Marine mining An area of critical national need

摘要

All life on Earth relies on the ocean and yet the ocean is 95 percent unexplored, unknown and unseen by human eyes," said Paula Keener, director of education programs for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. "To better understand, manage and protect the ocean and its resources, NOAA believes it is critical to use the best technology to explore, discover, inform, educate and motivate" (MTS, newsletter, January 2011).