Our Chief Scientist, Dr. Sam Purkis, returned to the Red Sea to participate in another OceanX research mission in the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba. The OceanX research mission complemented the foundation’s earlier work in the region, which we conducted 15 years ago. Whereas in 2007, the foundation focused on mapping the shallow-water reef systems of the northern Red Sea and setting a baseline for their health and vitality, the focus of the latest expedition was on the deep-water system, which extends from the mesophotic zone down to the abyssal plains of the Red Sea. This new focus allowed the underpinnings of the shallow-water reefs to be examined and shed light on the incredibly high diversity of reef morphology observed in the waters offshore Saudi Arabia. It also led to the discovery of the first brine pool discovered along the coast in the Gulf of Aqaba.
Connecting People, Art, and Oceans: Championing Conservation at the 2025 IUCN Congress
The IUCN World Conservation Congress brings together thousands of leaders and decision-makers from governments, non-profit organizations, civil society, Indigenous groups, and the private sector to shape global conservation policy and action. This influential gathering serves as a platform to share knowledge, build partnerships, and advance initiatives that protect our planet’s biodiversity.
As a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation was honored to take part in the Congress, joining a global community of leaders, organizations, and changemakers committed to protecting nature and advancing sustainable futures.
