The Atlantic Ocean holds unknown scenarios in its depths that are just beginning to come to light. Following the success of the exploration in the Mar del Plata Canyon, which attracted tens of thousands of people live, the Uruguay Sub200 scientific project has started a new campaign on the Uruguayan continental shelf.
The team of 37 national and international specialists embarked on the research vessel Falkor (too) with the support of the Schmidt Ocean Institute. Under the motto “Journey to the Unknown“, the mission aims to descend to 3,500 meters with the ROV SuBastian underwater robot, a key tool to unveil habitats never seen in detail before.
The expedition focuses on the continental slope, about 200 kilometers from the coast, where three ocean currents converge: the warm Brazil current, the cold Malvinas current, and the waters of the Río de la Plata. This convergence of water masses makes the area a point of great biological richness and strategic importance for science.
The project aims to identify and study Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs), habitats that serve as essential shelters for marine life and are increasingly threatened by human activity. In Uruguay, only one VME has been reported, formed by cold-water corals of the genus Desmophyllum pertusum, but the expedition aims to discover many more.
## Unprecedented Sightings in Cabo Polonio
During the ROV descents, the group collected samples of animals, sediments, and water, as well as data on light, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and currents. These measurements seek to expand knowledge about the Uruguayan Exclusive Economic Zone and contribute to the global goal of protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.
One of the most striking points was the submarine canyon of Cabo Polonio. Unprecedented images were recorded there of gray sharks moving at almost 300 meters deep. The area, known as mount “L”, is formed by extensive carbonate mounds covered with hard corals, an ecosystem that has been little explored until now.
Among the sightings, the bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) stood out, a specimen that can exceed six meters and whose presence confirms the role of canyons as shelters for marine predators. The gray shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus), characteristic of temperate and tropical waters, was also documented.
Live broadcasts also revealed the presence of the angel shark and the octopus Vosseledone charrúa, a species of regional interest that inhabits rocky cavities and coral reefs. These records expand the audiovisual inventory of the local fauna and open the door to new research.
## An Open and Multidisciplinary Expedition
Uruguay Sub200 combines the work of biologists, geologists, and technicians from various institutions. The project’s particularity lies in its openness: each dive was broadcast live, allowing the public to follow the findings in real-time. Interaction with society was one of the keys to sparking interest and environmental awareness.
The study included the submarine canyon of Cabo Polonio, a structure 118 kilometers long and 85 kilometers wide. Its exploration allowed for documenting little-known habitats and recording fauna of great ecological value. The information obtained strengthens scientific knowledge and provides solid arguments to reinforce the management of marine protected areas.
The challenge of protecting marine ecosystems is becoming increasingly urgent. The unprecedented images of sharks and corals are just a part of the vast archive that this expedition is generating for Uruguay and the world. The data will be integrated into strategies that seek to balance economic exploitation of the ocean with its long-term conservation.
## Uruguay Sub200: Exploring the Unexplored
The expedition is conceived as a mobile laboratory. From the Falkor (too), each descent of the ROV SuBastian opens a new chapter in oceanic knowledge. The mission is not limited to biology: it also incorporates geological and physical studies that help understand how ecosystems interact in the depths.
Its final goal is clear: to expand the protected marine surface in Uruguay, which currently stands at only 1%. Achieving this requires the precise identification of critical habitats and the generation of evidence to support effective conservation policies.
The project demonstrates that scientific exploration can go hand in hand with outreach and environmental education. By broadcasting each discovery live, Uruguay Sub200 transforms elite research into a shared experience, capable of connecting society with the mysteries of its sea.
