Minister Seema Malhotra explores NOC’s deep-sea science and innovation

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) welcomed Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister for Indo-Pacific Seema Malhotra FRSA MP and her team for a deep dive into ocean science and technology.

Minister Malhotra visited NOC’s Southampton site last week (Thursday 8 January) to discuss the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Bill and how NOC’s scientific capabilities can continue to support UK Government, nationally and internationally.

During her visit, the minister delved into the national importance of the Discovery Collections, the only collection in the UK which consists solely of deep-sea and open-ocean invertebrates dating back to 1925. 

Collections Manager Dr Tammy Horton shared her extensive knowledge, providing valuable insight into why this collection is a vital international resource in support of the BBNJ Bill and for understanding biodiversity in the ocean.

In the hangar, NOC’s Autosub 5 and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) engineers Dr Enrico Anderlini, Oliver Williams and Martin Yeomans explained how these sophisticated ocean robots are at the forefront of innovation, providing scientists the ability to collect data and samples from the deep sea. 

Under the guidance of Martin Yeomans, Minister Malhotra took the pilot seat of the ROV and was shown the controls for the robotic arms that collect deep-sea specimens which form part of the Discovery Collection.

Sarah Taylor, Head of Public Affairs at NOC, said: "We were delighted to welcome Minister Malhotra to NOC Southampton, providing an opportunity for her to see first-hand some of our world-class scientific capabilities and to discuss how we could support as the BBNJ Bill progresses. We also discussed with the Minister the value of UK Royal Research ships in undertaking open ocean marine science. 

“We look forward to continuing to work with Minister Malhotra and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.”