much detail, is what conditions are like offshore and in deep waters. We would like to see what the distribution of corals and fishes are like, and we anticipate finding frilled sharks and South African Coelacanth. Utilizing advanced Deep HOPE technology to explore these uncharted depths will not only fill critical gaps in our scientific knowledge but also help establish baseline data essential for monitoring ecosystem changes and guiding long-term marine conservation efforts in the region.